Ole Miss football commit Craig Tutt powers Oakland back into 6A state championship

It's a familiar refrain for Oakland football.

The Patriots advanced to its sixth straight TSSAA football playoffs state championship game, rolling past Region 3-6A rival Blackman, 42-14, on Nov. 28 in the Class 6A state semifinals at Oakland High School.

Ole Miss football commitment Craig Tutt powered the Patriots (14-0) with 21 carries for 159 yards and three rushing touchdowns, including a 73-yard TD run in the second quarter that gave Oakland a 21-0 lead on a stingy Blackman defense. He also had a touchdown catch and 64 yards receiving.

Oakland will cap three days of state championship games at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga when it plays Ravenwood (14-0) at 7 p.m. ET on Dec. 6.

Oakland won three straight state titles from 2020 to 2022 before Houston upset the Patriots in 2023. Oakland returned the favor in 2024, knocking off Houston to reclaim the title.

Tutt's 33-yard TD catch from quarterback Kam Morton in the third quarter extended Oakland's lead to 28-0 before he iced the game in the fourth quarter with a 6-yard TD run and a 35-14 lead.

Oakland's Kyrie Gainor returned a interception 52 yards for a touchdown in the closing seconds for the final score. Morton was 9-of-11 passing for 118 yards and two TDs, including a 36-yard scoring pass to Kemani Bass late in the first quarter.

Oakland put up 357 yards of offense on a Blackman (12-2) defense that has only allowed two other teams, not named Oakland, score more than two TDs.

Reach The Tennessean's high school sports editor, George Robinson, at georgerobinsontheleafchronicle.com and on the X platform (formerly Twitter) @Cville_Sports.

This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Oakland returns to sixth straight TSSAA football playoffs championship