Deer Creek Team Preview
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Stay tuned to Prep Redzone Oklahoma every day as we release more individual team previews as we get closer to the start of the 2021 football season. In case you missed it, you can check out our Preseason Rankings RIGHT HERE.
Overview
After another up and down season in 2020, the Deer Creek Antlers will look to move forward and take the next step in Class 6A-D2 in 2021. They started out the 2020 campaign on a high note with 2 wins in their first 3 games but would struggle to compete in their district that was absolutely stacked. The Antlers won just 2 district games in 2020 and failed to score more than 16 points in all of their district losses, including a 53 point shutout loss to Midwest City. Though they were scrambling for answers most of the season, Deer Creek would eventually get back on track and end the regular season on a high note with wins over U.S. Grant and Lawton. Thanks to the expansion of the playoffs in 2020, Deer Creek got in and they made the most of it by nearly upsetting a Sand Springs team that comes into this season ranked #7. With 16 total starters returning in 2021, Deer Creek goes from a young team comprised mostly of Sophomores and Juniors to an experienced team of Juniors and Seniors who are ready to put the past behind them and focus on competing for a district title this season. The Antlers seemed to find their identity and rhythm later in the season than they would have liked to in 2020, but they are in a prime position to regroup and carry their late-season momentum into 2021.
2020 Results (4-6 Record – Lost In 6A-D2 1st Round)
Sept. 3 – Beat Southmoore 30-24
Sept. 11 – Lost to Yukon 62-20
Sept. 18 – Beat Edmond North 24-23
Sept. 25 – Lost to Stillwater 62-16
Oct. 2 – Lost to Putnam City North 35-14
Oct. 9 – Game VS Northwest Classen Canceled
Oct. 15 – Lost to Midwest City 53-0
Oct. 22 – Lost to Del City 28-14
Oct. 30 – Beat Lawton 20-18
Nov. 6 – Beat U.S. Grant 51-6
1st Round – Lost to Sand Springs 34-29
Players To Watch
Jacob Sexton
Jacob
Sexton
6'6" | OL
Deer Creek | 2022
State
OK
– 2022 Offensive Lineman
We have highlighted a number of talented offensive linemen over the past month in our team previews but none of them are quite on the level of
Jacob Sexton
Jacob
Sexton
6'6" | OL
Deer Creek | 2022
State
OK
. Sexton has been the top prospect at the position since his freshman year and we do not see that changing by the time signing day comes. He has the size, athleticism, and technique that all schools covet and he’s still getting better. Sexton has recently committed to OU where he will look to carry on the tradition of high-level offensive line play in Norman that has been established in recent years. The Sooners have sent multiple big men to the NFL in the past 3 years. Sexton may be the next man up in that conversation in a few years if he continues on the trajectory he’s on at the moment.
Brett Pense – 2022 Quarterback
Deer Creek was playing catch-up from the start in a lot of their district games last season, which means they were airing it out early and very often. With the talented secondaries that they had to go against, featuring guys such as
Makale Smith
Makale
Smith
5'11" | DB
Midwest City | 2021
State
OK
,
Donovan Stephens
Donovan
Stephens
6'1" | DB
Del City | 2021
State
OK
,
Kanijal Thomas
Kanijal
Thomas
6'1" | DB
Del City | 2023
State
OK
,
Tevin Williams
Tevin
Williams
6'1" | DB
Stillwater | 2021
State
OK
, and many more, this aggressive playstyle led to a lot of turnovers for the first-year starter. However, there was also a lot to like about Brett’s game that we think can translate to him having a breakout season in 2021. For starters, he has a tall and athletic frame at 6’4″ 180 Lbs. with space to add on a few pounds. Additionally, we really liked his ability outside of structure when plays broke down and on timing/touch throws over the middle of the field where he was able to fit the ball into some very tight windows. With most of his playmakers back this season, Pense could see his game take a big jump if he can cut down on his interception total from 2020.
