Brendan Matthews
Oakland’s quarterback Brendan Matthews looks fora player to hand the ball off to during the playoff game against William Blount, at Oakland, on Friday Nov. 6, 2015.
Oakland’s quarterback Brendan Matthews (10) runs the ball as Smyrna’s AJ Carter (3) moves in to stop Matthews during the game at Smyrna, on Friday Oct. 30, 2015.
Oakland’s quarterback Brendan Matthews (10) drops back to pass the ball as his teammate Jacob Frazier (54) guards Matthews during the game against Riverdale at Oakland, on Friday Oct. 16, 2015.
Oakland quarterback Brendan Matthews throws a pass during the Patriots 21-7 win on Friday night.
MURFREESBORO — Brendan Matthews hasn’t been asked to throw the football often in recent weeks.
The Oakland junior quarterback, though, aired it out to help lead the Patriots into the second round of the TSSAA’s Class 6A playoffs.
Matthews was 9-of-11 passing for 275 yards with four touchdowns and one interception in the No. 2-ranked Patriots’ 49-7 rout of William Blount in Friday’s playoff game. For the second straight week, Matthews didn’t attempt a pass in the second half.
He was named The Daily News Journal’s Football Player of the Week.
“I had one pick,” Matthews said of his one mistake. “But I felt pretty good. It could have been better, though.”
Not much better.
Oakland routs William Blount 49-7
Matthews and the Patriots set the tone in their opening offensive drive when he threw a 60-yard touchdown pass to LSU commitment JaCoby Stevens, who had outrun the Governors’ secondary to tie the game at 7-7.
Matthews said he joked with Stevens prior to the pass that he better reel it in.
“I told him he’s not getting a ride home if he doesn’t catch it,” Matthews said. “I wanted to make sure we got that one.
“(Stevens) made a really great move out of his break,” Matthews said of the first play. “That’s something he does well every week.”
Matthews’ 275 yards passing and four touchdowns are season highs. His previous high was 205 yards in a rout over Warren County.
“They watch film like everyone else,” Oakland coach Kevin Creasy said of William Blount. “We felt like they may load the box, like they did. We’ve got to take advantage of that.
“So we thought first play may be a good time to start.”
Reach Tom Kreager at 615-278-5168 and on Twitter @Kreager.
DNJ Football Players of the Week
The Daily News Journal selects a football player of the week throughout the season.
Week 1: Tanner Green, MTCS
Week 2: Taeler Dowdy, Blackman
Week 3: JaCoby Stevens, Oakland
Week 4: Tyler Griffin, Eagleville
Week 5: Ikenna Okeke, Smyrna
Week 6: Maleik Gray, La Vergne
Week 7: Brandon Bea, Riverdale
Week 8: Lazarius Patterson, Oakland
Week 9: Chris Dye, Stewarts Creek
Week 10: Deontae Newsom, Siegel
Week 11: Ethan Cobb, Eagleville
Week 12: Brendan Matthews, Oakland