1A Six Man
1A Division II State Title Game Preview: Jayton vs. Oakwood
For both fanbases, Wednesday morning has been a long time coming. Jayton is back in the state title game for the first time in 18 years. Oakwood, meanwhile, hasn’t played for a state championship since 1991.
The two teams took very different paths to get to this point, but they both come in with a lot of momentum.
Here’s what to watch for on Wednesday at 11:00 a.m.
Jayton Jaybirds (14-0)
Head Coach: Josh Stanaland
Distance from AT&T Stadium: 229 miles
2024 Playoff Results
Bi-District: W 54-6 vs. Crowell
Area: W 60-8 vs. Blackwell
Regional Final: W 100-50 vs. Benjamin
State Semifinals: W 90-48 vs. Klondike
Key Players and storylines
Jayton has made it back to the promised land for the first time since 2006. And the Jaybirds have done it by pretty much curb-stomping everyone in their path.
They first caught the state’s attention with a 66-16 win over Westbrook back in week one.
From there, they’ve 45’d every opponent except Klondike in the state semifinals. Where they won by 42.
Missed the game? No problem, here’s the full highlights between #1 Jayton and #4 Klondike in the 1A D2 State Semifinal @jstanaland @KCBD11 pic.twitter.com/6jeXQGeRaI
— Zach Fox (@ZachFoxSports1) December 7, 2024
Oakwood has given up 42 points per game this year, and its defense is going to be tested by the Jaybirds. Josh Stanaland’s bunch have a variety of ways to get it done offensively.
Bode Ham is their go-to back with 41 touchdowns on the season, but it’s far from a one-dimensional offense. Sean Stanaland can sling it when called upon. He has 1,451 passing yards and 33 touchdowns this year. Most impressively, out of his 77 passing attempts, he’s thrown just one interceptions.
He has a variety of weapons to target with center Colt Gentry (547 yards and 11 touchdowns), tight end Griff Reel (437 yards and nine touchdowns), and Ham (347 yards and seven touchdowns) all having 15 or more receptions on the season.
Defensively, Ham and Stanaland can make just as big of an impact. Stanaland leads the team with six interceptions, while Ham has six forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries.
In the trenches, Jayton will expect Reel (121 tackles), Gentry (121 tackles), and Ayden Salazar (111 tackles) to be disruptive from their defensive end positions.
The Jaybirds have been the favorite in 1A Division II most of the year, but Josh Stanaland knows his guys are going against an Oakwood squad peaking at the right time.
In order for Jayton to come out on top, Stanaland believes his Jaybirds will need to continue to play to the standard they have all year on both sides of the ball. In his eyes, “if we do that, then it doesn’t matter who we line up across from. We believe we can win.”
Oakwood Panthers
Head Coach: J.J. Johnson
Distance from AT&T Stadium: 135 miles
2024 Playoff Results
Bi-District: W 74-36 vs. Three Way
Area: W 63-24 vs. Gold-Burg
Regional Final: W 64-50 vs. Iredell
State Semifinals: W 54-51 vs. Oglesby
Key Players and Storylines
If you want a prime example of peaking at the right time, just look at the Oakwood Panthers.
After starting the season 2-5, the Panthers have rallied together and rattled off seven straight wins.
Their latest win was arguably their most impressive as they knocked off 2023 state finalist Oglesby in a 54-51 nail-biter.
Now, the Panthers are just 40 minutes from their first-ever state title.
Just like Jayton, Oakwood has a variety of guys who can get the ball moving offensively. Gavin Wilbanks by definition is its workhorse back with 1,116 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns this season.
But expect Darreion Thomas (753 rushing yards, 13 TDs), Dayden Velasquez (413 rushing yards, eight TDs), and Micah Reed (381 rushing yards, seven TDs) to see their fair share of carries too. All four rushed for 30 or more yards in the state semifinal win over Oglesby.
In the passing attack, Velasquez has seen the majority of the work with 1,268 passing yards and 26 touchdowns, but expect Thomas to get the chance to let it fly as well (754 passing yards and 16 touchdowns).
Sophomore Brady Harrison (503 yards and ten TDs) has had a tendency to make things happen with over 21 yards a catch. Reed leads all receivers though with 661 yards and 17 touchdowns.
Defensively, Johnson knows his Panthers will have to limit Jayton’s big plays. That will begin with Wilbanks (152 solo tackles) and Nick Strickland (123 solo tackles) bringing their physicality at defensive end. They have set the edge for the Panthers all season long.
Oakwood could also use some turnovers in this game. The Panthers have only five interceptions as a team this year. Tirrec Jackson leads the way with two
Final Thoughts
Johnson said Oakwood will need to start fast because Jayton is not a team the Panthers can afford to get behind against.
The Jaybirds will be heavy favorites because of their sheer dominance this year, and rightfully so, especially with the numbers Stanaland and Ham have been putting up. They will be highly disappointed if Wednesday ends with anything other than their first state title in 39 years.
On the other sideline, Oakwood will know it will take a near-perfect game to pull the upset, but after the results of the past couple weeks, the Panthers will believe they have what it takes to shock the state one final time.