SHELBY COUNTY -- Bob Jones kicked off the 2023 season with a 42-0 Jamboree win over Oak Mountain Friday night at Heardmont Park Stadium. Both teams played their varsity players during the first half, where the Patriots took a 28-0 halftime lead before letting the JV and freshman teams play in the second half.

Bob Jones is looking to use this momentum and take it into their first game with Muscle Shoals next Friday night. "I think we need to be more consistent on offense," said Patriots head coach Kelvis White. "We had a few more opportunities that we didn't take advantage of, especially in the passing game. Really pleased with the way we played up front. We just have to be consistent in moving the ball. Dylan did some good things, and he needs to keep getting reps and improve just like the whole team. We have a veteran group on the defensive line group returning three starters, and we need them to play well for us to play well on defense. We expect it from that group. For us, they are the core of the team, and they dominated the first half."

With 6:39 left in the first quarter, Tyren Washington scored on a 1-yard touchdown run to give the Patriots an early 7-0 lead. The Patriots offensive line made big pushes in that drive that setup the short touchdown run. 

With 1:42 left in the first quarter, junior running back Caleb Sanders took a hand off around left end and raced 80-yards for a Patriots touchdown. With the score, Bob Jones led 14-0. Great blocking by wide receivers Zathian Webster, Matthew Dixon, and Jackson Shaw with lineman Samuel Grimes and David Alexander opened a huge hole that Sanders speed just ran away from the Oak Mountain defense. 

The Patriots kept the pace going in the second quarter as with 7:38 left in the half, quarterback Dylan Willingham faced a hand off up the middle to his running back and raced around the right end for a score. With the touchdown, Bob Jones led 21-0. The Oak Mountain defense keyed on Washington on the fake hand off and Willingham only had to beat one Oak Mountain defender for the touchdown.

Bob Jones scored right before halftime as with :25 seconds left in the half, Willingham found Webster for a 25-yard touchdown pass play and the Patriots took a 28-0 halftime lead.

Oak Mountain had a chance the score in the first half when quarterback Will O'Dell found wide receiver Jayden Aparicio deep down the left side line. The freshman WR took the ball away from the Patriots defender and ran the ball deep down into the Patriots territory. Oak Mountain had to settle for a field goal attempt but it was missed for their only scoring opportunity in the first half. Aparicio plays both ways at corner and receiver and you can see where these two will make a lot of plays during the 2023 season for Eagles. That combination is something they can build on.

Next week, Bob Jones will travel to Muscle Shoals while Oak Mountain will travel to Northridge.