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"I do enjoy eight-man football. Oaks has a really solid football tradition. We've been down because of (low) numbers, not because of coaching or effort. We've been the smallest school in Class B the last couple of years." With Oklahoma's reclassification, Oaks drops down to Class C for the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 cycle. "Now we're going down to Class C with teams more our size," Clabon said. The Warriors, who are coming off a 2-9 season in 2019, appear to be solid on numbers heading into 2020 with more than 20 players on the roster. Oaks will be multiple on offense with an emphasis on its running game and play-action pass. Junior Shaun Reed will play quar - terback. "He's really smart," Claborn said. "I have him in the classroom as well. He's a quick learner. We've dumped a lot on him and he's picked it up and asked for more. That's great because he needs to be the cerebral guy." Junior Carlos Balderas will be a pri - mary ball carrier at running back. "What I like about Carlos is he's excited about football," Claborn said. "When I met those guys in early July, he was the first one here and the last one to leave. He can't wait to play football. Every team needs more of those guys and that's who he is." Junior Ryan McCollum gained 15 pounds in the offseason and will play fullback. "He's a big strong guy with big legs," Claborn said. "He'll be a good lead blocker." Freshmen Alex Harlin and Sheldon Hammer will also be in the mix at run - ning back, Claborn said. Sophomore Caden Balderas, Carlos Balderas' younger brother, will be one of the Warriors' wide receivers. "(Caden) has a long reach and good speed with good jumping ability," Claborn said. "He's a basketball and track guy." Junior Tiajer Russell has really good hands and will play a tight end type role. Jordan Dry, the team's only senior, will play a guard position on the offen - sive line. Sophomores Alex Gilbert and Alex Fleege and junior Aiden Pitts are also in the mix on the offensive line. Defensively, the Warriors will operate out of a 4-1-3 formation. Up front, Dry will play a defensive end spot with McCollum at another end. Sophomore Ali'i Marshall is an ath - letic lineman with quick feet who will play inside. Gilbert and Pitts also will play inside. Harlin will man the middle lineback- er position. Russell and the Balderas brothers will operate in the secondary in various roles. Claborn also praised the efforts of sophomore Grant Vann and freshmen Jakeb Walker and Toby McCollum. "They were here probably every day this summer," Claborn said. With Oaks moving into Class C, which is the smallest 32 teams in Okla - homa, the Warriors will face a new schedule of teams in District C-4 and some long road trips. "We're probably going to travel two to three hours to most of our games," Claborn said. Claborn said the preseason favorite in the district would be Sasakwa, fol- lowed by Midway. He said Oaks and the rest of the conference teams, Bowlegs, Coyle, Graham-Dustin, Maud and Wil- son-Henryetta would be competing for the final two playoff spots. Claborn is excited about the season kicking off and trying to get Oaks back to its winning ways. "We want to start out right, getting the right guys out of the hallways com- ing to practice every day," he said. "In today's day and age with video games and phones and computers it's hard to do. These 21 guys who come out every day I'm proud of them. They're sure working harder every day than the guys that aren't coming out. Foot- ball-wise we're going to have to win four conference games (to make the playoffs). Claborn said Oaks' goals for the 2020 season are to have a winning record, make the playoffs and win one playoff game. "Those are some things we're aiming at," he said. 2020 Football Preview Wednesday, August 26, 2020 n 19C Herald-Leader/Westside Eagle Observer OAKS-MISSION Continued from Page 18C Bud Sullins/Special to the Herald-Leader Oaks players, including Jordan Dry, make a play during a game last season.