Tuesday March 19th, 2024 6:22AM

(VIDEO) Game of the Week: Knights, Spartans expect intense 'Battle of Oakwood'

OAKWOOD — Talk to anyone involved -- the “Battle of Oakwood” definitely has that air of something a bit special.

“We don’t have to tell our kids who we play this week or what we do. It’s one of those games every year it’s the first game you look for, and you circle it,” Johnson coach Jason Roquemore said.

Maybe even more so this season, as West Hall prepares to host a Johnson team already one game to the good.

“You can tell ‘coach Rock’ (Roquemore) over there and their staff has done a good job coaching them up. That’s been the big talk for us in staff meetings, just how hard they play,” West Hall coach Tony Lotti said of the Knights’ 17-0 season-opening defeat of Madison County last week. “And I know they’re going to come over here with a little bit of a chip on their shoulder and probably find a Spartan with a little chip on theirs as well, and we’ll just see what happens.”

Certainly both teams are aching for victory -- and in the Spartans’ case simply aching to get out on the field and play, as West Hall enters 2015 yearning to both prove that last season’s 9-2, Region 7-AAA championship season was no fluke and erase memories of last year’s deflating first round playoff loss to Oconee County.

“It’s really been crazy around here lately. Johnson’s a big game for us, and we’re just excited to get on the field and show everyone what we can do and that last year wasn’t a just a mishap,” Spartans punter and Wisconsin commit Anthony Lotti said.

Meanwhile, the Knights (1-0) are itching to end a two-year losing skid to their rivals -- as well as open a season 2-0 for the first time since 2012, as Roquemore and his staff look to revive a program that is coming off back-to-back 2-8 campaigns.

“It builds a lot of excitement. For the past two years they’ve beat us, and we’re just ready to bring that plaque back,” Knights senior receiver/defensive back Orion Pittman said.

The rivalry is set for its 22nd installment -- a series in which West Hall currently holds a 13-7-1 advantage. And while the Spartans have dominated the last two showdowns on the scoreboard -- 28-0 and 35-0 -- the scores bucked a trend in what had been one of the most competitive showdowns on the calendar. In fact, of the 21 previous contests eight were decided by a touchdown or less, while only eight more were decided by more than two touchdowns. From 2006-2012 five of the seven games were decided by less than a touchdown.

“It’s a different experience, truly,” West Hall quarterback Jacob Satterfield said. “You get a bunch of people out from the city of Oakwood. And they want to see this game and how it all ends out. It’s a really fun experience.”

“It’s a big thing. We’re pumped,” Johnson senior lineman Andrew Temple said. “Coach says we’re oozing with excitement; we can’t wait to go.”

Oakwood can expect a slugfest at West Hall, as each team brings its brand of rushing attack to the contest.

The Spartans feature an explosive backfield duo in seniors Kwon Williams (reigning Region 7-AAA player of the year; 1,639 all-purpose yards and 18 total TDs in 2014) and Tyquan Statham (1,085 total yards, 8 TDs in 2014).

“Those kids are going to break tackles; those kids are going to have their yards, they’re going to have their plays. They’re two phenomenal athletes, and they do a good job of putting them in position to make plays for them,” Roquemore said. “But our kids have a plan, and hopefully we can execute that.”

West Hall meanwhile, is preparing to face a rejuvenated Johnson option, led by quarterback Sam Corbett, who enjoyed a stellar first varsity start last week.

“For a kid to come out and play his first Friday night game under the lights -- and we had an excellent atmosphere down there in the Dungeon -- I thought he performed well,” Roquemore said. “He’s going to have to get better at the things we’re asking him to do, just like a lot of our kids are, but I think it was a great start. And we’re really excited about what the future holds for that young man.”

With that in mind, each coach is stressing that the difference could come down to big plays -- and, equally, big mistakes.

“I think the big thing, just like in any rivalry game or big game is going to be turnovers,” Lotti said. “A few years ago turnovers hurt us, and they got the win, and I think the last couple of years we were able to control that part of it and it benefitted us.”

“We’ve got to protect the football, especially early on,” Roquemore said. “You look at last year’s game; it came down to four plays. They were able to capitalize and make some big plays early on, which put us behind the eight-ball. And offensively, what we want to do, we want to grind and make it a four quarter game. We’re going to have to execute, protect the football and stop the big play. And when you look at them top to bottom, those are going to be three things that they do very well. They have kids that can explode at any time, especially on offense.”

And with the expected crowd and atmosphere on display come Friday night, any swing in momentum could take on added importance.

“There’s nothing we can do in practice to simulate that atmosphere we’re going to have down there Friday night,” Roquemore said.

In other words, expect quite a “battle” indeed.

JOHNSON at WEST HALL
-- WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
-- WHERE: Spartan Stadium, Oakwood
-- RADIO: 102.9 FM
-- JOHNSON (1-0, non-region schedule): beat Madison County 17-0 last week
-- WEST HALL (0-0, 0-0 Region 7-AAA): Season-opener; 9-2, Region 7-AAA champs, reached Class AAA first round in 2014

  • Associated Categories: Sports, High School Sports, Friday Game Night
  • Associated Tags: High school football, Johnson football, West Hall football, Game of the Week
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