Durant Lions
Coach: TODD VARGAS
Schedule:
9-2 – vs. Broken Bow
9-9 – at Tulsa Rogers
9-16 – at Ada
9-23 – vs. Sapulpa
9-30 – at Glenpool
10-7 – vs. East Central
10-13 – at Coweta
10-21 – vs. McAlester
10-28 – at Tulsa Memorial
11-3 – vs. Del City
Quick Hits:
Durant opens the season against Broken Bow after taking a couple of years off in the series. The Lions haven’t beaten the Savages since 1991. Broken Bow has won 8 of the last 9 meetings.
Running back Braylen Lyday ran 9 times for 126 yards and two touchdowns in the Lions 42-32 win at Thomas Edison.
The Lions have reinforcements coming in the next few years. Both Durant’s 7th and 8th grade teams finished undefeated in 2021.
Last 8 Years:
2021 – 1-9
2020 – 2-7
2019 – 3-7
2018 – 1-9
2017 – 2-8
2016 – 5-5
2015 – 4-6
2014 – 1-9
OFFENSE
The Durant Lions took their lumps last year but one of the nice things about high school sports is there’s always next year. And even with the losses of 2021, the Lions gained valuable experience that should benefit them this year. A case in point is quarterback Jaylon Saxon (5-10, 160, Jr.) who returns from last year. “Jaylon is a three-sport athlete who is a great player and better person as well as leader on and off the field and carries a 3.8 GPA,” said head coach Todd Vargas. Saxon will direct the flex bone triple option run-first offense with Aiden Dills (6-0, 175, Sr.) at the running back spot and Braylen Lyday (6-0, 175, Jr.) who also excels in soccer and basketball, in the slot where he’s a homerun threat every time he touches the ball according to Vargas. The strength of the Lion offense will be the guys up front that do the heavy lifting. Senior center Matt Manners (5-10, 220) and Tyler Wesley (5-11, 280, Sr.) along with the mountainous Tucker Dry (6-5, 300, Jr.), who’s got college coaches paying attention, will give opposing defenses plenty to worry about. All three are also standouts in the classroom with GPAs of 3.4 or better.
DEFENSE
Line play will also be a strong point for the Lions on the defensive side of the ball led by Xadavien Sims (6-4, 270, Jr.) one of the top prospects for the class of 2024, Kayden Archer (6-2, 220, Sr.), and Jacob Ingrum (6-4, 215, Sr.) at defensive end. Directing traffic in the middle at linebacker will be Mason Bacu (6-2, 190, So.) along with youngster Colton Yarbrough (6-5, 215, Fr.) on the outside. “Even though he’s just a freshman, Colton is a great leader on the field and in the locker room and has already had offers from Vanderbilt and Arkansas. This young man has an extremely high ceiling,” said Vargas. Saxon and Cason Dills (6-0, 165, Jr.) will be on patrol in the secondary for the Lions. They’ll be lots of new and challenging faces in the district lineup this year for Durant with the addition of Sapulpa, Del City, Glenpool, and Tulsa Memorial to go along with hold-overs Coweta, McAlester, and East Central.
