Most college rosters have two players with the same number, as one player plays defense and the other plays offense. Southern Miss, for an example, has 21 numbers that are used by two players.
On Friday night in the Oak Grove-Purvis matchup, it seemed like there were two No. 14s on the field, because senior linebacker and part-time running back Hayes Maples was all over the field. Also, defensive players like Jack Harris and Jaden Crumedy played significant time on offense.
(RELATED: Oak Grove dominates in regular season win)
First, they began the game on offense in the jumbo package. On the first play of the game, quarterback John Rhys Plumlee gave it to Maples on a screen play to the left, and Maples moved the ball up field for 7 yards. Then, Harris carried the ball the next three times for gains of 7, 42 and 2 yards before the Warriors found the end zone for their first score.
Maples got in on the action later in the game, scoring a touchdown from the 3-yard line in the jumbo package. Harris received the snap and gave it to Hayes who shot through a gab on the right side. That made the game 21-0 in the second quarter.
“It was just a counter,” Maples said. Got the handoff and hit the hole.”
Of course, all of these offensive plays came while playing fulltime on defense, and he dominated there, too.
In the second quarter, Purvis quarterback Ty Howell was in the middle of a long 30-plus-yard run up the left sideline, and Maples was trialing the play. All of the sudden, the ball was on the ground and he pounced on it.
“One of our cornerbacks was right with him, and I was just thinking in my mind that he was going to strip it,” Maples said. “I always think like that, and he did and I hopped on it.”
That led to a 35-yard field goal by Brennan Sobiesk to push the lead to 24-0.
Then early in the third quarter, the second play of the second half, Howell was trying to find receiver C.J. Bolar over the middle. The pass was there, but some how it found its way into Maples’ lap.
“I don’t know if he had possession of it, but it bobbled and it went straight to me,” he said.
That’s just how the night went for Maples and the Oak Grove defense. It held Purvis to just six first downs and 45 passing yards. The Tornadoes did record 188 rushing yards, but 79 of those yards came on one play – a touchdown run by John Bolton.
Just one game into the season, plus the jamboree, the Warriors’ defense is a lot different from 2015 – mentally and physically. Maples sees it, too.
“We’re just trying to stay mentally strong, just hold our ground and not give (the opponents) anything, really,” Maples said. “We have a lot of talent. It’s a fun defense to play with, for sure.”
