By Stan Caldwell
stanmansportsfan.com
HATTIESBURG – Be afraid. Be very afraid.
If you have the misfortune of encountering Oak Grove on the football field this fall, yes, be afraid, be very afraid.
The Warriors served notice early and often Thursday night that they will be a force to be reckoned with in Class 7A after a supremely dominant 49-0 beatdown of Wayne County in the 2023 season opener at Warrior Field.
Oak Grove (1-0) will take its show on the road next week to national powerhouse Hoover, Alabama, while the War Eagles (0-1) get a week off to regroup and get ready to host Greene County on September 8.
“I’m really proud of the way we played tonight,” aid Oak Grove coach Drew Causey. “All three phases of the game were outstanding against a good football team.
The Warriors were hitting on all cylinders in all phases of the game in a brutally efficient throttling of a Wayne County team that expects to be in the thick of the playoff race in Class 5A.
How efficient, you ask?
Well, Oak Grove ran just 29 plays from scrimmage, only faced five third downs, had the ball just 17 minutes and 17 seconds and held the War Eagles to just 158 yards of offense, while forcing five turnovers and scoring touchdowns on three of them.
“We did what we were supposed to do during the week, and it paid off in the game,” said senior defensive tackle Caleb Moore. “We went over a lot of the different stunts they were doing, and I’m glad we paid attention. We shut them down.”
The Warriors got the onslaught started right from the beginning. Senior kicker Luke Stewart put the opening kickoff of the game into the end zone for the first of seven straight touchbacks.
OG blew up the opening play of the game for a 2-yard loss, then senior linebacker Alandez Blaylock led the charge for an 8-yard sack on third down.
A 15-yard punt set the Warriors in business at the War Eagle 31-yard-line, and on the first play from scrimmage, senior quarterback A.J. Maddox hit senior Damari Jefferson in the end zone for a quick 7-0 lead.
“We came out today high energy,” said Maddox. “I loved how we came out tonight. Coaches had a great game plan, I trusted my teammates, and everything came together, offensively, everything was rolling tonight.
“We had that play all week. It was zone coverage; I saw the look I wanted, and I knew my receiver was going to win. I trust my receivers, we worked so much in the offseason, I just knew where my guy was going to be.”
Maddox, who has committed to Texas A&M, was 5 of 7 passing for 113 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Maddox also had a 34-yard scoring strike to senior Nehemiah Taylor in the second quarter.
“They make plays, and I’m glad for that,” said Maddox. “It’s awesome, to see how all that hard work paid off on the first play. The line gave me plenty of time to throw the ball. I’m really appreciative of the job those guys do.”
Oak Grove made it 14-0 late in the first quarter after a 40-yard punt return for a touchdown by senior P.J. Woodland was wiped out by a block in the back.
No matter. The Warriors drove 29 yards on four plays for the score. Senior Taji Burkett converted a third down on an 18-yard run to the War Eagle 5, and junior Jamar Pittman drove over the left side for the touchdown on the next play.
Oak Grove broke Wayne County on the next possession. Another Stewart touchback set the War Eagles again at their own 20 to start their drive.
“Luke is a weapon for us,” said Causey. “When he puts it in the end zone, and they have to drive 80 yards every time, that’s hard.
After a modest gain on first down, the War Eagles were called for back-to-back 5-yard penalties, and when the finally snapped the ball, Moore was there to knock the ball into the hands of Blaylock, who swiftly covered the 3 yards needed to score.
It was more of the same on the ensuing possession. Senior Chase Pinkston picked off a tipped ball and returned the interception to the Wayne County 29. After a 5-yard penalty, Maddox hooked up with Taylor for a commanding 35-0 lead.
Woodland added another defensive score late in the first half on a 48-yard pick-6 to send the Warriors into the halftime locker room with a 42-0 lead.
“I thought our defense as a whole played extremely well,” said Causey. “I think we got five turnovers and didn’t give any away. So that’s a good night.”
The second half was mercifully short, as it was played with a running clock. Wayne County managed to move the ball on both of its second half possessions, with senior K.J. Walley finishing the night with 91 yards on 15 carries.
But both times, the War Eagles were thwarted by the Oak grove defense, the first on a 72-yard scoop-and-score by junior Jaylen Moore late in the third quarter, and the second on an interception in the end zone by senior Deon Barber in the final period.
Causey said his team is excited about the opportunity to go out of state and play a nationally recognized power.
“We’ve been doing this for the past few years, playing someone different that we’ve never played before,” said Causey. “The opportunity came up to play them, and we jumped all over it.
“I think it’s the first time in school history that we’ve traveled out of state to play a game, so that’s pretty cool. It’s going to be a fun trip. I know they have a great program. Historically, they’re nationally known.”
The Warriors may have plenty of respect for the Buccaneer program, but after Thursday night, they’ll be heading to Alabama with a ton of momentum.
“We’ve heard a lot about them,” said Moore. “We’ve just got to stay on our P’s and Q’s and get things adjusted during the week. It’s going to be fun.”
GAME SUMMARY
Thursday at Oak Grove
Oak Grove 49, Wayne County 0
WC 0 0 0 0 – 0
OG 21 21 7 0 – 49
First Quarter
OG – A.J. Maddox 31 pass to Demari Jefferson (Luke Stewart kick), 9:29 (1 play/31 yards/0:08 possession).
OG – Jamar Pittman 5 run (Stewart kick), 1:52 (4/29/1:27).
OG – Alandez Blaylock 3 fumble recovery (Stewart kick), 0:51.
Second Quarter
OG – Maddox 34 pass to Nehemiah Taylor (Luke Stewart kick), 9:42 (1/29/0:41).
OG – Kylin Champagne 7 run (Stewart kick), 4:31 (6/51/3:23).
OG – P.J. Woodland 48 interception return (Stewart kick), 2:07.
Third Quarter
OG – Jaylen Moore 72 fumble recovery (Aidan Williams kick), 0:42.
TEAM STATISTICS
WC OG
First downs 11 10
Total net yards 158 221
Rushes-yards 36-125 21-108
Passing yards 33 113
Comp-Att-Int 5-12-3 5-8-0
Fumbles-lost 4-2 0-0
Penalties-yards 4-28 7-55
Punts-total (avg.) 4-142 (35.5) 1-52 (52.0)
Sacks 1-13 1-8
Third down 3-11 2-5
Fourth down 1-1 1-1
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing
Wayne County – K.J. Walley 15-91, Sandriko Mayfield 3-38, Malik Odom 6-12, Tae Clark 1-7, Zimetrice Denson 1-6, Quantel Gray 1-1, Jacob Bowles 4-(-11), Zae Owens 5-(-19); Oak Grove – Kylin Champagne 6-44, Martez Blackwell 5-29, Taji Burkett 1-8, Jared Milsap 2-10, Jamar Pittman 1-5, Kolton Scott 3-4, Charles Barnes 1-1, Chavel Williams 1-1, Team 1-(-4).
Passing
Wayne County – Jacob Bowles 5-12-3-33; Oak Grove – A.J. Maddox 5-7-0-113, Kolton Scott 0-1-0-0.
Receiving
Wayne County – Jalen James 2-20, Sandriko Mayfield 1-13, Pat Hamilton 1-2, Zae Owens 1-(-2); Oak Grove – Nehemiah Taylor 2-49, Tajii Burkett 2-33, Damari Jefferson 1-31.
