BRANDON – Oak Grove was on the cusp of disaster after a blocked punt allowed Brandon to take the lead midway through the fourth quarter of the Class 7A South State championship game.
Despite trailing 45-42, after leading all night, the Warriors' quarterback AJ Maddox's composure never wavered. Maddox helped march Oak Grove down the field to the 1-yard line. At that moment, head coach Drew Causey never considered giving the ball to anyone else. Maddox then broke left, scoring with ease to give Oak Grove the go-ahead score.
The touchdown run was the signature play of Maddox's night as he helped the Warriors defeat Brandon 49-45, sending Oak Grove to the state title game.
"AJ had played phenomenal," Causey said. "I knew without a doubt that he was going to get in.
"He has proven what I know and what everybody in Oak Grove knows that he might be the best quarterback in the state of Mississippi."
Maddox, whose performance was like watching an artist craft a masterpiece, was responsible for five touchdowns as he threw for 345 yards and two scores. He also ran for 84 yards and three touchdowns.
"I have a great supporting cast," Maddox said. "I know to stay composed under pressure. Coach was telling me to stay composed, and he said, 'hey look, if they score here, we have to go answer it.'"
Oak Grove and Brandon combined for over 1,100 yards in total offense, with each school accumulating at least 500 yards.
As exciting as the game's end was, the beginning looked like a potential blowout victory for the Warriors (12-1) as they jumped out to a 14-0 lead by the end of the first quarter. Maddox scored on the opening drive after scrambling for a 40-yard touchdown run, and then later threw a shovel touchdown pass to Tajii Burkett.
The Bulldogs found life at the start of the second quarter with Tyson Robinson erupting for a 77-yard touchdown run. Robinson, who is a freshman, finished the game with 247 yards on 14 carries.
From there, a shootout unfolded with Maddox depending on wide receiver PJ Woodland for numerous pivotal plays throughout the night.
"He is a great player," Maddox said. "He is an LSU commit. I knew I could rely on him at any point. There was a lot of pressure at times. My o-line did a good job all night, but I know that I can count on him 100% of the time."
Maddox later found a wide-open Woodland, who broke away for a 48-yard touchdown to push the Warriors' lead to 21-7.
"I ran across the field wide open, and AJ found me," said Woodland, who hauled in 10 catches for 178 yards. "AJ was phenomenal. He was running and throwing it. He was putting the ball where it was supposed to be every single time. He's been having a dog mindset and dog mentality. (His performance) didn't surprise me."
Both teams traded touchdowns before the half, with Brandon quarterback Landon Varnes throwing a 28-yard touchdown pass. But a 31-yard reception by Woodland set up a touchdown run for running back Kylin Champagne, who racked up 133 yards on 25 carries.
At the start of the second half, Brandon got on the board with a field goal and then a touchdown run by Nate Blount IV to narrow the score to 28-24.
However, Oak Grove answered again with a 33-yard catch by Woodland, setting up Champagne's second touchdown run. Again, Blount scored on the next drive on a 20-yard run. Yet Maddox reached the end zone again, followed by Brandon's Quincy Phillips Jr. scoring on a 19-yard run to cut the Bulldogs' deficit to 42-38.
This set up Brandon taking the lead after Oak Grove's offense went three and out, leading to a blocked punt inside the Warriors' 10-yard line. Blount then scored his third touchdown of the night to put the Bulldogs ahead 45-42. After Maddox's go-ahead touchdown run, the Warrior defense managed to stop Brandon from putting together a potential game-winning drive.
Oak Grove's victory avenges the Warriors' only loss of the season after they fell to Brandon (10-3) earlier in the year.
"Brandon has a great team," Causey said. "But to come up, beat them here after everything that has been said all week, everything that was said tonight pregame and everything on the video board pregame it makes it real special to come up here and beat them on their field."
Oak Grove will now face Starkville, which is the defending Class 6A State Champion, next week in Oxford. The game will be hosted by Ole Miss, with kickoff set for 7 p.m.
"I think for us, this is the fourth time in six years we have been to state," Causey said. “(Starkville is) a great team. They were their last year. They know how to win that game. It'll be fun going to play in Oxford."
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