Eagles Get First Region Win Over Patriots
Oak Mountain ended its three game home stand with a 17-12 victory on Friday night over the Homewood Patriots. In a game which saw Homewood throw 48 passes and accumulate over 300 yards of total offense, the Eagles defense exemplified their “bend but don’t break” mentality. Giving up only one touchdown all game, the defense did enough in the second half upheld to the 12 point halftime lead given by the offense. Drew McKnight again led the Eagles in rushing and passing, scoring touchdowns through both the air and ground. Oak Mountain also went over 300 yards of total offense and although they provided no score in the second half, kept the defense off the field for a large amount of time.
Oak Mountain opened the game with its largest return of the season by Michael Connell, giving the offense the ball in Homewood territory at the 47. However, a three and out by Oak Mountain which led to a muffed punt by Peter Boehme swapped the field position right back. The defense took the field and forced Homewood into a three and out of their own, but the Patriot punt pinned the Eagles down on their own two yard line. The first offensive play from the two resulted in a safety as Eric McKelvy was tackled in the endzone. The Patriots would get the ball again and pick up a few first downs, but with a fourth and one to go from the Eagles 36, Donald Gwarjanski made a huge stop to put the Eagles back on offense. From there it took only two completions for McKnight and Co. to find the endzone. McKnight and Michael Nordyke hooked up on a 37 yard completion down to the 20 on the first, and then hit the other Michael- Connell, on a 20 yard touchdown pass on the very next play. The 7-2 lead would only get bigger, after the defense forced another punt by Homewood on their next possession, the offense took the field at the 50. From there, a 7 play drive set the Eagles up again for what looked like another touchdown, but penalties forced Ben Phillips to make a 26 yard field goal. The long quarter wasn’t quite over for the Eagles though, on yet another punt deep inside their own territory, Homewood was blocked by Davis Dudchock, putting Oak Mountain on the 9 yard line.
The first play of the second resulted in a Drew McKnight one yard touchdown run putting the Eagles up 17-2. The offense would not score again and it would not need to although Homewood would get their offense going on its next possession. Homewood QB David Hayes, who threw for over 260 on 48 passes, led the Patriots on a 12 play drive capped off with a Charles Preston field goal to cut the lead to 17-5. The score would not change into the half with both teams exchanging time consuming possessions to end play in the first half.
Homewood opened with the ball in the third and put together a solid drive completing passes of 18 and 20 yards, but after the defense held inside the 10 yard line the Patriots missed a chip shot field goal. Oak Mountain put together a similarly quick and solid drive but also missed a field goal when their drive stalled at the 20 yard line. Oak Mountain made its first miscue late in the third quarter, McKnight threw his fourth interception of the season putting the Patriots at midfield. A 29 yard reception by Cortez Slaughter put Homewood to the one and from there Houston Walker punched in the touchdown slimming Oak Mountain’s lead to 17-12.
Any late game scare was put to rest with interceptions by both Thomas Holloway and Kent Fullington to preserve the Eagles victory. McKnight took two kneel downs after the Fullington interception to end the game and bring the Eagles their first region win of the season. Oak Mountain played their cleanest game of the season, only turning the ball over once and committing only 3 penalties. This was a vast improvement from a week ago, when several key penalties shot the Eagles in their own foot. After the game, Coach Jerry Hood had high praises for the bounce back effort of his team, “Our kids never gave up tonight, I am awfully proud of them and this is a great win for our team.” The Eagles now look forward to back to back road games, starting Friday with another region game at Minor.
Jack L.