Rougher Nation, are you ready to meet your 2024 defending state champs?
Muskogee football fans will get a first glimpse of the Roughers Thursday August 22 at 6 pm as they host Tahlequah, Sapulpa and Enid in a four-way pre-season scrimmage at Rougher Village.
The Class 6A-2 state champs will feature several returning starters from the state championship team including quarterback Jamarian “Byrd” Ficklin, running back La’Tavion Johnson, receiver Ondraye Beasley and big Miguel Chavez on offense while Tim Moore and Coda Barnoski return on defense. Fans will also get a first look at additions to the roster this year thanks to the state’s new transfer rule. Running back PJ Wallace from Bartlesville will bolster the Roughers ground game while Noah Darnell from Carl Albert and Chayse Roland from Tulsa McLain will add to the wide receiver corps and J’lyn Burns from Tulsa Rogers will help fill a hole on the offensive line that was depleted by graduation.
“These first few days of practice have been brutal with the heat but I’m proud of the way the kids have handled it,” said Roughers head coach Travis Hill. “I think that defending our state title has brought an extra intensity and confidence to practice this year that we haven’t had in the past.”
The scrimmage will start at 6pm with team round robins followed at around 7:15 with a half-game battle between Enid and Sapulpa followed at around 8:30 with the Roughers taking on Tahlequah. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students.
