By CAMDEN JOINER Photos by ANDY COLLIGNON
It wasn’t as high-scoring as their Division II-AA state championship bout from last December, but the latest episode of Brentwood Academy’s rivalry series against Montgomery Bell Academy didn’t disappoint.
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MBA, which lost to the Eagles 56-55 in double overtime in last year’s title game, leaned on running back Ty Chandler’s 333 rushing yards and four touchdowns to enact revenge with a 31-24 win.
“I think there kids played a little bit harder than ours did,” BA head coach Cody White said. “That’s on me as a coach, so I gotta do a better job of getting those guys playing at full go. We’ll learn from it.”
Chandler couldn’t be stopped.
The Tennessee commit scored on the third play of the game, and he was just warming up at that point.
He finished with touchdown runs of 61, 82, 1, and 72 yards, not including an 85-yard touchdown that was called back due to penalty. BA’s defense never found an answer to Chandler’s home run plays, which made it difficult for the offense to keep up with MBA.
However, despite Chandler’s dominance, BA managed to keep the score within a couple of touchdowns.
On the final play before halftime and down a touchdown, BA quarterback Jeremiah Oatsvall threw up a prayer as time expired. The pass was short of the goal line, but Camron Johnson managed to tip the ball into the end zone where it was then caught by Lawrence Segree for a touchdown.
The miracle throw and catch was No. 1 on SportsCenter’s Top 10 plays Friday evening.
Any momentum BA carried into halftime was wiped out by Chandler early in the third quarter, as he dashed for 72-yard touchdown run three minutes into the frame.
BA’s offense was quiet for much of the third quarter, but managed to rally late.
Oatsvall ran in a 3-yard touchdown after two fourth-down conversions to cut MBA’s lead to seven. It appeared that MBA would be able to score and put the game on ice, but Chandler made a rare mistake and fumbled the ball in the red zone.
However, BA wasn’t able to capitalize on the turnover and Oatsvall was picked off on third down by Fenner Pollock, securing the win for MBA.
“Our season isn’t judged by one game by any stretch,” White said. “This is a good football team and [MBA head coach Marty] Euverard’s guys did a good job. We’ll learn a lot from it and continue to improve.”
Oatsvall completed 20-of-32 passing attempts for 228 and one touchdown pass. He also had 39 rushing yards and a score.
Running back Mario Pleasant rushed for 80 yards and a touchdown.
Brentwood Academy returns home next Friday to play Father Ryan.
