FLOWOOD – For most teams, a 56-30 win would be a highlight for the season, but for Oak Grove, it was just a typical dominating performance that the Warriors have given all year.
"They have done everything that we have asked them to do all season long," Causey said. "They have played extremely hard. They have followed all of our instructions from June 1 on with all this COVID junk. They have shown up to work tonight, and I couldn't be more proud of them."
Oak Grove's success can easily be attributed to the team's consistency in all three phases of the game, knowing that any aspect of their team could be the deciding factor in a game. This time quarterback Kabe Barnett was the main component in helping Oak Grove defeating Northwest Rankin and securing not only the Region 3 crown but also an undefeated season.
"Kabe Barnett is playing his best football heading into the playoffs, and that's a good thing for us," Causey said. "Kabe had six, seven or eight guys that have caught more than one pass on the year. He has a good relationship with all of them. I feel like our guys are clicking at the right time."
While Barnett has proved all season to be a consistent passer, as he was 13 of 15 and threw for 206 yards and four touchdowns, his legs were an even bigger difference in the Warriors' win.
Entering the game, Barnett's season-high of rushing yards in a game was 42 yards but shattered that as he rushed for 107 yards on 11 carries. For Barnett, running the ball is something that he tries to avoid doing.
"(The running) was on the fly," Barnett said. "I know I'll have to run, but I just plan on not having to."
The Warriors jumped out to a 21-6 lead in the first quarter. On the second play of the game, Oak Grove's Jaylen Aborom picked off Northwest Rankin's quarterback Celeb Parten.
Northwest Rankin responded with a nine-play, 65-yard drive to narrow the score 7-6. Barnett then ignited the Warrior offense as he connected with wide receiver Jaquerrius Gray for a 47-yard touchdown pass. On the next drive, Barnett easily found Jordan Coleman for a 19-yard touchdown.
The Cougars managed to close the gap in the second quarter on an 86-yard touchdown pass and then a pick-six as a ball went right through the hands of Barnett's targeted receiver and made the game 21-20.
Heading into the half, Barnett again found Gray on a 56-yard touchdown to stay ahead 28-20. Gray finished the game with six catches for 125 yards and two touchdowns.
"Kabe puts in a lot of work and is always trying to make everybody better," Gray said. "He's a great leader and has a loud voice. He directs us most of the time."
While Barnett was the boost for Oak Grove in the first half, the Warriors' defense owned the second half, with the run game finishing the night off.
In the second half, Oak Grove's defense held Northwest Rankin to 19 plays on offense. On the entire night, Parten was hit for negative yardage six times and was to an 11 of 20 night.
"We play an aggressive style of defense," Causey said. "But we really don't call a whole lot of blitzes. It's more of a read thing. But our guys played well. They played a lot better in that second half."
The Warriors racked up 156 rushing yards, with running back Courtland Harris scoring twice and running back EJ Newell tacking on a touchdown. Barnett also added his fourth touchdown on a four-yard pass to Raheem Fairley.
"We really challenged the offensive line, and I asked our offensive line questions on if they thought they were the best in the state," Causey said. "They felt like they are, and I told them, 'It's time to go prove it,' and that's what they came out and did. We were able to run the football on them."
Northwest Rankin's second-half points came from a kickoff return and a field goal in the game's dwindling seconds.
Oak Grove will now host No. 4 seeded Biloxi for the first-round of the 6A playoffs.
