FROM THE EDITOR A SEASON OF CHANGE
MEET OUR CONT
Well , that was a fun year in 2021-
2022 . As the calendar turns from a summer of reflection to a brand new season , it is time for change around Stephens County .
The campaign in 2022 will see a year that changes districts for football . With that , some rivalry games will appear in the forefront of the early season battles in preparation for the end of the season and the ultimate goal .
One of the teams in the area saw the ultimate goal come true . Last season , the Marlow Outlaws won a State Championship in football — the first in Stephens County since 1995 .
With the rivalry games up at the beginning of the year , the teams will gear up for tough competition as they head into their new districts . This go round only two of our area teams will appear in the same district .
Central High and Velma- Alma make the only teams in the same district and they will battle for the B-4 district title as one of the final rivalry games of the 2022 season .
The other teams will have the chance to fight for a state title of their own in each division as they lace up the cleats and get ready to hit the gridiron .
Duncan will still compete in 5A , however the Demons will see far less travel this year as their furthest road games will kickoff in Midwest City , Guthrie and El Reno for the
ANDY MORPHEW campaign .
The other seven games in the battle for a 5A-1 playoff spot will take place either in Duncan or have a 30-minuteor-less drive to the game .
Marlow will return to 3A after two successful years in 2A which saw them as a State Quarterfinalist in 2020 and then State Champions in 2021 .
Still , the Outlaws will face off against Comanche , who remains in Class 2A , in week two with that game already circled on the calendar as a big matchup for the two area teams .
Empire will see the biggest change as the Bulldogs move from the 8-man world to traditional 11-man football in Class A instead of Class B .
Bray-Doyle will make final team seeing a big change as they move from Class B to Class C , which will help them compete with schools their size .
The Donkeys will face Central High in another rivalry match in week one of the 2022 campaign . This will be the first game that features two county schools against each other .
As the campaign gets ready to kickoff the changing of the seasons , the changing of a new school year has us excited to cover all of our area teams in 2022-2023 .
Football is upon us and we will see if we have another State Championship coming back to Stephens County as the teams get ready for a fun filled 2022 season .
CHARLENE BELEW
Charlene , also known in the community as Charlie , is the Managing Editor for The Duncan Banner and Duncan Magazine . Charlie has served two tenures with The Banner . Her first began in 2014 with an internship through Oklahoma Press Association and culminated in 2017 as News Editor . Her second began in 2018 when she returned as a staff writer and she resumed her editorship in 2020 . Although she has spent much of her life growing up in Lawton , Charlie has always felt a special call to the Duncan and Stephens County community . She adopted a dog from Stephens County Humane Society ’ s Take Out Tuesday program with The Banner in 2019 and also participates as a member of the Duncan Rotary Club .
JACIE BENNETT
Jacie is The Duncan Banner ’ s intern for the summer 2022 . She was born in Duncan and has familial ties to the Stephens County area , though she grew up in metro Oklahoma . Jacie is approaching her sophomore year at The University of Oklahoma , where she studies Film and Creative Media Production . She has always had a passion for writing and storytelling , and plans to explore careers in both visual media and journalism . Though she is just beginning her journey in the journalism industry , she has learned many valuable lessons from the community and her coworkers at The Banner . Interacting with locals and learning their stories has given her a whole new perspective on life and her future career field , and she hopes to continue to touch the lives of others just as the Stephens County community has touched hers .
6 STEPHENS COUNTY GRIDIRON GUIDE | 2022