WEST POINT — Shared enthusiasm and spirit has the Oak Hill Academy in position to create special memories.
Chris Craven hoped in the offseason that would the case when the Oak Hill Academy football team came together to change the culture of the program. Craven didn’t want to dictate all of the changes, so he asked the players what they wanted to build their program on. Words like “leadership, toughness, commitment, family, compete, and trust” helped the Raiders establish a framework they have rallied around this season.
Oak Hill Academy continued to build momentum last week in a 55-0 victory against Columbus Christian Academy. The win on Homecoming helped Oak Hill Academy (5-1) extend its winning streak to five games, which is its longest streak since 2006.
Oak Hill Academy will look to eclipse that mark at 7 tonight when it plays host to Central Holmes Christian Academy in a Mississippi Association of Independent Schools (MAIS) Class AA, District 1 game. At 2-0 in the district, Oak Hill Academy controls its destiny. Victories against Winona Christian Academy and Carroll Academy have positioned Oak Hill Academy for a chance to play for a district title. A win tonight could set up a winner-take-all matchup against Marshall Academy on Oct. 20 in Holly Springs.
“There are still a lot of things we need to keep doing to make sure we’re better than last year,” Craven said. “We have to stay on the grind, stay humble, and keep working.”
Craven believes there already was a common thread in the players when they discussed the things they wanted to highlight in their program. He said “the seeds” were there because he sensed the players take ownership and be honest about their thoughts. To reinforce that point, the word “leadership” is on a sign that hangs on the wall outside Craven’s office. The picture on the sign was taken from the team’s game against Strider Academy.
Craven said the death of Thomas Lee Bales in August helped bring the team even closer. Through all of the adversity, Craven said the words the players suggested have provided purpose.
“There was a lot of disappointment last year (after a 2-8 season),” Craven said. “Our guys played hard. We had some talented guys. We really expected a lot more. We know our fans expected a lot more. We know our administration and our booster club expected a lot more. We did as coaches, and it started to spiral. You just have to step back and say, ‘OK, things didn’t go as planned. What are some thing we need to change.’
“No one liked it. We just wanted to make a commitment to do better. We have tried to get better every week.”
Craven said the Raiders have pushed each other to do that by relying on the principles set in the preseason. He said the notion that “how can you lead others if you can’t lead yourself” has been a constant refrain to remind players to hold each other accountable. Craven said he has seen that attitude take hold, and he credits it for helping the team do so well. He hopes the Raiders will continue to have “a leader in every locker” to ensure the squad realizes its potential.
“When you’re playing on the field, it doesn’t matter what your classification is,” Craven said. “You have to do your job for your team. If you have the ability to go out and do your job for your team, you have the ability to lead on and off the field as well. … It is not about one person. All of the players have different responsibilities. … We had to come to a common ground that if I am not doing what I am supposed to somebody is going to say something to me and that is going to have to be all right because we have to say something to each other to help each other out.”
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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