Oklahoma's top high school football players: Meet the state's best specialists
By Buck Ringgold
We're taking a position-by-position look at some of the top players in Oklahoma high school football. This list focuses on the specialists.
There are hundreds of standout football players in Oklahoma and these lists are not intended to be comprehensive. Use the comments section to discuss the other specialists worthy of fans' attention in 2021.
Jace Gilbert, 6-0, 190, Sr., Marlow
Gilbert is one of the highly sought-after kickers and punters in the country, considered one of the nation's top recruits at both positions. In a win against Marietta in October, he made all six of his extra points, kicked 10 touchbacks and made a career-high 52-yard field goal. He also had a career-high, 60-yard punt in the Outlaws' opening-round playoff win. The team's quarterback, Gilbert accounted for all 38 of the Outlaws' points in their second-round playoff win against Chandler with five total touchdowns, five PATs and a field goal.
Max Paskvan, 6-2, 180, Sr., Jenks
Paskvan is the Trojans' all-time leading scorer and may play a vital role in the team's bid to repeat as Class 6AI state champions. In the regular season, he made 43-of-44 extra points and three field goals, including a 49-yard field goal in a win against Broken Arrow. During the Trojans' two playoff wins, Paskvan made all seven of his extra points and all three of his field goal attempts.
TJ Cowan, 5-7, 165, Sr., Tulsa Union
Cowan kicked the game-winning field goal in overtime in Union's 6AI-2 opener against Owasso. He also had a field goal in the Redhawks' 17-14 win against Broken Arrow in the 6AI semifinals while punting four times for an average of 38.2 yards, placing one of those punts inside the Tigers' 20-yard line.
Hunter Martens, 5-11, 146, So., Broken Arrow
Martens made all six of his field-goal attempts this season, including a long of 35 yards against Yukon. He also made all but one of his 48 PAT attempts.
Jaxson Whittiker, 6-0, 157, Sr., Hilldale
The Hornets' kicker and punter, Whittiker was 51-of-52 in PAT attempts and 10-of-13 in field goal tries. He had four field goals in the team's season opener against Tulsa Rogers. Whittiker also punted 17 times for an average of 37.9 yards, with his longest punt traveling 62 yards.
Alex Perez, 5-8, 150, Sr., Catoosa
Perez made all seven of his field goal tries, including a long of 39 yards. He had three of those field goals against Claremore.
Luke Butler, 6-0, 167, Sr., Heritage Hall
A placekicker, Butler has been a big factor in the Chargers' powerful offense as Heritage Hall has reached the 3A semifinals. He has made 7-of-8 field goal attempts, including a long of 50 yards in a win against Mount St. Mary. Butler has made 55-of-60 PAT attempts as well.
Noah Mendoza, 6-1, 150, Sr., Vian
Mendoza was 6-of-7 in field-goal attempts, with a long of 42 yards in a win against Heavener. He was 43-of-47 in PAT attempts as well. The Wolverines' punter, Mendoza had 19 kicks for an average of 40.6 yards.
Cole Mahaney, 5-9, 150, Jr., Fort Gibson
Also the Tigers' starting quarterback, Mahaney is an effective punter. He has punted the ball 33 times this season for an average of 39.3 yards, with his longest punt traveling 61 yards.
John Michael Crooks, 5-8, 140, Jr., Oklahoma Christian School
Crooks could arguably be the best senior placekicker in the state next season. He's already helped this season for the Saints, who went undefeated in the regular season and have reached the 2A quarterfinals. In a win against Newkirk, he was a perfect 7-of-7 in extra points and made 6-of-8 touchbacks. He also kicked a 46-yard field goal in a September win against Crossings Christian.
Magnus Lepak, 6-0, 175, Sr., Holland Hall
Lepak converted on each of his first 11 field-goal tries this season. Through the first two rounds of the 3A playoffs, he has made 17-of-19 field goals, including a long of 50 yards in a win against Vinita. He has also converted 61-of-64 PATs, and as the team's punter, has 34 kicks for an average of 33.4 yards, with his longest covering 51 yards.
Drew Lancaster, 5-7, 130, Jr., Lincoln Christian
Lancaster helped preserve the Bulldogs' perfect regular season by kicking a 25-yard field goal as time expired to beat Jones. He also kicked a 37-yard field goal in a win against Beggs and has made 74-of-78 PAT attempts. Lancaster has punted five times for an average of 33.6 yards.
