KINGSLAND, GA – Jakaree Gadsden was looking for a fresh start when he transferred over the spring from Raines to Camden County.
I would say he got it, helping his new team to a season opening 19-6 win over visiting Oakleaf at Chris Gillman Stadium.
Gadsden accounted for 104 yards on 9 carries and both touchdowns out of his Wildcat role, while also lining up at receiver for the majority of the game catching 5 passes for 42 yards.
With his offense struggling and clinging to a 3-0 lead late in the second quarter, Gadsden bailed his team out lining up at wildcat and taking a snap 19 yards on a draw play untouched up the middle for a 9-0 lead with 1:47 left in the first half.
One thing is for sure when both team’s coaching staffs look at the film later they will obviously both have a lot to work on offensively.
With both teams coming off modified scrimmages, both offenses looked very rusty and lethargic at times as both teams combined for 8 fumbles on the night. Oakleaf junior tailback Keshawn King, who rushed for over 1300 yards last season, was held in check in the opener gaining only 53 yards on 13 carries.
One player who already looks in game form was Gadsden. Yet as good as Gadsden played he wasn’t 100% perfect either, as he fumbled twice in the first half killing two potential scoring drives.
On the other side Oakleaf freshman quarterback Walter Tre Simmons III debut didn’t go so well. Simmons finished 12 of 25 for 159 with one touchdown and two interceptions.
Simmons was put in a bad position to start his first drive when a punt was downed at the 3-yard line. Following an illegal shift call which backed them up the 1, Simmons fumbled the first two snaps of the drive, luckily Keshawn King bailed him out picking up the fumble and rumbling 11 yards. King added a 13 yard run on the drive as well but the Knights were forced to punt on the drive.
A short punt gave Camden County great field position at the 34-yard line and a Brooks Bryan pass to Gadsden for 27 yards put them inside the 6-yard line. Oakleaf defense held the Wildcats and forced a 23 yard field goal by Taylor Gebhart which gave the Wildcats a 3-0 lead.
That lead held till the end of the first half when both teams had problems holding on to the ball as both combined for three fumbles in the closing minutes.
Simmons fumbled the ball away after a short run and into the hands of linebacker Michael Austin who returned it to the 25-yard line.
Four plays later, Gadsden lined up out of the wildcat and raced 19 yards untouched to increase the lead to 9-0 two minutes before halftime.
On the first play from scrimmage for the Wildcats in the second half, Gadsden again in the wildcat raced 61 yards weaving through traffic for a 61 yard touchdown run and 16-0 lead early in the third quarter.
Four plays later, Simmons threw right into the hands of Devin Howard setting up the Wildcats at the 29-yard line.
The Wildcats converted the turnover into a 29 yard field goal by Gebhart increasing the lead to 19-0 with under four minutes left in the third quarter.
Simmons redeemed himself two plays later hitting wide receiver Jakari Williams in stride and Williams out ran the Wildcats defensive back 75 yards for a touchdown cutting the lead to 19-6 just 60 seconds later.
Williams will be heavily counted on now to spark the offense after fellow receiver Jakobie Baker broke his leg recently and is out for the season according to Oakleaf coaches.
Oakleaf seemed to be back in the game and had a lot of momentum now as the defense finally stepped up and made some plays. Chantz Williams sacked Brown for a huge loss forcing another punt.
However back-to-back false start penalties put them in a bind and forced them into another punt.
After Camden downed another punt inside the 5-yard line, Simmons again was put in another bad position backed up at his own 3-yard line to start the drive.
Simmons found Williams wide open to pick up 20 yards but two false start penalties killed the drive and forced another punt.
A possession later, Simmons connected with Williams again this time for 19 yards to move the chains but another false start penalty backed them up again. Two plays later, Simmons was picked off by Jeremiah Compton to essentially seal the win with under three minutes left in the game.
Camden ran out the clock driving inside the 5-yard line to end the game without scoring and give new coach Bob Sphires his first win as the Wildcats coach.
Camden County (1-0) host Venice (FL) next Friday, while Oakleaf (0-1) travels to county rival Orange Park next week in a county showdown at Hoyt B Cotney Stadium.
