Coalfield vs Oliver Springs Game Preview
By Greg Addington
It is the neighborhood battle between two schools separated by a mere five miles on a highway dedicated to a man who earned fame playing for one school and coaching for the other. Coalfield will make the short trip down Garry Kreis Memorial Highway on Friday night to face the Oliver Springs Bobcats. The Jackets have wrapped up their second straight Region 2A title, however Oliver Springs is still fighting for a postseason berth. This is the 73rd known game between the two schools, who first faced off on the gridiron back in 1931. The Bobcats have enjoyed a considerable advantage in the series, currently enjoying a 34-21-1 lead, however the Yellow Jackets have won nine of the last ten.
Coalfield had the week off last week after earning a 49-0 victory over rival Greenback in the week prior. The Jackets were able to cash in on three Greenback second quarter turnovers and a safety to extend what was a 7-0 advantage into a commanding 29-0 halftime lead and the second shutout for the Orange and Black in the series. Now, all eyes are on the remaining two games of the 2021 football docket with rivalry games coming up with Oliver Springs and Oneida.
Oliver Springs kept their playoff hopes alive with a 30-7 victory at Oakdale last Friday night. Oliver Springs rushed for 347 yards as a team, led by freshman Mason Day’s 116 yards on eight carries. Day’s longest run was for points with a 79-yard fourth quarter scoring run. Senior quarterback Zack Elliott ran for two second quarter scores on a 71-yard run and a 3-yard scoring plunge. Tyler Bridges rounded out the scoring with a 59-yard run on a night when Coach Larry Green’s team improved their record to 2-4.
With both Oliver Springs wins coming on region games (against Sunbright and Oakdale), the Bobcats are still in the hunt for a playoff spot but would need to win out against Coalfield and Midway, or with a split would need help to reach the postseason. Coalfield and Oliver Springs face off on DJ Brittain Field Friday night with kickoff scheduled for 7:30pm.