Analysis: Patriots must limit mistakes against Maryville

MURFREESBORO – Fourth-ranked Oakland is the next Rutherford County football team to get its crack at top-ranked Maryville in the Class 6A postseason.

The Patriots (12-1) host the Rebels (13-0) at 7 p.m. Friday (TV: WUXP-30) in the state semifinals in their first-ever meeting. The winner plays the Ravenwood-Whitehaven winner on Dec. 6 at Tennessee Tech’s Tucker Stadium in the Class 6A BlueCross Bowl.

Here are five things to know entering Friday’s semifinal.

Play in control

Oakland had numerous penalties and leading tackler Kevin Prather was ejected in last week’s Class 6A state quarterfinal win over Blackman. The Patriots can’t do that and be successful against the Rebels.

Give Maryville free yards and it will make a defense pay.

Battle of dominant defenses

Both Maryville and Oakland hang their hats on playing dominant defense.

Maryville’s defense has yielded 98.2 yards a game on the ground this year and 212.7 total yards thanks to its front seven. Opposing teams have managed just 8.1 points a game.

Oakland, though, has played just as well defensively, especially in the playoffs where opposing teams have combined to score just 14 points in three games. It is giving up 169.6 total yards a game, including 78.8 on the ground. Opponents are averaging 15.6 points this season, but 9.3 points since giving up 28 in a Week 0 loss to Blackman.

Play perfect

Historically, Maryville makes few mistakes on the football field, especially in the playoffs. That is evident by the program’s 10 consecutive state championship appearances entering Friday’s semifinal.

It has turned it over just 20 times in 13 games and is plus-13 in the turnover ratio. The program has just 49 penalties (3.8 per game) this year too.

The Rebels don’t beat themselves. However, if they do make a rare mistake on the field, Oakland must capitalize. There won’t be many.

Run the football

It’s no secret that Oakland coach Thomas McDaniel wants his team to run the football. It’s been the team’s trademark since he arrived in 2008. Running back Josh Cunningham has 1,431 rushing yards this season. If the offensive line can open holes against Maryville’s dominant front seven, the Patriots should be able to score points.

Watch for the trick play

At some point Friday night, Maryville coach George Quarles is going to call a trick play. It may be a double pass back to the quarterback. It may be a reverse. But it is going to happen at a key moment in the game. When it does, the Patriots must be in proper defensive position to make a play.