Mike Holland made a change at the end of his fourth year as Oglethorpe County’s head coach in 2024.
Instead of the traditional one-back and shotgun offenses seen around the country, Holland and offensive coordinator Josh Austin implemented an offensive system rooted in football history: the wing-T.
The run-heavy system relies on misdirection, old-school deception to keep opposing defenses off-balance, placing a premium on backfield depth and stamina.
The Patriots’ first season with the wing-T was a success.
After finishing 0-10 in 2024, Oglethorpe County went 6-5, beating No. 5 Rabun County at home and clinching a playoff berth behind a rushing attack that averaged 209.5 yards per game.
The Patriots return three of their top five leading rushers this fall.
“We all push each other harder and harder to be the best versions of ourselves, and I feel like it makes us better as like because everybody's good in the back — nobody's bad,” sophomore Zion Pass said.
Pass, a sophomore, anchors the group, with senior Paris Crowder and fellow senior captain Jackson Tatum, who led the Patriots with 563 rushing yards and scored five touchdowns last season.
A four-year starter, Tatum isn’t the most vocal leader, but always leads by example as the most experienced player.
“He knows offense better than anybody else that we talk about,” Austin said. “Anytime Cooper (Davenport) or the young guys have a question, Tatum’s got the answer for them right away.”
Davenport is a freshman, although you couldn’t tell it from his 5-foot-11, 185-pound frame. The newcomer brings varsity-ready size and has spent his time shadowing Tatum to quickly learn system concepts.
“He (Tatum) gets mad sometimes, but he usually helps me and helps me learn all the plays and learn what I need to do,” Davenport said.
Beyond learning the playbook, he said he’s picked up on the mindset required in the backfield rotation from Tatum and Pass.
“Run it hard, don’t complain and really just stay in a good mood,” Davenport said. “Don’t let anything bring you down.”
Davenport isn’t the only freshman in the room. Amir Eberhardt will also see action this fall.
“We work on everything together, and I think we got good chemistry with them (Davenport and Eberhardt),” Pass said. “I think they’re gonna do well in the game anytime we need them, they know what to do.”
Pass burst onto the scene in just his second varsity game with a 72-yard run against East Hall, the Patriots’ longest play from scrimmage last season.
He finished the game with 142 yards and two touchdowns on just 12 carries in a 42–14 victory. By season’s end, Pass totaled 490 rushing yards and three scores while averaging 6.2 yards per carry.
“Zion is a great talent, and he’s worked his tail off this summer,” Austin said. “He’s super, super strong, never takes a rep off, and his football IQ is very, very high. He not only understands what his job is, but he understands the whole concept of the play and the ‘if thens’ — If they do this, then I do this.”
Those offseason gains were likely helped by his older brother, senior Nicah Pass.
“Whenever I’m in doubt or something like I don’t know what I’m doing, I just ask my brother,” Zion said. “He tells me to do something, and then even if we don’t do something right, we talk to each other, so it all works out like good.”
Nicah will spend most of his time on defense this year, but the senior has taken reps at running back in the offseason, and works regularly with the other running backs during their defensive duties.
Because nearly every running back plays on both sides of the ball, the group’s depth is essential to the coaching staff’s game plan as the Patriots prepare to open their season at Hephzibah on Friday night.
“It’s kind of like a rotation,” Holland said. “If one needs a breather, we just roll another one right in and keep rocking and rolling.”