By SAM McGAW Photos by ANDY COLLIGNON
Extreme Escape Games Game of the Week
Two blocked punts and a touchdown pass on fourth-and-18 were the catalysts for Brentwood Academy’s second-half comeback over Ensworth Friday.
After trailing the Tigers 14-7 at halftime, the Eagles (5-1, 3-0) scored four touchdowns in the final two frames to earn a 35-21 victory at home over their longtime rival.
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“The last time we were down at halftime, we came out with a loss [against Trinity],” BA quarterback Jeremiah Oatsvall said. “Us proving we can come out of halftime after being down and improve on what we did wrong in the first half really shows how much we have grown up as a team.”
Oatsvall accounted for three of the team’s second-half touchdowns. He finished with 207 passing yards, 52 rushing yards and four touchdowns.
The win is BA’s fourth in a row. It visits Montgomery Bell Academy (6-1, 3-0) Friday in a rematch of last season’s Division II-AA state title game.
“If we can beat MBA, then we can almost guarantee to lock up the No. 1 seed,” Oatsvall said. “That’s a big motivation for us to get a W against MBA, and it’s a rivalry. Who can’t get up for a rivalry?”
Ensworth controlled time of possession by nearly 12 more minutes, but BA’s big plays were too much to overcome.
After Oatsvall tied the game at 14 on a 6-yard run two minutes into the third quarter, BA linebacker Jack Victory blocked a punt on Ensworth’s ensuing possession to give the Eagles the ball at midfield.
A few plays later, they found themselves facing fourth-and-18 at the Ensworth 35. With the newfound momentum, the Eagles opted to go for it. The decision paid off, as Oatsvall threw a strike to receiver Lawrence Segree in the end zone for the 21-14 advantage.
BA’s Camron Johnson blocked a punt on the next possession and returned it nine yards for a touchdown to close the third quarter with a 14-point lead.
“We felt like special teams was an area we had an advantage, and it paid dividends tonight,” BA head coach Cody White said. “We definitely felt like we could get some of those.”
BA started the game slow with a three-and-out and a fumble in its first two drives.
The high-flying Eagles returned to form in their third possession, however, as Oatsvall connected with receiver Daniel Taylor on a 79-yard touchdown strike to take a 7-0 lead with 9:30 to play in the second quarter.
Ensworth quarterback Jaylon King responded with touchdown runs of 52 and 14 yards in the next two possessions to take a 14-7 lead into halftime.
“I wasn’t happy with our body language in the first half,” White said. “I’m not saying we didn’t start slow, we just didn’t finish the half real well. I know what kind of character these kids have and they came out and did a good job in the second half. I was really pleased with them.”
Ensworth running back Nicky Clifton cut BA’s lead to 28-21 on a 2-yard touchdown run with six minutes left in the game.
He rushed for 199 yards on 27 carries.
Oatsvall sealed the game with a 27-yard touchdown pass to Jack McDonald with 3:16 to go.
BA outgained Ensworth 433-352. Running back Mario Pleasant led the Eagles on the ground with 105 rushing yards, while Marcos Harris added 69.
Sam McGaw is sports editor of Home Page Media Group. Email him at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @SamMcGawSports.