Damascus (3-0) has spent the last two seasons trying to close the gap on Oakdale 3-0).That gap is still pretty wide. The Hornets were beaten by a combined 92-0 in two meetings with the Bears last season, so there is no shortage of motivation heading into Friday night’s showdown between two unbeaten teams. The question is whether Damascus has closed enough ground to make this one a game.
Oakdale certainly hasn’t shown many signs of coming back to the pack. The Bears have been as balanced as they are imposing, with quarterback Dylan Ohm directing an efficient passing attack that has become their calling card. Ohm gets the ball out decisively and has two dangerous targets in Charlie Alt and Joziah Cobb, giving Oakdale the ability to stretch a defense vertically.
But defending the pass is only part of the problem. Running back Shemiah Hill can grind out the tough yards, and Ohm is capable of making plays with his legs as well. More importantly, Oakdale’s offensive line has consistently put the Bears in position to dictate the game. That physicality carries over to the other side of the ball, where Oakdale has been equally difficult to move.
That makes the central question fairly simple: Can Damascus win at the line of scrimmage? There isn’t an obvious weakness for the Hornets to attack. If they want to stay within striking distance, they have to create some of their own advantages up front, take away the easy runs, force Ohm into difficult downfield throws and make Oakdale earn every yard.
Damascus has handled its first three opponents, but those games haven’t exactly prepared the Hornets for this kind of test. Clarksburg moved the ball effectively last week, a reminder that Oakdale will be facing a Damascus offense that can make plays but may have to be nearly perfect to keep pace.
MJ Sullivan remains the Hornets’ biggest offensive weapon, and with the ball likely in his hands plenty of the night, Damascus will need him to produce against an Oakdale defense that has already demonstrated it can smother strong rushing attacks.
This isn’t an impossible assignment for Damascus. It’s just a brutal one. The Hornets have earned their 3-0 record. Now comes the part where they find out how much it means. Oakdale has looked like one of the state’s best teams through three weeks, and until somebody proves otherwise, there’s little reason to expect the Bears to slow down here.
Prediction: Oakdale 42, Damascus 14.
