Blackman Looks Forward to Third Round Game Against Oakland

By Jarod Hernandez

            MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Blackman High School turned it's focus to Oakland High School after beating Riverdale High School 48-21 on Nov. 14 in the second round of the TSSAA 7-AAA State Playoffs.

            Once the final seconds ticked off the clock last Friday at “Blaze Field”, the team soon hit the practice field. After meeting up with Riverdale for the second time in the season and blowing them out once again, the team could possibly be thinking it has an easy road to the championship. Blaze Head Coach Phillip Shadowens thinks otherwise.

             “Our team takes no team lightly,” said Shadowens. "We met with Oakland on week one, edging out with a 28 to 21 win. Our team and staff know that they have a good ball team."

            On Nov. 19, the practice was a cold one, but the team looked hot. With running plays in a fluid motion, everyone seemed to be on the same page.

            “I feel as if the playoffs bring out the best in my teammates and I,” said senior quarterback Jauan Jennings. "It’s a whole new season once they start."

Jennings, a team captain, committed to the University of Tennessee on April 7 to play football for the Tennessee Volunteers after completing his senior year.

Blackman and Oakland have a deep history of an inner-city rivalry, and when you put “playoffs” in front of the two schools, it causes an even more intense matchup. 

The game was played at Blackman High School on Nov. 21, located at 3956 Blaze Drive in Murfreesboro, Tenn. The fan bases of both schools were in full attendance and had the stadium shaking. Oakland marched in and put the Blaze’s flame out in dominating fashion by the final score of 20-9, with Jennings being their only means of a touchdown that night.

Jauan Jennings has recently been named the Tennessee Titans 2014 “Mr. Football”, as well as Oakland’s Jack Jones. The award is dedicated to the best high school football players in the state. 

Jennings and Jones will be wearing the same jersey next fall, as they will be teammates at the University of Tennessee. Jennings recently declared that he would forego his second semester of his senior year and enroll himself into UT in January.

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