Despite getting Warren County's best effort, Oakland claims their sixth region championship in a row with a 36-20 road win.
Junior running back Jordan James carried the load rushing for 196 of the Patriots' 331-yards on the ground. He also had this second quarter touchdown with 7:35 to play in the half:
After the Pioneers scored to cut Oakland's lead to 7, the Patriots faked a run play with Victor Stephenson behind center and quarterback Ian Schlacter at wide receiver:
That one went for 35-yards. But just before the half, the Pioneers snuck in Kason Holder with three-seconds left in the half and again made it a one-score game.
After a scoreless third quarter, Schlacter found Isaiah Horton on a 15-yard touchdown pass with 10:16 left in the game. It was answered less than a minute later by a C.J. Taylor 53-yard run. A missed extra point left Oakland with an eight-point lead.
The Patriots' Antonio Patterson would have an answer with just under six-minutes to play to put the game away:
Oakland finished with 409-yards of offense, 331 rushing, 78-passing. Schlacter completed 5-of-7 for 78 yards and two touchdowns and Patterson added 98 yards rushing on 11-carries.
With the win, the Patriots earn home field advantage throughout the playoffs with the one-seed from Region 3-6A. They will host Rossview at Ray Hughes Stadium next Friday night.
STATS FROM LOVELESS FINE PHOTOGRAPHY, FANN'S HEATING & AIR AND WINNERS' TROPHIES
OAKLAND RB JORDAN JAMES 18-CARRIES, 196-YARDS AND A TD
