WEST POINT — Chris Craven isn’t getting comfortable.
The Oak Hill Academy football team’s third-year head coach knows a team’s fortunes can change with one injury, so he doesn’t plan to let his players get overconfident despite two strong outings to open Mississippi Association of Independent Schools (MAIS) Class AA, District 1 play.
Still, Oak Hill Academy should have reason to be confident following its 17-14 victory last week at Carroll Academy. The win came on the heels of a victory against Winona Christian Academy in West Point and moved Oak Hill Academy to 3-1 and 2-0 in the district. Oak Hill Academy will have two weeks to savor its victories and to grow from them before it returns to district play Oct. 6 against Central Holmes Academy. Until then, Oak Hill Academy will continue preparations to take on Class AAA Wayne Academy at 7 p.m. Friday in Waynesboro.
“Our guys played with a lot of heart and a little grit,” Craven said about his team’s effort last week.
Grayson Easterling kicked a 30-yard field goal in the third quarter to provide the winning margin for the Raiders. Quarterback John Carver Middleton hit Riley Tate for two touchdown passes. The defense also delivered another strong performance thanks to some key adjustments by defensive coordinator Carl Middleton, Craven said.
The efforts by the defense have been based on the principle of toughness that the Raiders talked about in the preseason in team-bonding exercises designed to create a new culture. Craven said “toughness” was a word many of the players wrote down that they wanted to define the team. He said the players are growing up and learning not to talk about being tough but playing that way.
“You don’t know how tough you can be until it is time to have to do it,” Craven said. “You can see everybody giving maximum effort. That has a lot to do with being able to compete.”
Craven and the coaches are holding the players accountable so they don’t quit or go 100 percent at all times for their teammates. With limited numbers, Craven said that mind-set is even more critical because one player not giving his all might not be in position to make a tackle. That mentality has helped the Raiders eclipse their win total from last season (two).
Craven said the victory against Winona Christian boosted the confidence of the players and reinforced the notion of everyone doing their job and supporting each other.
“If you keep on keeping on the possibility is there,” Craven said. “I don’t think it was, ‘We won a conference game. We are fixin’ to win them all.’ I think it is keep grinding and keep working.”
Armed with the slogan “Be patient. It is just the beginning,” Craven intends to make sure the Raiders stay together. He acknowledges the incremental improvement typical in many football seasons could make it difficult for the Raiders to stay patient, especially after winning the first two district games, but he hopes the seniors can work through the excitement and lead the way.
“We are just going to keep working,” Craven said. “They play hard, they play together, and they have a lot of heart.
“I think they have the foresight there is more work to be done. We’re by far nowhere close to where I would like us to be by the middle of the season. You can see them trying to get better every week, and you can see them getting better.”
Oak Hill Academy will play host to Class A Columbus Christian Academy next week before its third district game. It will wrap up district play Oct. 20 at Marshall Academy in its regular-season finale.
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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