Oak Grove and Hattiesburg are ready to meet again for the annual Battle for the ‘Burg.
As usual, there are several storylines heading into the game, along with several talented players.
Background
The rivalry goes back to 2001 and has Oak Grove leading Hattiesburg 14-7 all-time in the series.
The Warriors won last year’s matchup 66-27, which is the largest margin of victory for either team in the series. Oak Grove also owns the longest win streak in the rivalry, as the Warriors won five in a row from 2013 to 2016. Notably, Hattiesburg and Oak Grove played twice in 2013 as the two met in the first round of the 5A playoffs.
This season, Hattiesburg hosts Oak Grove at D.I. Patrick Stadium.
Season Storylines
The Tigers have had a harsh start to open the season as Hattiesburg suffered a 43-8 defeat to Ocean Springs last week. Oak Grove will be the third straight 6A team Hattiesburg has faced. In fact, all four of the Tigers’ non-region games are against 6A schools, with the Tigers facing Meridian next week.
With an 0-2 record, the Tigers are looking for a spark of momentum, however, as their young offense has struggled and ultimately been the difference in Hattiesburg’s season. The Hattiesburg offense has yet to score more than one touchdown in a game this season.
As for Oak Grove, the Warriors had a delayed start to the year because of COVID-19 protocols. Yet Oak Grove still looks like the favorites for the 6A state title as the Warriors opened the year with a dominant but expected 43-7 win over Seminary last week.
Perhaps the biggest storyline for Oak Grove is the scheduling of MAIS’ Greenville Christian, but more on that next week.
Who to Watch For?
There are a variety of names to be on the lookout for entering Friday’s game.
For Hattiesburg, junior defensive lineman/outside linebacker Tabias Hinton will be an interesting test for the Warriors’ offensive line, who, according to Oak Grove coach Drew Causey could have played better. Hinton is rated a four-star recruit and holds offers from Michigan, Mississippi State and Southern Miss.
On offense, Tavares Wade has been the bright spot for Hattiesburg. The sophomore will swap between running back and quarterback, but is most effective running the ball. In Wade’s first game against Petal, he ran for 163 yards on 20 carries and threw a touchdown pass.
For Oak Grove, quarterback Kabe Barnett and wide receiver Tyrell Pollard are several gems to watch on the offense. Barnett played in just the first half last week as he was 6 of 7 for 101 yards and two touchdowns, while Pollard had one catch for 10 yards.
Like the offense, the Warriors defense has several names to choose from, but junior defensive back Jaylen Aborom will be a name to watch. Not only will he line up at wide receiver, as he notably made two catches for 54 yards and a touchdown last week, but the ballhawk led the team in interceptions last year. It’s safe to say the defensive back will be a concern for Hattiesburg’s young quarterbacks.
What’s it mean for whoever wins?
The Tigers have been known to play better with their backs against the wall; Hattiesburg’s 2020 season is a clear example. Add the fact that they are winless heading into a rivalry game, and Hattiesburg could catch the Warriors off guard.
For Oak Grove, the Warriors enter the matchup riding a 14-game win streak. With a formidable opponent to face against Greenville Christian, it almost feels like Oak Grove could overlook their game against Hattiesburg.
While the game is a non-region matchup, bragging rights are on the line, and the matchup could be a major momentum shift for both teams. For Hattiesburg, it could be gaining confidence and getting back to the winning ways, and for Oak Grove, it could be the start of a domino effect of back-to-back losses before the start of region play.
