The Eufaula Ironheads had another exciting and winning season (7-4), ending it in a loss to Vian in the first round of the Class 2A playoffs. Eufaula head coach Larry Newton and staff did a fantastic job developing a young team that only had four seniors. After a rocky 1-2 start, the Ironheads racked off six consecutive wins before falling to Idabel for the district championship.
Fans saw numerous underclassmen take the field and give great effort and improve with each game. From Ledger Folsom at quarterback, to Peter Lee at running back to a senior loaded defensive line to Bryan Lynn kicking field goals and extra points, to Kaden Rice, Maddox Bridges, Dresden Chiles, Ke’Onte Youngblood, Da Da Shine and to Blayden Neil. The team united and became a solid and effective football team that made Ironhead fans cheer for joy.
“I’m very proud of this team and the obstacles they overcame throughout the season.
It was a rough start to begin the season but with time and practice we managed to field a team that was tough, ready to win and could execute our game plan to the best of their ability. I’m very happy for our seniors, they never had a losing season during their high school career and have been a part of a lot of great teams and games. I want to express my thankfulness for our administration, our fans, the student body, the band and the alumni for their support,” Eufaula head coach Larry Newton said.
The Eufaula Indian Journal (EIJ) is proud to announce the Official EIJ 2023 Eufaula Football Players of the Year.
The EIJ 2023 Eufaula Most Valuable Player is Draven Gragg. The 6’4”, 268-pound lineman played both sides of the football. Gragg made 60 tackles, a quarterback sack, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and blocked a punt. His senior leadership on the field was invaluable. He tormented offensive linemen and most of the time was double teamed. Offensively Gragg plowed through opposing defenses, forcing huge running lanes for Folsom, Lee and Gavin Watkins to run through.
The EIJ 2023 Eufaula Co-Offensive Players of the Year are Ledger Folsom and Peter Lee.
The sophomore quarterback Ledger Folsom had huge shoes to fill after Luke Adcock graduated. Folsom improved with each game. His quickness, speed and agility made it hard for defenses to stop him. Folsom went 54 of 108 passing with six touchdowns and six interceptions. But it was running ability that set him apart as he carried the football 117 times for 825 yards for 25 touchdowns.
The EIJ Eufaula Co-Offensive Player is Peter Lee. Lee is a 5’11”, 170 pound running back who has a bright future. His explosiveness and power to run through tackles, then has great vision of the field and follows his blockers. Lee carried the football 87 times for 764 yards and 7 touchdowns. He also had eight receptions for 92 yards and two touchdowns.
The EIJ 2023 Offensive Linemen of the Year is Connor McAllister. The 6’3”, 255-pound center was the anchor of the Ironheads O-Line. His leadership while on the line was instrumental in the Ironheads’ game plan, whether it was pass blocking or opening running lanes, McAllister’s skills set was key.
The EIJ 2023 Eufaula Co-Defensive Player’s of the Year are Aaron Spoehr and Bryan Lynn.
Lynn led the team in tackles with 138, a forced fumble, three fumble recoveries and a forced interception. Lynn’s toughness on the field was admirable and devastating as he was violent with hitting the opposition.
Spoehr made 104 tackles, a forced fumble and three fumble recoveries. His speed and quickness was exceptional and he ran down receivers or hammered running backs running to his side of the field.
The EIJ 2023 Co-Defensive Linemen of the Year are Carson Luna and Rashon Watts. Both of these players played key roles in the Ironheads’ No. 1 defense as they held multiple teams to under 100-yards rushing.
Carson Luna made 73 tackles and two fumble recoveries while Rashon Watts had 45 tackles and a forced fumble. These two powerhouse players anchored the line.
The EIJ Eufaula 2023 Special Teams Player of the Year is Bryan Lynn. Lynn was nearly Mr. Automatic as he made 48 PAT’s of 51 attempts. He made a 25-yard field goal and had 61 kickoffs for 2,766 yards averaging 45.3 yards per kick.
