Stout defense, Trulock kicks lift Bob Jones to second round playoff win
Bob Jones quarterback Jeremy Frye looks downfield in playoff action against Oxford
(PHOTO CONTRIBUTED/TAMMIE STEPHENSON)
MADISON- The Bob Jones defense heard all week about how good Oxford running back Roc Thomas was. A week after Thomas rushed for over 400 yards, the Patriots defense shut him down and then forced him out of the game in the fourth quarter of a 28-24 playoff victory over Oxford that sends Bob Jones to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2009.
Thomas was ineffective in the first half as he was held to just 3 yards rushing on 10 carries. He finished the game with 86 yards on 22 carries as he was hit behind the line of scrimmage repeatedly. He was knocked out of the game with a left ankle injury with 6:55 left in the game when Dylan Haraway fought through a block and surprised Thomas with an open field tackle crashing into his left leg.
“We attacked and got them. We didn’t do like everybody else has been doing try to break down, we went and got him on his side of the line of scrimmage,” Bob Jones Head coach Kevin Rose said.
Haraway also had an interception in the first quarter that was turned into the first points of the game by the Patriot offense. Miles Strickland scored on a six yard swing pass from Jeremy Frye and Matt Trulock’s extra point put Bob Jones up 7-0.
The defense kept the pressure on and Tyrell Bradley sacked Oxford quarterback William Webber for a loss of 17 yards. David Norris then tackled Thomas for a seven yard loss.
The Bob Jones defense had four sacks in the first half.
Oxford pulled two fake punts in the first half, one worked the other didn’t.
The Bob Jones offense misfired on a Frye pass to Jonathan Rice in the end zone and had to settle for a Matt Trulock 38-yard field goal to make it 10-0 at halftime.
“Our plan was to throw the ball early,” Rose said. “I didn’t feel we could block them until we got them tired. When that happened we had success running the football.”
Jay Rogers had only 13 yards rushing in the first half but 65 in the second half. His 15 yard romp set up Bob Jones second touchdown, a Frye to Rice nine yard touchdown pass.
Bob Jones finished with 187 yards rushing.
Oxford scored three touchdowns in the third quarter. Roc Thomas had his best run of the night on a 47-yard touchdown run, Webber hit Tredarian Gamble on a five yard touchdown pass and after Frye was intercepted, Gamble scored on a 32-yard catch and run that gave Oxford a brief 18-17 lead. Oxford did not convert an extra point all game.
Matt Trulock’s two field goals were the difference in the game
(PHOTO CONTRIBUTED/CINDY HESS)
Bob Jones answered quickly with a scoring drive powered by Rogers’ runs of 19, 10, 6, and 11 yards. Crooks scored on a 13-yard run and caught a pass for the two point conversion to put Bob Jones up 25-18.
“Jay Rogers had a big night. He was a big factor down the stretch. Austin Harris had a huge block to help convert a first down (16 yard gain by Ryan Crooks). Crooks played a great game, he is a senior leader for us, and he’s a winner,” Rose said.
Crooks finished the game with 58 yards rushing and 73 yards receiving. Frye connected on 21 of 31 passes for 226 yards including several key third down conversions.
Clinging to a seven point lead the Bob Jones defense made a stand and forced a turnover on downs. Julien Lewis had a sack and a patchwork secondary led by Tyler Brutofsky defended two passes in the end zone.
Bob Jones iced the game when Torrey Hunter made an over-the-shoulder catch from Frye on third and 15 with 2:00 left. That led to a 37-yard field goal by Matt Trulock to put Bob Jones up by 10.
Oxford scored a late touchdown but could not come up with the onsides kick.
Nick Holman went this far in the playoffs with Madison Academy two years ago but said this team is special.
“To be here, be a leader on this team, for us to stop this run game this team had feels really good. We stuck to our plan and attacked, we knew what they were going to do and stuffed them pretty good,” Holman said.
Oxford was held to just 223 total yards, far below their average.
The entire Bob Jones team went over after the game and talked to Roc Thomas who stayed on the bench after leaving the game.
Bob Jones will now host Vestavia Hills, a 31-28 winner over BessemerCity. Florence will host Hoover in the other North quarterfinal game.
