Patriots’ offensive line face biggest challenge
MURFREESBORO – Oakland senior Jack Jones said he believes the Patriots’ offensive line is the best in the state.
On Friday, the Oakland front line will get an opportunity to prove that against the best front seven it has faced this season with a trip to the state championship game on the line.
Fourth-ranked Oakland (12-1) plays host to top-ranked Maryville (13-0) at 7 p.m. Friday (WUXP-30) at Ray Hughes Stadium in a Class 6A state semifinal. The winner advances to the Class 6A BlueCross Bowl on Dec. 6 at Tennessee Tech’s Tucker Stadium.
Oakland’s offensive line, which is anchored by Jones, a right tackle and Tennessee commitment, faces the task of opening holes for running back Josh Cunningham, who has rushed for a team-high 1,431 yards on 229 carries.
Maryville’s defense is allowing 8.1 points a game. Opposing teams are averaging 213.7 yards a game, including 98.2 rushing yards a game.
“They’ve got a great defensive line with Dylan Jackson kind of being at the helm of it,” said Jones, who is a Mr. Football finalist with Jackson. “I think they’ve got a great linebacking corps. They are not going to shoot themselves in the foot.
“They are going to know what they are doing and do everything the right way with the right technique.”
Joining Jones, a right tackle, on the line are left tackle Hudson Smith and interior linemen Jordan Jackson, TeJauan Henderson and John Ralston.
They will have a tough task in front of them. Jackson, who was a Mr. Football finalist a year ago and is a Tennessee commitment, has 52 tackles with 12 for loss at one defensive end position. End Matt Young has 50 tackles with nine for loss and eight sacks.
Tackles Ritchie Koons and Colton Murrell have 57 tackles and 25 tackles for loss combined.
The Rebels’ active defensive line allows their linebackers to sit back and make plays. Sophomore T.D. Blackmon has a team-high 93 tackles with six for loss. Tyler Zwolinski has 69 tackles and Ethan Dudley has 47 tackles.
“They are big up front and very active and long,” Oakland coach Thomas McDaniel said. “The three linebackers are all athletic and can move. Is it the best front seven we’ve seen? Probably so.
“But we feel like we’ll be the best offensive line they’ve seen all year as well.”
Jones said he may get to line up against Jackson. However, Jackson normally lines up on the opposite side of Jones’ right tackle position.
That means Smith, who started at tight end as a sophomore, may draw the task of slowing down Jackson.
“(Jackson) is really long, and really athletic,” Smith said. “He’s committed to Tennessee, so he’s a very good player. I think we can handle him and the rest of them.
“We’re going to have to make our way up to the linebackers. They have a pretty good one in (Blackmon). We’re going to have to put a hat on him, and just open holes for Josh.”
Contact Tom Kreager at 615-278-5168 or tkreager@dnj.com. Follow him on Twitter @Kreager.
FRIDAY’S GAME
No. 1 Maryville (13-0) at No. 4 Oakland (12-1)
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Ray Hughes Stadium
How much: $8
TV/Radio: WUXP-30/WGNS (1450-AM, 100.5-FM)