Extreme Escape Games Game of the Week
By SAM McGAW
Ensworth (4-2) at Brentwood Academy (4-1), 7 p.m. Friday*
Phase Two of Brentwood Academy’s run through the gauntlet of top Division II-AA teams takes place Friday when it battles longtime rival Ensworth.
BA exits its bye week with a 4-1 record after taking down Baylor 35-0 in Week 5.
While the Eagles have been dominant recently, they know their toughest test lies ahead.
“I feel good about where we are and the fact we’re getting better,” BA head coach Cody White said. “We need to continue improving because we’re playing some really good teams coming up for the rest of the year.”
A major factor for the Eagles’ recent success has been their improved play in the trenches on offense.
Over the past three games, the offensive line has given up only two sacks and paved the way for 752 rushing yards.
“I thought we got significantly better on the offensive line from Pope John Paul (Week 4) to the game against Baylor,” White said. “It was somewhere we needed to grow.”
The Eagles average 40.8 points and 407 yards per game.
Senior quarterback Jeremiah Oatsvall (704 pass yds, 379 rush yds, 13 TDs, 6 INTs) spearheads the potent attack.
The Austin Peay commit has accumulated 365 passing yards, 239 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns (5 run) over the past three games.
His top weapons are running back Mario Pleasant (338 rush yds, 7 TDs), wide receiver Camron Johnson (17 rec., 286 yds, 4 TDs) and tight end Gavin Schoenwald (12 rec., 139 yds, 2 TDs).
The group will need to fire on all cylinders against Ensworth’s stout defense.
The Tigers have held opponents to 12.33 points and 238 yards per game. They forced five turnovers and allowed 117 total yards in last week’s 43-0 win over Christ Presbyterian Academy.
“They have really good athletes, and (Ensworth coach Ricky Bowers) and his staff do a great job of putting them in the best position to be successful,” White said. “They know what they’re doing. They’re not super complicated, but they really play with good technique and fundamentals and they’re sound in what they do.”
BA’s defense had its best performance of the year against Baylor, as it forced four turnovers and allowed 87 total yards.
“I was really pleased with how we played on defense,” White said. “I thought our defensive staff did a great job of putting our kids in the right position. Our kids played really hard. It’s very difficult to shut out anyone, much less someone that’s played as well as they had over the course of the year.”
The Eagles’ ability to stop the run will be tested against Ensworth quarterback Jaylon King and running back Nicky Clifton.
King has 449 passing yards, 364 rushing yards, nine touchdowns (5 run) and three interceptions this year.
Clifton’s rushed for 346 yards and two touchdowns in just three games this season.
“They have a big, physical offensive line and they have good skill kids,” White stated. “I think their quarterback has gotten better as the year has gone on. They’re obviously good at running the football. They’ve gotten better since Nicky Clifton has gotten back to running back; he’s a weapon. They can hurt you in a lot of different ways. Once you have to defend everything, it becomes a lot more difficult.”
Sam McGaw is sports editor of Home Page Media Group. Email him at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @SamMcGawSports.
