Photo Credit: Jeff Stead/PrepsKC 
Odessa coach Mark Thomas had a message for his team after they defeated Oak Grove 24-7 on Friday to improve to 4-0 on the season.
The message was short, and to the point: ‘We’ll see that team again.’
“Those guys are playing with a lot of pride,” Thomas said. “They’re trying to get that program back to where they (Oak Grove) believes it belongs. We knew it was going to be a tough battle.”
Odessa started the game with a bang as junior running back Gabe Studdard ripped off a 30-yard run. A late hit tacked on an additional 15 yards, giving the Bulldogs prime field position.
Two plays later, Odessa found paydirt as Douryun D’obron scored his first of three touchdowns, as he capped off the drive with a 12-yard run to give Odessa a 7-0 lead 25 seconds into the game.
“We were kind of nervous to start the game,” D’obron said. “Once the game kept going, we picked it up (on both sides of the ball) and put them down.”
Facing a 4th-and-3 at midfield and trailing 10-0 midway through the second quarter, Oak Grove coach Pat Richard decided to leave his offense on the field to pick up the first down.
Richard called on Logan Pittman to pick up the first down, however, Odessa sniffed out the play and forced the turnover on downs.
Three plays later, D’obron extended the Bulldogs' lead to 17-0 with a 48-yard run.
“He’s a really good athlete,” Thomas said of his senior quarterback. “Last year was his first year with us. He was actually injured the first half of the season and wasn't really able to run much. … now we’re able to take advantage of his running and throwing abilities.”
Oak Grove cut the deficit to 17-7 on its ensuing drive as Matthew Lindsey found an opening for a 16-yard touchdown.
The Bulldogs responded immediately as D’obron scored his third touchdown of the night with a 59-yard run.
Up next, Odessa will host Pleasant Hill on Homecoming.
Thomas knows that his team will have to be even more prepared headed into that game.
“We’re going to have to change gears a little bit,” Thomas said. “At the same time, the physicality … that doesn’t change. We’re going to have to go to work. We know we’re going to have our hands full.”
