Oakleaf- A touchdown pass from quarterback Wilson Edwards to wide receiver Ashton Reynolds with :8 secoonds remaining in the game knotted the District 4S-3 contest between Creekside and Oakleaf at 48-48 all. Creekside’s Ronald Daragjati would knock the extra point through giving the Knights the lead, and a crucial district win 49-48 on Thursday night.
The crazy back and forth game saw five ties in the contest with Oakleaf going up 48-42 on a Devin Outlaw touchdown run with 2:26 to play in the game. It was Outlaw’s second rushing touchdown on the night, which gave the Knights the lead. However, a missed PAT would be a critical turning point in the game.
But there was too much time left on the clock for Creekside quarterback Wilson Edwards. Edwards drove his team down the field just like he did in spring football and all summer in 7 on 7 tournaments before the regular season. Edwards would hit Eros Taufer on a long reception with 1:28 remaining in the game. The incredible play was on 4th and 15, a pivotal play keeping hope alive for Creekside.
Hope is what both team’s needed on the night as neither team could risk losing this crucial district matchup. Creekside fell to Buchholz earlier this year, so another district loss would seal their fate. Oakleaf came off a big win over Fleming Island but fell to Chiles the following week, so they were attempting to build momentum heading into district play. The game would mirror both team’s sense of urgency heading into the Fall season of football in Northeast Florida.
Oakleaf kicked off the scoring with a Drew Ammon touchdown pass to Isaiah Shevchook to give Oakleaf a 7-0 lead. Ammon would toss three touchdowns on the night, in an incredible performance by the senior.
Creekside would respond on a 5-yard Nick Williams touchdown run, tying the game at 7-7 all in the first quarter. Williams would rush for three touchdowns on the night, including a touchdown to tie the game at 28-28 in the 4th quarter capping a captivating performance by one of the leading rushers in Northeast Florida.
Oaleaf would respond with a Carlos Witherup touchdown run, which gave the Knights a 35-28 advantage over Creekside in the fourth. The game saw ten different players score touchdowns in an explosion of points and playmakers. Play-makers including Oakleaf wide receiver Jaylin Martin who caught a touchdown. Creekside’s Daniel Approbato who had a touchdown run, and Bruno Alves, who scored on a kickoff return for a touchdown to tie the game at 42-42. Alves has scored twice on special teams this year.
The unsung hero of the night was Daragjati, who connected on two field goals, and on all of his extra points. This proved to be the difference in a high scoring affair, one that Coach Sean McIntyre of Creekside is used to. Creekside has scored 259 points in six games this season, averaging 43 points a game. Tops in Northeast Florida.
Creekside (5-1,1-1) will also have a big contest against arch-rival Bartram Trail (5-0) next Friday. Oakleaf (3-3,0-1) must travel to Buchholz for a big time district matchup next week. The Bobcats improved to 5-0 defeating Gainesville Thursday night.
