by Max Haldeman , TnHighSchoolFootball.com
Playing on national television as a high school athlete does not happen very often. This game was likely circled by both teams, regardless of the opponent on the other side. Hillsboro and Oakland, however, both won the state championship game in 2008, on the same night. Fast-forward eight years and these two teams would battle on ESPNU in what would turn out to be a blowout.
The Oakland Patriots hosted the Hillsboro Burros in Murfreesboro, Tennessee in Week 2 in one of the sloppiest football games imaginable. The two teams combined for 25 penalties for over 200 yards and turned the ball over eight times.
It was a disaster from the first snap for the Burros, as they mishandled an exchange on a read option and fumbled on their first play from scrimmage of the night. Oakland’s Michael Roper would then punch it in two plays later to give the Patriots a 7-0 lead early.
Hillsboro could not get anything going for the majority of the first quarter. It was clear that the visiting Burros were shaking out their nerves of playing on national television against what might be the best team in the state.
However, after Oakland added on a field goal to make it 10-0, Hillsboro’s JaVanta Payton had a run of nearly 60-yards that set up the Burros inside the Patriots red zone, leading to a Payton touchdown reception. Hillsboro was doing everything they possibly could to get him the ball. They lined him up at wide receiver, running back, and even quarterback just to get the ball in his hands.
After Hillsboro cut the lead to 10-6 (missed extra point), it finally appeared the two teams had shaken out their pregame jitters of playing on national television. Both teams were starting to move the ball on the opposing defenses and beginning to make plays.
Shortly after Hillsboro cut the lead to 10-6, they had their momentum taken from them because of a weather delay. Teams left the field and fans were asked to leave the bleachers because of storms in the area that would delay the game for one hour.
Read how the rest of the game went here.
