Oak Grove’s Omari Carr was angry after a holding penalty negated his 60-yard run during the second quarter of a tie game on Friday.
So on the next play the Eagles called Carr’s number again, and he didn’t disappoint. Carr zigzagged around several would-be tacklers for an 83-yard touchdown run, giving the Eagles a lead they would not relinquish in a 21-7 victory over host Pioneer in a Mount Hamilton Division game.
“I was tired and mad after that first one,” said Carr, who rushed for 233 yards and two touchdowns in 23 carries. “But I know we have a good line, and I just tried to read the blocks and got the ball in the end zone on the next play.”
Pioneer (3-1, 0-1) gave Oak Grove (4-0, 1-0) its most difficult test of the year. On their first possession, the Mustangs drove 81 yards for a score. The key play came on a double handoff as Justin Souza (119 yards in 11 carries) took the ball going left and cut back upfield through a tackle. He gained 65 yards before getting caught at the 4. Two plays later he scored a 1-yard touchdown — his 12th touchdown of the year.
The Eagles answered with a six-play, 67-yard drive on their next possession. Jabari Carr caught a pair of passes for 26 yards and Omari Carr had a 32-yard run. Anthony Dean (47 yards in eight carries) scored on a 3-yard run to tie the score at 7-7.
Ahead 14-7 with 2:06 remaining in the third quarter, Oak Grove found itself in trouble after nearly fumbling away a punt that resulted in starting a drive at its own 6.
But Omari Carr gave the team some breathing room with a 23-yard run. He rushed five more times for 46 yards on the drive, and his 15-yard touchdown came behind excellent blocking on the right side of the Eagles’ offensive line.
“That defense is the best we’ve played this year, they never stopped hustling,” said Eagles tackle Tony Lozano, who had a key block on the run. “Omari is a crazy back, you never know where he will end up, but we love blocking for him.”
Pioneer Coach Mark Krail was encouraged by his team’s effort.
“We played them real tough except for a couple of big plays, our defense played excellent football,” Krail said. “That was the most they have punted all year. We’ll bounce back and be a good team.”
In the second half, Pioneer tried to throw the ball, but R.J. Silvey was intercepted three times, twice by Napoleon Johnson and once by Jabari Carr.
OAK GROVE 21, PIONEER 7
Oak Grove          7          7          0          7          — 21
Pioneer          7          0          0          0          — 7
P — Souza 1 run (Burchfiel kick)
OG — Dean 3 run (Duarte kick)
OG — O.Carr 83 run (Duarte kick)
OG — O.Carr 15 run (Duarte kick)
Records — OG 4-0, 1-0; Pioneer 3-1, 0-1
Check out Dennis Knight’s After School blog at blogs.mercurynews.com/highschools. Contact him at dknight@mercurynews.com or (408) 920-5899.
