Goliath vs Goliath
This isn’t just the game of the week in Rutherford County, this is the game of the season in the entire state! We very well could be looking at what we’ll see in Cookeville in December for the 6A championship this Friday at Oakland High.
Historically, the Maryville Rebels are regarded as the gold standard for high school football. With 15 state titles, (the most of any school in state) multiple national rankings and once having held the record for most consecutive wins in the nation with 74. It’s no wonder why they are held in such regard.
While as impressive as those accolades may be, Maryville can hold all the records they want as far as Oakland is concerned. The only history the Patriots care about are last year’s state semi finals. A game where the Patriots out-manned and out-gunned the Rebels in all facets to take a 23-7 win.
Friday night the Rebels will get their opportunity for vengeance, while the Patriots will try and continue to shift the balance of Tennessee high school football power into their favor.
This will be the second game for both teams on the young season and already each side is battle tested.
The Patriots are coming off a decisive victory in Thompson Station where they defeated Independence High School, the 2016 5A State Runners Up. Oakland flexed their muscle early and often in the contest against their cross county foe. Drumming the Eagles by a score of 38-6. With a win against the Rebels Friday night, Oakland puts it self in great shape to start the season. As Oakland’s next two games after Maryville will also be at home verse opposition where the Patriots will be heavy favorites.
Maryville’s first opponent of the season was against a high profile team as well, in the form of Knoxville Catholic Fighting Irish. The two east Tennessee powers were doing battle for the first time since 2012. Both teams raced up and down the field in a fast break type game where the Rebels would ultimately come out ahead by a margin of 49-42.
If there is one game to make this season in Rutherford County, this is the one! Kickoff is at 7:30 pm at Oakland High School.
