While the season opener Friday night Aug. 29 is just one of 10 games on the schedule, it is a pivotal one in more ways than one for the Durant Lions’ 2025 football squad.
The Lions play host to long-time rival Ada at 7:30 p.m. looking to start the season on a positive note for a team that is brimming with high playoff aspirations, is loaded with 24 seniors and has emblazoned the motto “Burn the Boats”.
Although they are coming off a 2-8 finish, four of those losses came down to virtually the final possession. With a veteran cast that also includes some key newcomers, the Durant staff is confident about changing those fortunes.
“When you look at our schedule it’s tough across the board but in order for us to achieve our goals we aren’t going to shy away from it,” head coach Todd Vargas commented. “We are going to attack every single game. We feel like there is not a team on the schedule we cannot beat. We’ll have to play well but we are confident we have a chance to win every one of them.
“We are going after our goals and it’s that or bust. Our goal is not just to win games and have a chance at the playoffs. Our goal is to get to the playoffs and go deep. It’s a lofty goal because there’s a lot of really good teams in our district and we know that. No retreat. No surrender.”
That all starts with Ada on Friday for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff at Paul Laird Field with a Cougar team that has high expectations of its own coming off an 8-4 campaign a year ago.
And the Lions know exactly what to expect after coming ever so close against their rivals each of the past two seasons in which just a couple of breaks the wrong way resulted in one-score Ada victories (14-7 in 2023 and 20-13 in 2024).
The Cougars clipped Durant for 370 yards of total offense a year ago, including 214 through the air which just ignited a strong passing campaign from quarterback Brock Boyles, who racked up a whopping 568 yards and six touchdowns passing in a playoff win over Cushing.
Boyles returns as a fourth-year starter to lead a veteran offensive unit that is fortified by star senior receiver Deante Lindsay, who notched 859 yards receiving and 13 touchdowns last season, as well as speedster Lakievin Richardson, who accounted for 213 yards and two scores on 13 catches in the 2024 Ada playoff triumph.
University of Memphis commit Dawson Matthews anchors the offensive line at 6-foot-5, 285 pounds and the Cougars also welcome back eight defensive starters.
“It’s been a play or two that has cost us the last two years against them and our kids understand that we have to be the ones making plays,” Vargas said. “They throw it very well and have a very good running back and weapons on the edge. Defensively we have to slow them down. We have to get kids in the right position and tackle. They are a very good football team and well coached.
“Our kids are excited and up for the challenge. This is a big game in order for us to start well and build momentum. This is a big season for us with 24 seniors. We want to go out and have a very successful season and that starts on Friday.”