Oakland, Maryville to meet in 2017-18

Ready for Maryville vs. Oakland, round four?

Oakland football coach Kevin Creasy told The Tennessean on Wednesday that he has signed a contract with Maryville to play the Rebels over the next two seasons.

Maryville will play at Oakland in 2017 in Week 2 on Aug. 25. The Rebels will host the Patriots in 2018.

Creasy said he intends to fax the signed game contract to Maryville on Thursday.

Maryville first-year coach Derek Hunt also confirmed the game.

Oakland defeated Maryville 23-7 in this past season’s Class 6A state semifinals. Maryville beat Oakland in both the 2015 (27-13) and 2014 (26-14) state semifinals.

“We were both concerned that we may run into each other twice (in one season),” Creasy said. “We love the competition aspect, but not the prospect of a rematch.”

Oakland finished 14-1 this past season, falling to Memphis Whitehaven in the state championship game. Maryville was 13-1.

Oakland still must find one non-region game, Creasy said. Creasy said he has openings in either Week 3 (Sept. 1) or Week 4 (Sept. 8).

Hunt, a former Maryville athlete and assistant, replaced George Quarles last month. Quarles, who took an assistant coaching position at Furman, finished 250-16 at Maryville with 11 state titles in 15 appearances.

Oakland opens the season with a home game with Independence, the 2016 Class 5A runner-up. Maryville begins the year with Knoxville Catholic.

“We’re going Catholic, Oakland, McMinn County, Alcoa and Fulton,” Hunt said. “That’s brutal. “You’d think (Quarles) was mad at us. No, we laughed about it.”

Hunt said Maryville called 30-40 schools, including programs from Georgia, Kentucky and North Carolina.

Reach Tom Kreager at 615-259-8089 and on Twitter @Kreager.