OAKLEAF – Mother Nature was cruel to everyone Tuesday night around the county and surrounding counties. While technically it never rained there was plenty of lightning bolts to power all of Clay Electric for sure.
None of the three games played Tuesday night made it past halftime thanks to the multi lightning bolts going off every minute.
Which was unfortunate for the players, coaches and fans attending the most intriguing game of the night between Lake Asbury and Oakleaf.
Although you wouldn’t have thought that, as the first couple minutes of the game there was four turnovers and four bad snaps in the first quarter alone. That was only the prelude leading up the huge climax of the game.
Caleb Bradshaw picked off a Tigers pass on the second play of the game, only to see Devin Outlaw fumble it right back to the Tigers one play later.
Five plays later, Bryce Hampton raced 43 yards down the right sideline untouched for the opening score and Sam Singleton ran in the two point conversion to give Lake Asbury a 8-0 lead with 4:52 left in the first quarter.
Early on Oakleaf had trouble hanging on to the ball including the ensuing kickoff as the ball was fumbled on the way down and Jhace Edwards picked up the loose ball and returned it 40 yards to give Lake Asbury a 14-0 lead.
The nightmare wasn’t over just yet as two high snaps on two of the first three plays of the next drive backed up the Yellow Jackets back to the 6-yard line.
After forcing a three and out punt, the Tigers looked to take advantage of the great field position starting the next drive at the Jackets 21-yard line. However, two plays later, a fumble on the quarterback and tailback exchange gave the Jackets the ball back.
Oakleaf went back to its traditional offense and began settling down going on a 12 play, 89 yard drive that chewed up over half the second quarter, Outlaw capped the drive with a 4 yard score cutting the lead to 14-8 with 4:39 left in the half.
Drew Ammon hits Devin Outlaw for a 57 yard TD pass, Oakleaf once down 14-0 now leads Lake Asbury 15-14 with 2:04 left till half. @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/VLE1ohLxO5
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) September 18, 2018
On the next Jackets series, quarterback Drew Ammon hit Outlaw on a short screen pass and Outlaw took it 57 yards untouched to give Oakleaf its first lead of the game at 15-14 with 2:04 left in the half.
A low snap on a punt in the end zone was recovered by the Tigers in the end zone for a Jackets safety extending the Jackets lead to 17-14 with less than a minute left in the half.
Singelton picked off Ammon in the end zone two plays later to nullify another potential Jackets score.
The play helped set up Hampton’s second touchdown of the half as Hampton broke free for a 86 yard scamper to put Lake Asbury back in front 22-17 with just 4.6 seconds left in the half.
Bryson Hampton races 86 yards to put @lajhtigers ahead 22-17 with 4.6 left till half. @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/XhK4IP396X
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) September 18, 2018
You might have expected Oakleaf to just a knee with 4.6 seconds left and head into the locker room down 22-17 but the Jacket coaching staff had other ideas.
From their own 40, Ammon handed off to Outlaw and Outlaw found a hole and exploded down the middle rumbling 60 yards untouched to give Oakleaf a surprising 24-22 lead at the half.
Devin Outlaw races 60 yards on final play of first half, gives Oakleaf a 24-22 lead going into halftime. What a crazy first half. @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/fIGLfeyCY1
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) September 18, 2018
As thrilling the final four minutes were, unfortunately that was all fans were entertained with.
At the half eighth grade football players and cheerleaders were honored in their final home game of the regular season.
Just as they finished lightning was seen as big as the light pole behind the visitors side of the field across the street as Oakleaf Athletic Association. From there it only got worse, as strikes were continuously seen around the stadium.
After a lengthy delay to start the third quarter, both coaches and officials met on the field and decided to cancel the rest of the game. As a non divisional game, the game will not be made up and will be considered a no game.
Bradford 28, Orange Park 0
Bradford was in total control of the game leading 28-0 at the halftime before the game was cancelled due to severe lightning.
Jemetrious Pringle had a huge night for the Tornadoes scoring three touchdowns on the night, including a 70 yard run and a 20 yard run on a fourth and ten play. Quarterback Dejon Shanks also scored on a 25 yard run to put the Tornadoes well ahead.
Tornadoes coaches said lineman Elijah Williams, Cole Crosby and Dejon Mcbride along with linebacker Toren Brazille all had an outstanding game on defense.
Baker County 8, Green Cove 0
The only game that counted this week was a sloppy one as the Bobcats held on to a 8-0 win at home Monday over the visiting Green Cove Cougars.
Cam Smith broke through the line and raced 70 yards untouched on the first play of the game to give Baker County a quick 8-0 lead seconds into the game.
That was all the scoring as the Bobcats could only muster about 150 total yards and the defense played lights out holding the Cougars out of the red zone.
NEFAC Standings
North Overall Division
Baker County (3-0-1) (1-0)
Oakleaf (3-0) (1-0)
Orange Park (0-3) (0-1)
Lakeside (0-3) (0-1)
South Overall Division
Bradford (2-0-1) (1-0)
Lake Asbury (2-1) (1-0)
Wilkinson (1-2) (0-1)
Green Cove (1-3) (0-1)
Scores
Wilkinson 28, Lakeside 14
Oakleaf 24, Lake Asbury 22
Bradford 28, Orange Park 0
Baker County 8, Green Cove 0
Week 5, Sept. 25
Baker County at Orange Park
Oakleaf at Lakeside
Bradford at Lake Asbury
Wilkinson at Green Cove
