Cookeville Preparing For Top-Ranked Oakland

The Cookeville Cavaliers are gearing up for a big challenge as they prepare to take on the Oakland Patriots on Friday night in Murfreesboro.

The Cavs are nearing the midway point in the 2020 season with a 3-1 record but know they will face a great opponent in the number one ranked team in the state, Oakland (4-0).

“(Oakland) has so much speed in all phases,” said CHS head coach Jimmy Maynord. “It’s a difficult week for us because offensively do everything. They’re a wing-T. They’re a (shotgun). They’re a spread. They give you so many different looks on defense… That creates a problem for you. They’re ranked for a good reason because they are that good.”

The Cavs are coming off a 56-33 win over rival White County. The CHS offense was explosive in the game, but Maynord said there are things the defense can improve upon leading into the matchup with Oakland.

“We’re not doing a good job of getting off the blocks and we aren’t tackling very well,” said Maynord. “We see a lot of good players, and we’ve got to be better tacklers. We can’t give up 70-yard and 80-yard runs. That’s been an Achilles heel for us. That’s not good defense.”

The Cavs got multiple people involved in the offense in week four. Evan Whited averaged over 6 yards per carry out of the backfield. Waylon Whited scored on a touchdown reception, and Logan Sides rumbled for two long touchdown rushes late in the fourth quarter to put the game away.

Maynord said it will be important to continue to spread the ball around as the Cavs try to control the clock against the Patriots.

“The biggest thing with Oakland is you’ve got to try to control the clock a little bit,” said Maynord. “If you get three-and-outs and give them the football then you’re going to be in for a long night. We’re going to have to stay within the chains, try to move the chains and eat up some clock. We do need to spread it around a little bit and try to get more people involved and get them off balance, if we can.”

The game against Oakland is the first of six straight region 3/6A games to end the season for the Cavs. As they begin to enter the most important time of the season, Maynord said his 3-1 football team has ways to improve while they make a run towards the playoffs.

“We’ve got to make more plays,” said Maynord. “We’ve got to finish blocks, execute better on the perimeter on some things. There’s always room for improvement. You’re never going to be satisfied. We’ve just got to continue to try to work each week to get better as we go on.”

Kickoff between the Cavs and the Patriots is set for 7 p.m. Friday in Murfreesboro.