Oakleaf- If anyone thought the Oakleaf Knights were push-overs in 2018 because of their poor campaign in 2017, they’ve been proven wrong. Oakleaf and Head Coach Frank Garis defeated their Clay County brothers Clay High School 49-31 Friday Night. They are now 3-1 thanks to wins over Orange Park and last week against Bartram Trail. Oakleaf is doing some amazing things this tear. They hadn’t defeated Bartram Trail once in the four consecutive years that they’ve played each other since 2015. Yet the Knights showed last Friday that this is a brand new year and that they are for real.
It was a shootout against Bartram, where 122 points were scored in the game. Not many thought the Knights could hang with the Bears, with all their play makers. And at first it seemed like they wouldn’t as players like Quarterback Chad Dodson threw for four touchdowns, and Aaron Jones ran for 169 yards and 2 touchdowns. However Oakleaf knew otherwise. They are an extremely confident team. The main reason for their confidence is possessing a home run hitting running back in Keshawn King to showcase with a sophomore sensation in Quarterback Walter Tre’ Simmons III.
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In their signature victory thus far against Bartram, Simmons threw for 302 yards and two touchdowns. He’s progressed each game and the seniors have tremendous confidence in the young man. Their not just content with handing the ball off to their D1 running-back in King, but they are comfortable in going to the air as well. Simmons found Sean Washington and Terrance Anthony on his passing touchdowns against Bartram.
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Keshawn King has been tearing up the turf once again this year and against Bartram he once again showed why he is one of the top recruits in our area. The Virginia Tech commit rushed for 251 yards and five touchdowns in their game, giving him 11 total touchdowns and 507 rushing yards on the season. He is the main reason Oakleaf should be taken serious in 2018.
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As the season moves on, tests like the one they faced in Belle Glade Florida against Glades Central will come. However losing that game early on may have given them the confidence they needed to push toward their first playoff appearance since 2014. Tonight against Clay, they once again showed they were the real deal, Walter Simmons III threw for three touchdowns and Keshawn King ran for three others. In the coming weeks against Buchholz, Fleming Island, Raines and Trinity Christian the tests will only make them better and more prepared. No team will face a crucible such as that one. Which is why Oakleaf should be taken seriously. They are for real.
Updated 9/22/18
