WEST POINT — Drake Riley believes the Oak Hill Academy can do it on offense.
Drew Riley believes the Raiders can get it done on special teams.
There’s no difference on defense, either, as the Riley brothers have teamed at outside linebackers to anchor a unit that has that Oak Hill Academy football team enjoying a winning streak.
The Rileys played integral roles Friday in helping Oak Hill Academy get to that point. Drake Riley rushed for 99 yards, Drew Riley had a 77-yard kickoff return to give the momentum back to Oak Hill Academy, and both brothers contributed to the effort on defense in a 27-21 victory against Winston Academy.
For their accomplishments, Drake and Drew Riley are The Dispatch’s Prep Players of the Week.
“Drake has the bulk of the carries and he doesn’t like to go down,” Oak Hill Academy first-year coach Daniel Merchant said. “He doesn’t give up and keeps churning his feet. He has done a good job holding on to the ball.
“Drew has helped tremendously turning the field position over as a punt and kick returner. Defensively, it is tough to get outside with those two. They have brought some good things to our team.”
Merchant said Drake, a sophomore, and Drew, a freshman, are similar in that they are quick and power backs. He said Drake has responded well to shouldering such a big load in the running game. He said he showed his stamina Friday night, running the football out of the Wing-T multiple times in a row to help the Raiders control the clock.
Merchant also said Drew Riley’s kick return came at a critical juncture. He said a kick return helped Winston Academy seize the momentum and it didn’t take long for Drew Riley to get behind the wedge and use his speed to put the game back in Oak Hill Academy’s hands.
“You could just see it part,” Merchant said. “Our front line did a great job getting back to him, and our middle wedge of lead blockers did a great job. They all did a great job.”
Drew Riley agreed. He said the team built on a tough victory against Newton County Academy and went after Winston Academy. He said the team used a speech by Greg Gates before the game to take it to the Patriots. Gates’ son, Shawn, was head football coach at Immanuel Christian. Merchant was an assistant football coach at Immanuel Christian in 2010 when the team advanced to the playoffs.
Merchant brought a “We Believe” mantra with him from Nettleton High when he took over at Oak Hill Academy. He felt that approach would be key in helping the players erase the memory of an 0-10 season.
Drew Riley said the 2011 season has become a distant memory thanks to hard work in the offseason. He had a forced fumble against Winston to help the defense preserve the win.
“Winston ran two receivers on each side. Sometimes they ran three,” Drew said. “When they ran three, I blitzed every time, so I had to get to the quarterback as fast as I can. On two, I had to get the flats, so I did pretty good on that, not letting them out.”
Drake Riley said the Raiders have played harder and longer this season, which explains why they were able to end a 12-game losing streak and build a winning streak. As the workhorse out of the backfield, Drake said he looks forward to carrying the load.
“I think I have made a big contribution to the team on offense and defense,” Drake Riley said. “I have been getting a lot of carries, and I have been working hard.”
Drake credited his brother for providing a needed lift after the team went down following Winston Academy’s return for a score. He said the Drew’s return gave the Raiders the momentum and enthusiasm they needed to earn a key Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Class AA, District 2 victory.
“He just found a hole and blew through it,” Drake Riley said. “He is a little faster than I am.”
The next step will be building on that momentum Friday against Indianola Academy. Drake Riley said the first two weeks have given the team a new sense of confidence that has made it even easier to believe the Raiders can do it on offense, defense, or special teams.
“Last year, we wouldn’t have thought we could beat them,” Drake Riley said. “We didn’t have the parts we needed. This year is great. We just need to keep working hard.”
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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