PURVIS – The Oak Grove football team begins practice every day with the “jumbo” package on offense. It was only fitting it would start the first game of the season with that same package.
The Warriors needed five plays to move 80 yards in the jumbo package to score a touchdown, and they never looked back from there, beating Purvis 45-7 in the regular season opener.
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“We’ve been working those two plays we started off with since the first day of practice,” Oak Grove coach Drew Causey said. “It’s what we start the team with everyday with those two formations, and we wanted a little tone setter to start the game for us.”
On the opening drive, the Warriors trotted out onto the field with Hayes Maples, Jack Harris and Jaden Crumedy – all three prominent defensive players. The first play was a screen pass to Maples for 7 yards, then Harris carried the ball three straight times for 7, 46 and 2 yards to set up a 6-yard touchdown run by Plumlee.
“We’ve been excited in the preseason just to run that finally, and it worked out pretty good for us,” Maples said. “I think (Harris) has run some 4.4s at some camps, so you have to give him the ball.”
(RELATED: Maples sees success playing both ways)
Oak Grove would extend the lead to 31-0 by halftime, and Purvis wouldn’t get on the board until senior running back John Bolton sprinted for a 79-yard touchdown midway through the third quarter. That made it a 31-7 game before Oak Grove added two more touchdowns.
After a Purvis punt on its first possession, the Warriors were off to the races once again.
Plumlee completed a pass to junior Kevin Barnett for 13 yards, then Plumlee had a 28-yard rush. Two plays later, Plumlee found senior Deltarus Thompson for a 22-yard score to make it a 14-0 game. The Purvis defense bit on the wide receiver screenplay underneath, and Thompson was wide-open on the left side.
On the next Oak Grove drive, Purvis forced a punt attempt, but Brennan Sobiesk rushed the ball seven yards to keep the drive alive. A couple of plays later, Plumlee connected with Barnett for 42 yards to set up a first-and-goal situation, then Maples punched it in from the 3-yard line to push the lead to 21-0.
Maples also recorded an interception and a fumble recovery in the game.
“He’s special,” Causey said. “We have a bunch of guys who love to play hard and want to play both ways, and he’s tough to bring down when he’s in the backfield and we hand him the ball. It’s fun to watch.”
Sobiesk added a 35-yard field goal, then Plumlee connected with Barnett for the first of two touchdowns together to bring the score to 31-0 before halftime.
After Bolton score the lone Purvis touchdown, Plumlee found Barnett for their second touchdown on the ensuing drive, this time from 28 yards to extend the lead to 38-7.
Plumlee finished the night with 229 yards and three touchdowns on 14-of-16 passing, and Barnett had eight receptions for 160 yards and two touchdowns. Plumlee also added 42 rushing yards on six attempts.
“(Plumlee) played well,” Causey said. “I’d like to see him get down at times whenever he pulls it and can’t score a touchdown. It’s kind of how he is. It’s hard to get that out of him, but he has to take care of himself at times.”
Sophomore quarterback Landon Forbes entered the game on the Warriors’ final drive, and he completed a long pass to senior Jermane Jackson to set up the final touchdown. Senior Tyler Taylor added the last score of the night from the 9-yard line to bring the game to its final at 45-7.
Taylor led the team with 83 rushing yards on 15 carries.
“It’s exactly what we expected,” Causey said. “I mean, it was. I feel like we have a great team, they really love each other and they play hard for each other. It’s a great group to be around.”
Oak Grove (1-0) will host Wayne County next week, while Purvis (0-1) will play West Marion at home.
Oak Grove 45,
Purvis 7
Score by Quarter
Oak Grove 14 17 7 7—45
Purvis 0 0 7 0—7
SCORING SUMMARY
First Quarter
OG—Plumlee 6 run, (kick good), 10:32.
OG—Thompson 22 pass from Plumlee, (kick good), 7:57.
Second Quarter
OG—Maples 3 run, (kick good), 11:55.
OG—Sobiesk 35 field goal, 7:58.
OG—Barnett 29 pass from Plumlee, (kick good), 6:29.
Third Quarter
P—Bolton 79 run, (kick good), 5:19.
OG—Barnett 28 pass from Plumlee, (kick good), 0:41.
Fourth Quarter
OG—Taylor 9 run, (kick good), 6:58.
TEAM STATISTICS
OG Purvis
First Downs 19 6
Rushes-Yards 38-240 31-188
Att-Comp-Int. 17-15-0 16-6-1
Passing Yards 264 45
Total Plays-Yards 53-504 47-233
Fumbles-Lost 2-1 2-1
Punts-Avg. 0-0 4-30
Penalties 8-69 0-0
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing
Oak Grove: Taylor 15-83 TD; Harris 3-55; Plumlee 6-42 TD; Smith 4-15; Maples 3-9 TD; Sobiesk 1-7; Thompson 1-6.
Purvis: Bolton 17-121 TD; Howell 4-61; Bennett 4-9; Sylvester 1-2; Jaciuk 4-0; Johnson 1-(-5).
Passing
Oak Grove: Plumlee 14-of-16, 233 yds., 3 TDs; Forbes 1-of-1, 31 yds.
Purvis: Howell 6-of-16, 45 yds.
Receiving
Oak Grove: Barnett 8-160 2 TDs; Jackson 1-31; Hayes 2-29; Thompson 1-22 TD; Jones 2-15; Maples 1-7.
Purvis: Bolar 2-34; Bolton 2-9; Jaciuk 1-2; Flatt 1-0.
