Oak Ridge football suffocates Deer Park offense

DEER PARK, Texas---Oak Ridge comes into Abshier Stadium look to go 3-0 to start their 2018 campaign. The War Eagles though would have a tough task ahead of them as they would face the Deer Park Deer at home on Senior Night. A key injury to watch out for in this game would be to star Defensive Back Malachi Cramm. The War Eagles would receive the kick and we would be off.

Oak Ridge would get off to a shaky start as Quarterback Reinard Britz and the War Eagle offense would quickly go 3 and out on their first possession. On their 1st defensive possession, it was not looking good for the War Eagle defense as the Deer moved the ball down the field at ease, but Joseph Ossai and the defense would make a great goal-line stand to keep the Deer to a field goal. That field goal would make it 3-0 Deer Park.

After the rocky start, Oak Ridge’s offense got it somewhat turned around and were able to turn it around and show the fans the offense we expect to see week in and week out. Britz and friends were able to move the ball down field quickly and emphatically but the drive ended on a Parker Venema field goal to knot the game up at 3 a piece.

As the first half went on, Oak Ridge’s defense really started to assert their dominance. The Deer would not be able to get anything going on the ground or through the air as Ossai and company would start to live and feast in the Deer Park back field. Oak Ridge would continue to move the ball in the 2nd quarter but would come away with only 1 field goal the rest of the half. The War Eagles would go into the half on top 6-3.

Both teams would start the 2nd by continuing the theme of the 1st half. Defense and more defense. Each team would go 3 and out on their first possessions out of the locker room. The big play of the half would be a huge blocked punt by the War Eagle special teams unit that would be returned for an Oak Ridge touchdown that would extend the War Eagles lead to 13-3.

Oak Ridge’s defense would continue to fly all over the field and shut the Deer down. Deer Park would not be able to get anything going at all. The War Eagles run game would get going as Running Backs Nick McCants and Kamari Williams would find some holes and have some 10+ yard runs. The War Eagles would put the icing on the cake by having another goal-line stand when Deer Park would threaten with under 6 minutes to go in the game. The War Eagles would end up taking it 13-3 in a defensive war.

This was a battle of 2 teams that will use their defense to win most of their games this year. Oak Ridge had some drives where the offense looked really good, but it was all based on how their Running Backs performed. Quite honestly the passing attack was very inconsistent for the War Eagles. Reinard Britz and Bishop Durst have shared time at the Quarterback position for Oak Ridge and both have not had very good games to start the season.

It will surely be a week of refining the passing attack for the War Eagles as that is the last position group to come into form through 3 games. The War Eagles will be back in action in their 1st district game of the 2017-2018 season as they face the Conroe Tigers at Moorehead Stadium on Friday, September 29.