GAME OF THE WEEK PREVIEW: BA Meets Baylor in Clash of Offensive Juggernauts

By SAM McGAW

Extreme Escape Games presents Game of the Week

Baylor (4-0, 1-0) at Brentwood Academy (3-1, 1-0), 7 p.m. Friday*

Two high-powered offenses clash Friday when the Brentwood Academy Eagles square off with the Baylor Red Raiders.

Brentwood Academy enters the Division II-AA East/Middle Region contest averaging 42.25 points per game, while Baylor has outscored its opponents 137-20 through four games.

“I think their physicality and their coaching is what separates them from a lot of other teams,” BA quarterback Jeremiah Oatsvall said. “A lot of teams can fall off every now and then, but they’re solid every year. I think this game can be a really big factor to see who’s one of the top dogs in this league this year.”

BA QB Jeremiah Oatsvall
BA quarterback Jeremiah Oatsvall (#4) (Photo by Andy Collignon)

BA defeated the Red Raiders twice last season, including a 24-7 victory in the Division II-AA state semifinals.

Oatsvall, an Austin Peay commit, was unstoppable in both contests, accounting for 368 passing yards, 343 rushing yards and eight touchdowns (5 rushing).

He expects a tougher challenge this week against a much-improved unit.

“They’ve rebuilt up front and at the linebacker position, so they’re going to be really physical and really big,” Oatsvall said. “And in the back-end they’re going to be really athletic, so we’re going to have to work well and know what we’re doing on offense, because one busted play can lead to negative yardage.”

Oatsvall will look to connect with his favorite target, wide receiver Camron Johnson, early and often.

Johnson, who has football scholarship offers from Tennessee, LSU, Ole Miss and other colleges, has caught 16 passes for 268 yards and four touchdowns this season.

“A lot of teams are really starting to key in on him because of what we’ve done over the past two years,” Oatsvall stated. “Getting Cam the ball is going to be really big, because he has constantly shown he can make big plays.”

Stopping Baylor’s offense comes down to the battle in the trenches, as the Raiders feature a run-heavy attack behind a stout offensive line.

“They’re physical at the line of scrimmage,” BA head coach Cody White said. “They like to run and they’re going to establish the run, and then they’re going to throw off of that, whether it’s screens or taking a shot every once in a while on play-action. That’s kind of their mantra. They’re going to try to whip you up front and run the football.”

The Eagles have allowed an average of 178.5 rushing yards per game this season.

BA outside linebacker Jeremiah Pittman
BA outside linebacker Jeremiah Pittman (Photo by Andy Collignon)

However, they’ve held opponents to 161 yards on the ground over the past two weeks.

Baylor rushed for 419 yards and three touchdowns on the Eagles last fall.

“We expect to see a lot of physicality,” BA defensive end Josh Higgs said. “They run a lot of power, and I think their front-five – with the help of their tight ends and their fullback – is going to be a challenge for us.”

Sam McGaw is sports editor of Home Page Media Group. Email him at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @SamMcGawSports.