With six games in the rearview and four left to play, Oglethorpe County is still searching for its first win of the season. The Patriots will travel to 10th-ranked (Class A Division 1) Rabun County on Friday hoping to avoid their first 0-7 start since 2018.
OCHS lost its first six games by an average margin of 19 points and has only held one opponent to less than 30 points. Amid a tough stretch, coach Mike Holland has entrusted his seniors leaders to maintain daily intensity.
“Those guys have been the glue that’s holding us together when things maybe don’t go our way,” he said. “I got these guys when they were freshmen, and to see them grow, take on leadership positions and hold us together has been very encouraging.”
Veteran leadership has manifested strongly on the offensive line, in particular. The experienced trio of Reid Coley, Landon Tipton and Brock Barrett has been a staple of Oglethorpe County’s run-first mentality.
The Patriots rushed for more than 300 yards in a 47-27 loss to Athens Academy on Sept. 28. If OCHS figures to make an impression in the win column, commanding the trenches in the run game is key, Holland said.
“I’m asking a lot of them,” he said. “The team we have this year is not a big passing team — it just sometimes plays out like that in high school. We’re trying to do what we can do, and rely on those guys who are strong up front.”
On the other side of the ball, Oglethorpe County has allowed 37.8 points per game. The Patriots’ closest contest of the year came against Washington-Wilkes in a three-point loss on a last-second field goal.
In recent weeks, Holland and fellow coaches have employed a more simplistic approach in trying to maximize athleticism on defense, while still emphasizing proper technique.
“If you have to think too much, it’s going to slow you down a step,” Holland said. “So we try to simplify things, and just kind of turn them loose and let them be free and play.”
Oglethorpe County will be without starting left tackle Jude Morris for the near future due to a concussion, while starting safety Clint Graham is questionable for Friday’s game with a shoulder injury.
Freshman Isiah Hood will slot in on the offensive line in place of Morris and outside linebacker Keagan Moats will return to the lineup after recovering from a concussion.
Following a date with Rabun County, Oglethorpe County hosts Commerce, which is ninth in Class A Division 1. The Patriots will close out their season against Providence Christian Academy and Banks County, which are winless in region play.
“Things in life aren’t always going to go your way, but you still have to show up, you still have a job to do and you still have people counting on you,” Holland said. “You still have a lot of football left to play, and who knows what’s going to happen?”