In a rare matchup between giants in each of the teams' respective classifications, Oak Grove defeated Madison-Ridgeland Academy 45-44 in an overtime thriller that did not disappoint.
The game was marked by high-scoring offenses and a game-deciding defensive stand during a two-point conversion attempt by MRA.
"Our kids are fighters, and they fought all night long tonight," Oak Grove head coach Drew Causey said.
The first drive of the game set the tone for the night, with MRA quarterback John White finding Case Thomas for a 69-yard touchdown pass to open the game. From there, both team's offenses did not stop.
However, in Oak Grove's first possession, penalties hurt the Warriors at getting any rhythm going. Quarterback AJ Maddox led his team down the field in 14 plays, but MRA held Oak Grove to a field goal in one of the few stops of the night for each defense. Luke Stewart nailed a 20-yard field goal, which put Oak Grove on the board at 7-3.
On the ensuing drive for MRA (4-2), White diced through the Warrior defense with over-the-middle throws, sideline throws and swing passes to lead MRA on their second straight scoring drive. The drive finished with Patriots running back Charles Simpson breaking three tackles and scoring on a seven-yard rushing touchdown.
With MRA up 14-3, there was an obvious shift in the Oak Grove fan bases' mood. However, Maddox and the Oak Grove (4-0) offense eased their worries with a 4-play, 60-yard drive. Maddox found Damari Jefferson for a 40-yard touchdown pass to make the score 14-10.
"I was just opening up the score so that my brother could get going," Jefferson said about his touchdown.
MRA went right down the field on the next possession and scored when White again found Thomas for a touchdown for 40 yards, which put MRA back up 11, 21-10.
Again, Maddox and the Warriors had a response, with PJ Woodland scoring on an 80-yard touchdown reception to narrow the score to 21-17 in favor of the Patriots.
The Warrior's defense finally arose, forcing the first punt of the night late in the second quarter after MRA went three and out. Oak Grove took advantage of the punt with a four-play drive. Tajii Burkett took the ball 35 yards to the endzone that, gave the Warriors their first lead at 24-21. MRA added a field goal before the end of the half to tie the game at 24.
With how the game went, it felt like whoever had the ball last would win the contest, which was Causey's entire message for his team in the halftime locker room.
"He said we must guard better," Burkett said. "He was telling us to stay on our man."
Oak Grove started the second half off with a bang by again scoring in four plays and on a 47-yard touchdown pass from Maddox to Burkett.
White continued to show all of his abilities in every drive, which featured his scrambling, accuracy and vision. White then led his team on a grinding 15-play drive down the field and capped it off himself with a 7-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 31.
"That joker is good, man," Causey said. "He's a great player. Our defense didn't play great tonight. That's the bottom line. [MRA] did a lot of stuff rubbing and trying to free up receivers, and when you got a guy back there who can put in the spot and is a very accurate passer, it's hard to have those guys cover everybody."
The pressure began building, with the game tied at 31 heading into the fourth quarter. Oak Grove was facing fourth and nine from the MRA 32. Given the Warrior's inability to stop MRA, Causey decided to roll the dice and go for it. Maddox found Burkett again for a 30-yard touchdown to put Oak Grove up 38-31.
However, MRA again had a response as White led the Patriots on an 80-yard drive to tie the game with less than two minutes to play and scored his second rushing touchdown of the night.
White finished the game 23 of 28 and threw for 376 yards and accounted for four touchdowns, while Maddox was 20 of 23 throwing for 324 yards and three touchdowns.
The Warriors got the ball down to the MRA 26-yard line and tried for a game-winning field goal as time expired, but MRA blocked the field goal to send the game to overtime.
Oak Grove struck first, with Burkett finding the endzone for the third time. MRA scored in two plays, and they elected to go for two.
With all the offense in the game and over 750 yards of total offense by both teams combined, a defensive stand ended the game. MRA ran an option, and Oak Grove had it snuffed out with Caleb Moore coming up with the game-winning tackle for the Warriors.
"We fight to the end, and that's what our team did tonight," Causey said. "Our team is tough. We have played four really talented, quality opponents. And to come out of that 4-0 is good. We've got a tough Laurel team next week right here at home. We have just got to get better and play better."
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