Oakdale Makes History by Defeating Jellico 48-10 in Playoffs

“I love it when a plan comes together.” These words that were the favorite catchphrase of Colonel “Hannibal” Smith on the 80s TV series The A-Team had to be echoing through the mind of Oakdale Coach J.R. Voyles as he watched his players celebrate their 48-10 playoff victory over Jellico Friday evening. Voyles’ Eagles had just turned in their most flawless performance of the season, thrilling fans with one big play after another, both offensively and defensively. This group of Eagles took on “A-Team” status as they achieved the first playoff victory in the history of the Oakdale football program.

A few key stats show just how remarkable this team was in their hard-fought victory. Timmy Holder led the Eagles in rushing with 8 carries for 104 yards and 3 touchdowns. Eloy Vera carried 7 times for 75 yards, and Aaron Dunlap tacked on 52 yards on 12 carries with 1 touchdown. Quarterback Elisha Davis completed 4 of 6 passes for 123 yards and 2 touchdowns. His targets were Sydney Gregory with 2 receptions for 65 yards and 2 touchdowns and Nehemiah Cooney with 2 receptions for 58 yards. While the Eagles were amassing 353 yards total offense, Jellico’s total offensive output was less than half that, only 173 yards.

The Oakdale defense had everything to do with Jellico’s poor offensive performance, tallying 1 sack, 8 tackles for loss, 1 fumble recovery, and 3 interceptions. Omar Vera led the defense with 13 tackles, including 3 tackles for loss. Timmy Holder was close behind with 11 tackles, including 2 tackles for loss, and 1 fumble recovery. Elijah Malone added 8 tackles, including 2 tackles for loss and 1 sack. Eloy Vera and Hunter Boyer each had 6 tackles – Boyer added 2 interceptions and Vera had 1 interception followed by a 70-yard return.

Perhaps the most amazing stat for this team was the number of penalties. While plagued with penalties and lack of discipline for most of the season, the Eagles that we witnessed Friday evening were disciplined, exercised self-control, and were penalized only 4 times for 40 yards. When asked how he accounted for the disciplined way that his players performed, Coach Voyles stated that “we’ve fought with that issue all year, and we’ve been working on it as coaches … Eventually, it finally started to click with these guys…They’re finally starting to buy into everything about the team mentality.”

After Jellico scored a field goal on their first possession, Oakdale took possession on their own 38-yard line. On the very first play, Timmy Holder broke through the line and raced 62 yards for an Eagle touchdown. Thus began one of the most exciting games Oakdale fans have ever witnessed.

Oakdale’s defense held Jellico to 3 and out, and the Eagles put together an 11-play drive that began at their own 19-yard line, with Davis hitting Gregory in stride for a 15-yard touchdown pass. Oakdale led 13-3 at the end of the first quarter.

Jellico then put together a 9-play drive and scored from the 1-yard line early in the second quarter, reducing Oakdale’s lead to 13-10. Both teams failed to move the ball on their next two possessions. Late in the half, Oakdale moved the ball from their own 20-yard line to the Jellico 4-yard line in 7 plays that included 47-yard and 11-yard pass receptions by Cooney. Timmy Holder ran the ball in from 4 yards out and the Eagles took a 20-10 halftime lead.

Oakdale came on with a fury in the second half. Taking the opening kickoff at their own 48-yard line, Davis hit Gregory for a 50-yard touchdown on the third play of the half, Gavin Menard kicked the extra point and the Eagles led 27-10. The Eagle defense forced a fumble on Jellico’s third play, recovered by Holder. Oakdale took possession at the Jellico 24-yard line and on the second play Holder scampered 17 yards into the end zone for an Eagle touchdown. Oakdale expanded its lead to 34-10.

On their next possession, Jellico put together a 21-play drive to the Oakdale 14-yard line early in the fourth quarter. Eloy Vera picked off a Jellico pass and returned it 70 yards, where Oakdale began their next drive at the Jellico 21-yard line. On the second play, Dunlap scored from 25 yards out and Oakdale took a 41-10 lead.

On the second play of Jellico’s next possession, Hunter Boyer picked off a pass and returned it 41 yards to give Oakdale a first down at the Jellico 16-yard line. Four plays later, Austin Swafford scored on a 4-yard run, and the Eagles led 48-10.

Jellico’s next drive of 8 plays took them to the Oakdale 25-yard line where the ball turned over to Oakdale on downs. With seconds to go, the Eagles honored the play of two senior linemen, Riley Underwood and Conner Hickman, by allowing each to carry the ball. Time expired and the Eagles claimed their first ever playoff victory by a score of 48-10.

Next Friday, the Eagle “A-Team” travels to Cloudland where they face the Region 1A champions in the second round of the playoffs. With another performance demonstrating the same discipline and self-control as this game, watch for history to once again be made.

Thanks to Brian Langley for game stats.