The River Valley Report 2024 Football preview | Page 29

THE RIVER VALLEY REPORT FOOTBALL PREVIEW | 8.11.2024

Gleason looks to help Muldrow’ s turnaround

LELAND BARCLAY
SPECIAL TO RIVER VALLEY DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
Mark Gleason has been through the good times and the bad times of Muldrow( Okla.) football.
With eight offensive starters and seven defensive starters returning this season, Gleason is ready for the good times again.
“ We’ ve gotten after it,” Gleason said.“ We worked really hard, and we’ ll keep working hard and getting ready for week one.”
Gleason started as a freshman for a 4-6 team that barely missed the playoffs in 2021. He also started for the 8-3 playoff team two years ago before last year’ s 1-9 season.
Gleason will be a big part of Muldrow’ s turnaround this season. In addition to being a four-year starter on the offensive line and the anchor at 6-3, 315 pounds, he will also man the middle of Muldrow’ s defense up front.
That won’ t be a problem for Gleason, one
of Muldrow’ s many multi-sport athletes.“ He’ ll be a four-year starter on the offensive line and will be a big force for us on the defensive line,” Muldrow Coach Logan Coatney said.“ Every one of these kids are multi-sport athletes. We’ re a small school, and our kids have to play multiple sports. We want all of our athletes to go compete for our athletic department to be as good as it can do.”
Gleason also competes in the long jump, shot put and discus in track, and plays basketball. At the heavyweight division of the Large School Southeast Regional Powerlifting meet, he squatted 440 pounds, bench pressed 285 and dead lifted 425 for a total lift of 1,150 pounds.
“ For him, it’ s a matter of becoming more athletic and using his body in a better manner,” Coatney said.“ He’ s extremely strong and explosive.”
As a senior, Gleason feels the added responsibility of being a leader this season.
“ I feel a lot of leadership on me,” Gleason said.“ We’ re going to be running the ball, and I love it. It’ s my favorite thing. As an offensive lineman, driving somebody backwards for a pancake is the best feeling in football.”
Muldrow will move Teaguen Collins to quarterback this season, which adds a whole new dimension to the offense. Collins was second in the state track meet in the high jump.
“ I feel good about him being there and our running backs,” Gleason said.“ We have a lot of speed this season.”
Muldrow opens the season with traditional Highway 64 rival Roland, and the rivalry game is a key indicator for both teams.
Sequoyah County, OKLA.
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“ That’ s really important, it sets the tone for our season and it shows the other teams what we can do,” Gleason said.“ We really set the tone that game.”
Mark Gleason
Kash Keepes Broque Oft Cooper Carter
SALLISAW( OKLA.) BLACK DIAMONDS
Teaguen Collins Jacob Gregory Jonah Claborn
MULDROW( OKLA.) BULLDOGS
Dalton Crossno Cash Bobbitt Joseph Stone
ROLAND( OKLA.) RANGERS
SALLISAW CENTRAL( OKLA.) TIGERS
Austin Hines
Preston Bennett
Gary Hixon
head coach
GANS( OKLA.) GRIZZLIES
2023 RECORD 7-5, 4-3 4A-4 COACH Brandon Tyler( 194-41 overall, 2nd year at Sallisaw) RETURNING STARTERS 8 offense, 5 defense KEY PLAYERS OL Zyler Rogers( Sr., 6-4, 275), OL Coper Carter( Sr., 6-3, 245), RB Broque Oft( Sr., 5-7, 140), DE Kash Keepes( Sr., 6-2, 215), C Quaid Girdner( Sr., 6-0, 245)
SCHEDULE
Aug. 30 Pryor Oct. 11 at Tulsa McLain *
Sept. 6 at Stigler Oct. 17 at Glenpool *
Sept. 20 at Eufaula Oct. 25 Poteau *
Sept. 27 at Hilldale * Nov. 1 Stilwell *
Oct. 4 Broken Bow * Nov. 8 at Ada *
*— Denotes 4A-4 District game. All kickoffs 7 p. m. unless noted.
2023 RECORD 1-9, 0-6 3A-3 COACH Logan Coatney( 2nd year, 1-9) RETURNING STARTERS 8 offense, 7 defense KEY PLAYERS QB Teaguen Collins( Jr., 6-2, 155), C Jonah Claborn( Sr., 6-0, 220), RB Jacob Gregory( Sr., 5-9, 160), OL Mark Gleason( Sr., 6-3, 315), WR Kade Scott( Sr., 5-10, 150)
SCHEDULE
Sept. 5 Roland Oct. 11 at Idabel *
Sept. 13 at Waldron Oct. 17 Lincoln Christian *
Sept. 20 at Spiro Oct. 25 at Holland Hall *
Sept. 27 at Eufaula * Nov. 1 Stigler *
Oct. 4 Checotah * Nov. 8 Locust Grove *
*— Denotes 3A-3 District game. All kickoffs 7 p. m. unless noted.
2023 RECORD 1-9, 0-7 2A-5 COACH Greg Wise( 1st year) RETURNING STARTERS 6 offense, 7 defense KEY PLAYERS QB Dalton Crossno( Sr., 6-3, 218), OL Joseph Stone( Sr., 5-11, 240), HB Cash Bobbitt( Sr., 5-11, 165), DE Cody Bowling( Sr., 6-2, 185)
SCHEDULE
Sept. 5 at Muldrow Oct. 11 Heavener *
Sept. 13 Lavaca Oct. 17 at Bethel *
Sept. 20 Sallisaw Central Oct. 25 Hugo *
Sept. 27 Okmulgee * Nov. 1 at Prague *
Oct. 4 at Kiefer * Nov. 8 Kingston *
*— Denotes 2A-I-3 District game. All kickoffs 7 p. m. unless noted.
2023 RECORD 12-1, 7-0 A-8 COACH Jeremy Thompson( 12th year, 69-49) RETURNING STARTERS 5 offense, 5 defense KEY PLAYERS RB Dillon Miller( Sr., 5-10, 195), WR Connor Green( Sr., 5-8, 160), WR Nathan Vann( Sr., 5-11, 170), Xhaiden Mosby( Sr., 6-0, 185), OL Zachary Comer( Sr., 6-2, 217)
SCHEDULE
Sept. 6 Heavener Oct. 11 at Talihina *
Sept. 13 at Roland Oct. 17 Mounds *
Sept. 20 at Warner Oct. 25 at Allen *
Sept. 27 at Wewoka * Nov. 1 Gore *
Oct. 4 Regent Prep * Nov. 8 Hominy *
*— Denotes A-II-3 District game. All kickoffs 7 p. m. unless noted.
2023 RECORD 2-8, 0-5 B-6 COACH Gary Hixon( 1st year) RETURNING STARTERS 4 offense, 6 defense KEY PLAYERS OL Brenden Strickland( Sr., 5-11, 230), RB Caiden Kennedy( Sr., 6-0, 185), LB Taeshawn Achan( Sr., 5-10, 170)
SCHEDULE
Aug. 29 at Keota Oct. 11 Arkoma *
Sept. 6 at Oaks Oct. 17 at Copan *
Sept. 13 Watts Oct. 25 Wilson-Henryetta *
Sept. 20 Midway Nov. 1 Wesleyan Christian *
Sept. 26 at Porum * Nov. 8 at Webbers Falls *
*— Denotes B-II-4 District game. All kickoffs 7 p. m. unless noted.
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