ELK CITY ELKS
Coach: ZAC MAYNARD
11-2
OFFENSE
Entering the 2023 season the Elk City Elks and head coach Zac Maynard are looking for players who are willing to step up and take on a leadership role on and off the field. “Good group of upcoming players. We have a lot of production to replace off of last years team. Will need some guys to step up and grow into leaders with larger roles on the team,” said coach Maynard. Four starters are back for the Elks including Rylee Boyd (6-0, 250, Sr.) on the offensive line. Boyd will lead a talented group of hogs up front which will include Holden Dixon (6-0, 235, Sr.), Carson Price (6-1, 225, Sr.) and Tayte Shelton (6-2, 230, Sr.). Dixon is a two-year starter at center. The Elks will run a flexbone offense centered around tailback Cooper Garbarino (6-0, 200, Sr.). Garbarino does it all for the Elks. He’s a special teams threat in the kicking game, plays safety on defense and is developing into that leader coach Maynard is searching for. Younger players will need to step up in other key roles which could include quarterback, wide receiver and running back. Tucker Garza is an underclassman coach Maynard is excited to see perform this season. Last year as a freshman Garza rushed for 458 yards and is expected to have another good year at running back.
DEFENSE
The Elks 3-4 defense features a pair of solid linebackers in Braxton Robertson (5-11, 180, Sr.) and Catch Geno (6-0, 205, Jr.). Robertson and Geno are two hard-hitting linebackers who play downhill and pursue across the line well. With only three starters returning on defense, the Elks will look to Robertson and Geno for pre-snap adjustments as they will be responsible for getting younger players in positions to be successful. Blake Redd (6-4, 180, Sr.) may be the X-factor on defense and could be a force off the edge. If Redd can contain one side of the field and disrupt enough to allow the linebackers to flow freely to the ball, the Elks could be tough to beat off the edge. The defense will need to find secondary help as Garbarino will play safety, but both corner spots are a question mark.
SCHEDULE
8-25 – at Altus
9-1 – vs. Bridge Creek
9-8 – at Canadian, TX
9-15 – vs. Carl Albert
9-22 – OPEN
9-29 – at Clinton
10-6 – vs. Cache
10-12 – at Chickasha
10-19 – vs. Weatherford
10-27 – vs. Woodward
11-3 – at John Marshall
