Oakdale Defeats Greenback 16-14 for Best Finish Since 2015

Oakdale’s Timmy Holder carried the ball 25 times for 126 yards in the Eagles’ 16-14 victory over Greenback. [File Photo]

By Terry Futrell

No matter what adjectives one uses to describe Oakdale’s final regular season game with Greenback, a team they hadn’t beaten since 1982, it was not a game for the faint of heart. After a scoreless first quarter, the teams swapped the lead several times before Oakdale’s Gavin Menard kicked a 28-yard field goal late in the third quarter to put the Eagles ahead 16-14 for the final score of the game. The victory put Oakdale solidly in the number-two seed position in Region 2A and gives the Eagles home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs next Friday. Oakdale finishes the regular season with a 7-3 record, their best finish since 2015.

One of the best things to be said about the Eagles is that they refused to lose, a trait they have shown many times throughout the 2021 season. After regaining the lead in the third quarter, the Eagles held off Greenback attacks to the very end to preserve the victory. Once again Oakdale’s big play defense was key to the Eagles’ victory, holding Greenback to only nine yards rushing in the second half and 83 yards total offense in the second half. The Eagles also intercepted two Greenback passes and recovered one Greenback fumble during the second half.

After stopping two Greenback drives in the first quarter, Oakdale began a 10-play drive late in the first quarter at their own 41-yard line, with Timmy Holder scoring from one yard out early in the second quarter. Menard kicked the point after to give Oakdale a 7-0 lead. Greenback answered on their next possession that began at their own 35-yard line and scored on a run from five yards out. The conversion failed and Oakdale held a 7-6 lead.

On the third play of Oakdale’s next possession, Greenback picked off an Oakdale pass and raced 53 yards for a score. The 2-point conversion was good, and Greenback took a 14-7 lead. Oakdale was penalized 15-yards on the kickoff and began their next possession at their own 20-yard line. The Eagles third play of the series was one of the most exciting of the game. Recovering from a bad snap, quarterback Elisha Davis miraculously eluded Greenback defenders and avoided a sack. He then found Nehemiah Cooney open downfield for a 72-yard touchdown pass. The kick failed and Oakdale trailed 13-14 as the first half ended.

Oakdale received the second half kickoff and began an 11-play drive that lasted for more than half of the third quarter. The Eagles were faced with three 4th-down situations on the drive, converting the first at the Greenback 35-yard line by a Greenback offsides penalty. Four plays later, the Eagles were again faced with 4th and 1 at the Cherokees’ 21-yard line. Eloy Vera ran the ball and literally flew over a Greenback defender for the first down. Oakdale then had another 4th down at the Greenback 11-yard line. From there Menard kicked a 28-yard field goal to give the Eagles a 16-14 lead.

During the fourth quarter, Greenback experienced one of the craziest possessions of the entire season. The drive began when the Cherokees recovered an Oakdale fumble at Oakdale’s 34-yard line. Greenback quickly moved the ball to Oakdale’s 13-yard line with a 21-yard pass completion. After two consecutive holding penalties on Greenback and an offsides penalty on Oakdale, Greenback had the ball on the Oakdale 26-yard line. A Greenback pass to the end zone looked like a sure completion when Hunter Boyer suddenly appeared out of nowhere to knock the pass away. Greenback was guilty of holding on the next play, moving the back to the Oakdale 37-yard line. The Cherokees were then hit with multiple penalties on the next play, moving the ball all the way back to the Greenback 27-yard line, where the Cherokees had a 3rd and 70 situation.

After Joseph Summers tipped a Greenback punt, the Eagles took over on the Greenback 49-yard line. The Eagles defense came up big as they stopped Greenback’s final two possessions with interceptions, the last one coming when Eloy Vera intercepted a Cherokee pass at the Oakdale 24-yard line. The Eagles then took a knee to end the game with a 16-14 victory over Greenback.

Oakdale gained 76 yards on 2 of 6 passing in the game and added on 182 yards rushing for 258 total yards offense. Once again, Timmy Holder was the workhorse of Oakdale’s offense rushing for 126 yards on 25 carries. The Eagle defense held Greenback to 102 yards passing and 92 yards rushing, for 194 total yards offense.

Oakdale hosts Jellico next Friday in the first round of the playoffs. Greenback travels to face Cloudland.