The 14th Annual MaxPreps Tour of Champions presented by the Army National Guard passed through Tennessee on Friday, February 1 to recognize
Oakland (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) High School and its football team for winning a state championship and earning a high national ranking.
Having upended Whitehaven 37-0 in the
TSSAA Division I Class 6A state championship contest, the 14-1 Patriots claimed their fourth state football title, the school's first state championship on the gridiron since 2008, and earned the No. 87 ranking in
MaxPreps' National Rankings! One of only 50 football programs nationally to earn an invitation to the Tour of Champions, the Patriots also bumped perennial power Maryville from state championship contention with a 38-0 semifinal win.
Photo By Precision Sports Entertainment
MaxPreps and the Tennessee Army National Guard arrived in time for the lunch period and began setting up the display of the ‘Minuteman' trophy, which is officially known as the Army National Guard national ranking trophy. While displaying the prestigious hardware, Sergeant Dustin Shepard of the Tennessee Army National Guard visited with students and handed out Tour of Champions t-shirts and lanyards.
Oakland athletic director Brad Cowan and head football coach Kevin Creasy welcomed TOC personnel and helped finalize the plans for the presentation, which was scheduled for halftime of the boys varsity basketball game against Stewarts Creek, a 62-52 Patriot win. SGT Shepard helped hand out Tour of Champions t-shirts to Patriot football players as halftime approached.
Once intermission hit, the Oakland PA announcer introduced MaxPreps representative Dean Craig, who asked the team and coaches to file down to center court to be recognized for their gridiron accomplishments during the state championship run. Before introducing SGT Shepard, Craig explained to the audience of 1,000 screaming fans how MaxPreps selects the teams it honors each year.
SGT Shepard then presented the Army National Guard national ranking trophy to Creasy and the Patriots to a rousing ovation from everyone in attendance. The Patriots posed for pictures as Creasy and two of his athletes conducted interviews. Oakland's entire coaching staff was thrilled to be honored and recognized nationally by MaxPreps and the Army National Guard. Congratulations to Coach Creasy and the Patriots for winning your state championship in such convincing fashion. What an honor it is to be recognized as one of America's best football teams and to be ranked No. 87 out of over 17,000 varsity football teams!
Click
here to view the Oakland TOC photo gallery and for more information about the Football TOC, please visit the
MaxPreps Tour of Champions site.
Photo By Precision Sports Entertainment