Matthew Wade – 2022 Offensive Lineman
Everyone and their dog knows about
Jacob Sexton
Jacob
Sexton
6'6" | OL
Deer Creek | 2022
State
OK
at this point, but a player from this Deer Creek team that has not gotten enough buzz is the guy anchoring the other side of their offensive line. Matthew, or “Chewy” as his friends and coaches call him, has great size for his age at 6’5″ 265 and he is as mean as they come in the run game. What impressed us most though is his ability in pass protection. Deer Creek plays in a district with Midwest City, Del City, Stillwater, and PC North. Those 4 teams alone have some of the best pass rushers in the whole state but that did not slow Chewy down. He is very light on his feet and did a great job of covering a lot of ground quickly in his kick steps while staying in control and anchoring down on guys, which made it hard to get around him in 2020. Deer Creek should feel pretty good about their protection upfront in 2021 with Sexton and Wade securing the perimeter.
More Names
Jevion Jones – 2022 Wide Receiver/ Defensive Back
Gavin Smith – 2022 Wide Receiver
Eli Dunn – 2022 Linebacker
Berkley Dalton – 2023 Wide Receiver/ Defensive Back
Bryson Rouse – 2023 Wide Receiver/ Defensive Back
Andre Bruner – 2023 Linebacker
Bradin Beers – 2023 Linebacker
Caleb Simmons – 2023 Defensive End
Notable
The transition from 5A to 6A has not been a very smooth one for Deer Creek to say the least. In the years leading up to the 6A split, the Antlers were on the rise as a perrenial contender in 5A. They made 2 quarterfinal appearances in 2012 and 2015, and won a district championship in 2014. They have not had such luck in 6A-D2. Other than the increase in competition, their shaky start in the class can also be attributed to the lack of consitency in the program since they made the jump. After having the schools all-time leader in wins, Grant Gower, at the helm for nearly a decade, the Antlers went through 3 coaching changes in just as many years from 2015-2017. However, 2021 will mark current head coach Wade Standley’s 5th season as the man in charge. Perhaps that, along with the majority of last year’s team returning this fall will be enough to get the program back on the steady ascent they were on prior to 2016.
2021 Schedule/Games To Watch
Aug. 27 – AT Edmond North
Sept. 3 – Southmoore
Sept. 10 – AT Yukon
Sept. 24 – Stillwater
– Stillwater has won the last 4 contests between these two in convincing fashion, but this season may be a little different. Deer Creek returns most of their team from last year so they will know what to expect from the Pioneers. On the other hand, while they still remain very talented on both sides of the ball, Stillwater has to replace most of their team that has given the Antlers so much trouble since 2017. Stillwater will likely remain the overwhelming favorite depending on how each team looks in non-district play, but it shouldn’t shock anyone if the Antlers keep this game close.
Oct. 1 – AT Putnam City North
– This matchup has the feel of a rivalry in the making and it has nothing to do with their district. PC North’s coaching staff is full of former Deer Creek assistants that left the program after long time Antler head coach Grant Gower was hired to be the OC at Oklahoma Baptist University following Deer Creek’s final season in 5A in 2015. This list of coaches is headlined by head coach Ryan Laverty, who was the defensive coordinator for the Antlers up until Gower’s departure. Many believe Laverty was the man for the job prior to the 2016 season, but the Antlers chose another candidate for the position and Laverty moved on to Putnam City after the Panthers offered him their head spot. Deer Creek has struggled since the departure of Gower and Laverty to say the least. Nevertheless, the Antlers will have to start competing with and defeating teams such as PC North if they want to turn the corner and contend in this class as they were in 5A prior to the realignment.
Oct. 8 – Northwest Classen
Oct. 14 – AT Midwest City
– This game will probably be the most personal for the Antlers in 2021 after the way things went down last season. Midwest City was in control of the game from start to finish and would go on to blank the Antlers and drop half a hundred on them while doing so. Deer Creek has not had the best luck against the Bombers since joining 6A-D2 in 2016 but the Antlers have also had a ton of turnover from year to year since then both on the field and the sidelines with their coaching staff. This game will also be the 3rd of 5 preseason top 10 teams Deer Creek will have to go through, so we should know where they stand in the class by the time this one comes around or by the time this game is over.
Oct. 22 – Del City
Oct. 29 – AT Lawton
Nov. 5 – U.S. Grant
Championship History
1 State Championship
2000 – Beat Seminole 24-13