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Oglethorpe County’s Quentin Nash tracks down Riverside Military Academy’s Jacques Chiller in the Patriots’ 57-0 homecoming victory on Friday night. OCHS had eight tackles for loss, two safeties and an interception. (NATHALEE SIMONEAU/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)
Oglethorpe County’s defense might look a bit peculiar, but it’s by design.
The Patriots run a 3-3 defense, which isn’t conventional. But using that scheme, the defense shut out Riverside Military Academy 57-0 in Friday night’s homecoming game to improve to 2-3 this season.
The Patriots held the Eagles to two first downs, while also coming away with eight tackles for loss, two safeties and an interception.
“As a team, we played like dogs, and we were all over the field,” senior middle linebacker Caleb Hall said.
Oglethorpe County has allowed just 10.8 points a game this season, including 14 in a loss to undefeated Greene County, which averages 31.8 points a game. Each of the Patriots’ three losses have been by one score and they haven’t allowed more than 19 points in a game this season.
“We're really coming together as a defense and we're flying around, running the football, and running our feet on contact,” coach Mike Holland said.
Many teams use schemes with seven defenders up front, commonly referred to as the front seven. However, the Patriots have only six defenders in that area.
Instead, they implement an adjusted-nickelback formation with three down linemen.
“A lot of teams don't play against people (in that way),” Holland said. “So, it’s novel, and the kids have bought in.”
Holland’s defense is more zone-oriented, which helps the players do their jobs better.
“We’ve simplified things,” he said. “The kids know where they’re supposed to be, and then they can just play fast.”
Holland pointed out three players who shined on his defense on Friday: Jordan Johnson, Ashton Sexton and Quentin Nash.
Sexton had one tackle for loss and a safety, while Nash had eight tackles and three tackles for loss.
“Johnson is always solid, Sexton is a great upfront force, and Nash had a great game at inside backer,” Holland said.
The Patriots play at Seckinger (0-5), a second-year program, at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29.
“We’re looking fast, we’re looking good, and we hope we’re hitting our stride right at the right time,” Holland said.
Game Recap:
