A Column by Hunter Sheppard
In this week’s OKPreps Mailbox, we tackle a classic question from coaches, fans, and football junkies alike:
“Can you still win running the flexbone?”
The short answer? Yes.
The long answer? It depends — on where you are, who you’ve got, and how much you’re willing to commit.
In an era of five-wide sets, RPOs, and air-it-out tempo, the flexbone remains a fascinating outlier. Part identity. Part strategy. Part throwback.
And while it may not be the trendiest scheme on the field, it still shows up in the right places — especially where discipline matters more than depth, and where execution trumps flash.
Let’s take a look at where it still works… and where the challenges begin.
🐺 Davis: Tradition That Doesn’t Blink
When it comes to Oklahoma’s relationship with the option, Davis has never blinked. The Wolves have lived in the wishbone for decades — and through changes in classification, playoff formats, and offensive evolution, they’ve stayed true to themselves under coaches like Jody Weber and now Greg Parker.
They don’t just run it — they live it.
- State Champions in 1979, 1986, 1990, 2013, 2014, and 2024
- Regular semifinal and quarterfinal appearances across decades
- Known statewide as the gold standard for wishbone execution
One of their most iconic moments came in the 2013 Class 2A state final, when Davis mounted a 36–32 comeback win over Millwood — without attempting a single pass. Quarterback Blake Summers rushed for 197 yards and three touchdowns, embodying everything the system demands: toughness, discipline, and execution under pressure.
And in 2024? They did it again.
The season didn’t start hot. Davis opened 0–3 with losses to Sulphur, Pauls Valley, and Plainview. They dropped a crucial Week 9 district showdown to Holdenville — and didn’t even win the district.
Didn’t matter.
The Wolves got healthy, found their rhythm, and stormed through the 2A-II playoffs:
- First Round: 48–34 win over Hennessey
- Quarterfinals: 27–24 win over Adair
- Semifinals: 14–6 win over Stroud
- Championship: 28–18 win over Vian
No gimmicks. No frills. Just Davis football — tough, disciplined, and built for November.
They don’t try to reinvent the wheel. They just hit you with it over and over again.
In a small-school setting like 2A-II, that consistency wins. It’s physical. It’s punishing. And it’s a nightmare to prepare for in one week.s physical. It’s punishing. And it’s a nightmare to prepare for in one week.
🟡 Piedmont: Flexbone at the Big-School Level
In Class 6A-II, you don’t expect to see much option. But Piedmont is the exception — and they’ve built a real identity with it.
Under Jeff Hall (2019–2024), the Wildcats went 41–27, reached the playoffs every year, and even made the first semifinal appearance in school history back in 2019.
Jeff Hall Era:
- 2019: 10–3 | Semifinalist
- 2020: 5–4 | COVID-season
- 2021: 5–6 | First-round loss
- 2022: 7–5 | Beat Midwest City in snow game
- 2023: 7–4 | Final year in 5A
- 2024: 7–5 | First year in 6A-II, quarterfinal finish
Piedmont didn’t change its scheme after moving up — they doubled down. Even in a class dominated by speed and spread offenses, they remained committed to their identity.
That said, the flexbone has its limits. Piedmont can hang with most teams, but against the elite — teams with explosive playmakers and depth — it’s a tough ask. Still, what they’ve proven is that the flexbone can work even in 6A, if your program’s fully bought in.
🐉 Purcell: A New Chapter Under Aaron Dillard
In 2023, Purcell brought in Aaron Dillard, the longtime offensive coordinator under Jeff Hall, to lead a Dragon program that had gone 5–5 the year prior and missed the playoffs on a tiebreaker.
Dillard installed the flexbone immediately — and saw results just as fast. Purcell started 6–1, powered by a veteran backfield and a line built for contact. Their only early loss came in non-district play to Pauls Valley.
Then came Washington — the defending district champ and perennial title contender.
Purcell trailed just 7–0 at the half.
Washington made adjustments, pulled away, and won 40–0. That’s life in 2A.
Still, the Dragons responded, winning their first playoff game since 2020 in an overtime battle with Holdenville. They fell in the second round to Millwood, but Dillard had clearly laid a foundation.
In 2024, things got tougher. Purcell moved up to Class 3A, and the competition tightened:
- Versatile athlete Kash Guthmueller moved to Washington
- Boston Knowles returned, but QB play was inconsistent after an injury the year prior
- District 3A-2 included Plainview, Heritage Hall, Kingfisher, Pauls Valley, North Rock Creek, Anadarko and Star-Spencer
The Dragons finished 3–7, with wins over Lindsay, Lexington, and Star Spencer. The system was still there. The identity remained. But the step up in class reminded everyone that flexbone success doesn’t happen without depth — especially in 3A.
🛠️ A Program Rebuild: Marietta’s Flexbone Transition
Not every flexbone story is a playoff push.
Sometimes, it’s just a first step in a long road back.
In 2024, Marietta introduced the flexbone under new head coach Chuck Terry, looking to bring structure to a program that had gone winless the year before.
The Indians finished 1–9, but picked up their first win in two years with a 13–6 victory over Rush Springs.
Their toughest test came in Week 5 against Washington, a district powerhouse. The result — a 64–7 loss — was a harsh reminder of the gap between a rebuilding program and one already built.
But for Marietta, the scoreboard wasn’t the full story. The flexbone gave them direction. It gave them something to teach, install, and rally behind.
It wasn’t about chasing instant results. It was about laying a foundation — and that’s exactly what 2024 was.
🐾 Remembering Altus and Yukon’s Runs
It’s not just small schools. The flexbone had its time in Class 5A and 6A, too.
In 2015, Altus won the Class 5A title running a deadly combination of flexbone principles and sheer physicality under head coach Jeremy Reed.
Reed then took the Yukon job and brought the system with him. The Millers ran the flexbone under Reed through the 2020–21 school year, making a lone playoff appearance in 2020. The scheme stuck around for two more seasons under his successor before Yukon transitioned back to a spread look in 2023.
The success window was short — but it worked. In a world of vertical passing, Reed’s teams dared you to stop the run over and over again.
It didn’t last forever, but it proved that with full commitment, the flexbone can still compete at a high level.
📌 So… Does the Flexbone Still Work in 2025?
It does — but only under the right conditions.
✅ It works for programs like Davis, who live and breathe it
✅ It works for programs like Piedmont, who’ve built a culture around it
✅ It gives structure to teams like Purcell and Marietta, trying to rebuild
But it’s not plug-and-play.
It doesn’t guarantee wins.
And it’s unforgiving without execution, depth, and complete buy-in.
Still, in a football world obsessed with tempo and flash, the flexbone offers something refreshing — control, physicality, and identity.
It’s not for everyone.
But for the right program?
It still works just fine.
Hunter Sheppard covers high school sports across Oklahoma — from football and softball to basketball and beyond. He’s the voice behind OKPreps Mailbox and a regular presence at state championship events each season.
Follow him on Twitter @thecooldude52
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