Experience could help Tulsa Hale squad determined to snap lengthy skid

By Patrick Kays 

Photo courtesy of the Nathan Hale Football Twitter account 

Over the next few weeks, SBLive Oklahoma will break down high school football teams from the four largest classifications in the state in anticipation of the upcoming 2022 season. Here's our look at the Tulsa Nathan Hale Rangers. 

HEAD COACH

Isaiah Irvin

RETURNING STARTERS

8 offense, 9 defense

2021 AT A GLANCE

Overall record: 0-10

District record: 0-7, 8th in District 5A-4

Playoffs: Did not qualify

PLAYERS TO WATCH

RB Kortland Lowe, 5-10, 200, Jr.

Lowe is back in the backfield for the Rangers in 2022 and should be the heartbeat of the offense. He is quick off the edge and is stout and can run through defenders.

He finished with 650 yards and six touchdowns in 2021, and will look for more in his junior campaign.

LB Levin Whaler, 5-10, 205, So.

As a freshman, Whaler tallied 58 tackles and nine tackles for loss. After some experience and growth, there should be more output to come for the linebacker this year for Nathan Hale.

DB Jeremiah Hernandez, 6-0, 170, Jr.

Hernandez’s tall frame will be an issue for quarterbacks in 2022. He made 48 tackles and had three pass breakups as a sophomore, and is returning for more action in 2022.

OUTLOOK

The Nathan Hale Rangers enter 2022 looking to shake a 25-game losing streak that has haunted them over the past three seasons.

If anything can end a drought like that, it is experience.

Fortunately for Irvin and the rest of the coaching staff, they have it with 17 returning to their positions from last season. They will come back bigger, stronger, and faster and hopefully spawn some success with it.

The defensive side should be the stronger suit, as they still work out who will be under center this season. The Rangers bring back nine starters on defense, and will have a solid group leading the secondary.

The Rangers open up the season Sept. 2 against crosstown foe East Central, the team the Rangers last earned a win against. Hale also goes to Hilldale on Sept. 9 and is home on Sept. 16 against Skiatook.

District 5A-4 play for the Rangers starts on Sept. 22 with a home game against Claremore.

COACH SAID

"The sky is the limit with our 2022 Hale football team, as we've had a really good 'Summer Pride.'" - Isaiah Irvin