2026 Drumright Tornadoes Football Preview – Presented by Blue Sky Bank

DRUMRIGHT
TORNADOES

Coach: MARK RYAN

6-5

The Drumright Tornadoes step into the 2026 season with excitement and momentum as the program makes the jump from 8-man to 11-man football. After three straight successful years, Drumright views the transition as a new challenge and an opportunity to build on a strong foundation laid by its players, coaches and supportive community. Throughout the offseason, the Tornadoes attacked the weight room, focusing on the added demands of the 11-man game and embracing the change with enthusiasm and determination.

On offense, Drumright will continue to rely on playmakers who can stretch the field and keep defenses off balance. Quarterback Garret Wright (6-0, 155) enters his fourth year as a starter and brings a high football IQ, speed and quick decision-making to the position, allowing the Tornadoes to threaten through the air and on the ground. He is joined in the backfield by tailback Keegan Ward (6-0, 175), a tough, versatile athlete who can run with power and also throw when called upon, giving Drumright another dynamic option. On the perimeter, receivers like Sammy Blackburn (5-6, 130) provide quickness in space, while the line, led by Max Gray (5-10, 170), Conrad Reed (5-11, 180) and Kypton Ward (5-8, 175), works to establish a physical front in the 11-man set.

Defensively, the Tornadoes lean on a culture of hard work, discipline and toughness that has carried over from their recent success. Gray anchors the defensive line, where his motor and strength help Drumright adjust to the bigger field and different spacing of 11-man football. In the secondary, Blackburn, Keegan Ward, Wright, and Aiden Lumpkins (5-7, 135) give the Tornadoes a group of athletic defensive backs capable of covering ground and making plays on the ball. Kypton Ward adds another presence up front, and the team believes its combination of returning experience and emerging underclassmen will keep the defensive standard high as they write the next chapter in program history.

8-28 – vs. Wewoka

9-4 – at Oklahoma Union

9-11 – at Barnsdall

9-25 – vs. Porter

10-2 – at Central Sallisaw

10-9 – vs. Mounds

10-16 – at Gore

10-23 – at Talihina

10-30 – vs. Liberty

11-6 – vs. Regent Prep

To nominate a high school student for a feature in VYPE Magazine email a nomination to [email protected]