YUKON MILLERS
Coach: BRENT BARNES
3-7
OFFENSE
Anyone in football will tell you, the offensive line runs the team and this season the Yukon Millers have an offensive line capable of great things. “We return all of our OL/DL from last year, excited to have a much bigger, stronger, and more experienced group on the front lines,” said coach Barnes. That group is led by Cayden Carter (6-4, 315, Sr.). Barnes said Carter can move well for his size and can finish defenders with his physical style of play. Knox Schulte (6-1, 310, Sr.) gives the Millers another big man up front who can open holes in the run game and give one of two quarterbacks the opportunity to look downfield and find the open man. Wyatt Jones (6-0, 190, Jr.) and Tristan Berglan (5-10, 185, Jr.) will compete for playing time and the starting role heading into summer workouts. Both guys have a good arm and will give the Millers two viable options at the key position. A bigger challenge may be replacing the production lost at wide receiver. “Need to replace most of the production from the WR room, but looking at athlete Daniel Yebit (6-2, 170, Jr.) to step into a major role on offense this season,” said Barnes. Yebit is joined by Zayden Khalil (6-1, 205, So.) at wide receiver and between the two, they should be able to add those lost receptions and yards. With six starters back on the offensive side of the ball, the Millers are setting goals for themselves as a team and appear to have the ship pointed in the right direction.
DEFENSE
The Miller defense will feature two-way starter Destry Lujan (5-11, 225, Sr.) at linebacker. The Conference LB of the Year and Class 6A state runner-up in wrestling at 215-pounds, Lujan is a physical player who causes problems all over the field. Highly intelligent (33 ACT and a 4.4 GPA), Lujan is the leader on defense, but added four 100-plus yard games on offense last year while playing every snap on defense. Lujan is joined by Brayden Holliday (6-0, 200, Jr.) at linebacker and Michael Johnson (6-1, 270, Sr.) at end. This defense is hungry and loves to compete. Add Rocco Johnson (6-1, 235, Jr.) at OLB/DE and you have a formula for a defense that can pressure the opposing QB or cover the wings and keep everything inside the numbers. Defensive tackle Jackson Onderek (6-0, 270, Sr.) should not be ignored either. A terror to handle on the inside, Onderek thrives on the battle in the trenches. Tahir Neal (6-0, 175, Jr.) will start in the secondary with Yebit who will play both ways. Last season Yebit started every game as a sophomore at corner and is the No. 1 in Oklahoma and No. 3 high-jumper in the nation. Overall, the team is poised for a solid season under coach Barnes. The coaching staff includes Lance Tignor, Jason Esau, Todd Barnes, John Kolar, Tahj Davidson, Cameron Cowan, Daxton Kessee, and Kale Fouts.
8-29 – vs. Putnam City
9-5 – at Mustang
9-12 – at Sapulpa
9-19 – BYE
9-26 – at Westmoore
10-3 – vs. Broken Arrow
10-10 – at Edmond Memorial
10-16 – vs. Union
10-24 – at Norman North
10-30 – vs. Edmond Santa Fe
11-7 – vs. Owasso
