Wilson football enjoys first winning season in 7-year history in 2022

In the first six seasons of its existence, the Wilson Tiger varsity football program combined for an 8-48 record.

In 2022, the Tigers found themselves in the win column a total of eight times in 10 games.

The 8-2 record in 2022 was the first winning season for the Wilson gridiron squad in its 7-year history.

Along with the winning season, the Tigers also earned their first postseason berth in school history.

The Wilson squad actually competed in the playoffs in 2020, which was during the COVID-19 pandemic where every varsity football team in Oklahoma was given the opportunity to compete in the postseason.

In their 10-game schedule in 2022, the Tigers outscored their opponents 449-215 – an average of 44.9-21.5 ppg. In its 2-game non-district schedule, the Wilson gridiron squad outscored its foes by an incredible 100-14 margin – an average of 50.0-7.0 ppg and outscored its seven District C-3 opponents 319-165 – an average of 45.623.6 ppg.

Six of the Tigers’ eight wins in 2022 came in district play with the lone district loss coming October 13 at Wesleyan Christian. The Wilson squad found themselves on the losing end of a 45-point Mercy Rule, 69-20, to the host Mustangs. The Week 7 loss ended the Tigers’ 5-game win streak.

The Tigers were scheduled to open their 2022 campaign on September 2 at Graham-Dustin. The season-opening road game was canceled due to several Graham-Dustin players being out due to COVID-19 symptoms.

With the road game at Graham- Dustin canceled, the Wilson squad officially kicked off its 2022 season on September 8 at home against the Olive Wildcats.

The Tigers began 2022 on a winning note, defeating the visiting Wildcats by a 40-8 margin for a 1-0 record. The onesided victory was also the first Tiger win under head coach Matt LeGrand.

After the season-opening win, the Wilson squad ended its non-district schedule September 16 at Bowlegs. The Tigers improved to 2-0 on the season with a Mercy Rule win over the host Bison. The victory over Bowlegs ended on the 45-point mercy rule at halftime with Wilson in front by a 60-6 margin.

The following week (September 22) saw the Tigers add two more additions to their history books. The Wilson squad recorded its first-ever district win by defeating the visiting Coyle Bluejackets by 34 points, 48-14. The victory also earned the Tigers their first 3-0 start in their 7-year history.

The Wilson gridiron squad extended its 2022 winning streak to five games with back-to-back district wins over Oaks-Mission (46-20) and Copan (76-34), respectively.

After the Week 7 loss to Wesleyan Christian, the Tigers rebounded with a convincing 60-6 road win over the Bluejacket Chieftains. The district win put the Wilson squad closer to earning a postseason berth in 2022, as the Tigers sat at 6-1 on the season.

The following week, the Wilson squad punched their ticket to the playoffs without even taking the field.

The Tigers were scheduled to host the South Coffeyville Lions on October 27, but the District C-3 meeting did not take place due to South Coffeyville having to cancel the Week 9 contest for an unknown reason. The forfeit win gave Wilson a 7-1 season record and a 5-1 district record.

The Wilson gridiron squad closed out its regular-season schedule November 3 at Watts. The Tigers solidified their district runner-up spot in District C-3 with a 54-22 victory over the host Engineers to finish the regular season with an 8-1 record.

The district runner-up finish awarded the Tigers a home game in their Class C playoff opener, hosting the Maysville Warriors, who finished third overall in C-4.

The Wilson squad was closing in on its first-ever playoff victory in the opening-round contest, but watched the visiting Warriors score 22 points in the final 12 minutes of regulation, including a game-winning 4-yard TD pass and successful conversion run with 35 seconds left in the fourth quarter to hand the Tigers the heartbreaking 36-30 defeat.

The Tigers will look for their second-straight postseason berth in 2023 when they begin their regular-season schedule September 1 at home against the Graham-Dustin Chieftains.

— Wilson Tigers 2022 Record: 8-2 Game Results Regular Season

Sept. 2 – @ Graham-Dustin (Canceled – COVID-19) Sept. 8 – Wilson 40, Olive 8 Sept. 16 – Wilson 60, Bowlegs 6 Sept. 22 – Wilson 48, Coyle 14 Sept. 30 – Wilson 46, Oaks-Mission 20 Oct. 7 – Wilson 76, Copan 34 Oct. 13 – Wesleyan Christian 69, Wilson 20 Oct. 21 – Wilson 60, Bluejacket 6 Oct. 27 – Wilson 15, South Coffeyville 0 (forfeit) Nov. 3 – Wilson 54, Watts 22 Playoffs

Nov. 11 – Maysville 36, Wilson 30