LAKE ASBURY – Eighth graders Sam Singleton and Bryce Hampton knew what was at stake Tuesday afternoon and they weren’t about to let it slip away.
Faced with a win or miss out on the playoffs, Lake Asbury responded to the challenge impressively with a 30-3 win over visiting Green Cove, thanks to the dynamic duo.
Each rushed for a pair of touchdowns to help their Tigers team clinch the final remaining playoff spot in the Northeast Florida Athletic Conference playoffs.
A loss to Bradford coupled with a Green Cove win over Wilkinson both last week set up the winner take all showdown for second place in the South Division and the automatic berth to the playoffs.
Early on it looked like Green Cove came ready to play recovering a fumble on the opening kickoff and converting the turnover into a short field goal to take a quick 3-0 lead.
Green Cove takes advantage of fumbled kickoff to take a quick 3-0 lead. @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/zwAvktxNKh
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) October 2, 2018
That would be it for the Cougars offense though as the Lake Asbury defense tightened up and kept the Cougars out of the end zone and off the scoreboard the rest of the game.
The lead was short lived as well as on the ensuing play from scrimmage following the kickoff, Singleton took a handoff and raced 58 yards down the left sidelined untouched giving Lake Asbury a 8-3 lead just seconds later.
Next play, Sam Singleton races 58 yards untouched down the left sideline to give Lake Asbury a 8-3 lead with 5 min left in first. @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/FHaet91n6c
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) October 2, 2018
From there it only got worse as the Tigers offense began to click and score at will from the opening drive of the game. Four minutes later, Hampton rumbled 42 yards to increase the lead to 16-3 with 1:40 left in the first quarter.
Bryce Hampton 42 yard score increased Lake Asbury lead to 16-3 with 1:40 left in first. @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/bUGMbixse0
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) October 2, 2018
Green Cove (2-4, 1-2) tightened up their defense in the second quarter and kept the Tigers out of the end zone and off the scoreboard the entire eight minutes of the quarter as the Tigers took a 16-3 lead into the half.
Half
Lake Asbury 16
Green Cove 3@DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/8xnk3cZG7I— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) October 2, 2018
Hampton scored his second touchdown of the game on a 20 yard run seconds into the third quarter increasing the lead to 24-3 seconds into the second half.
Bryce Hampton 20 yard touchdown run increases the Lake Asbury lead to 24-3 over Green Cove a minute into the third quarter. @DuvalSports
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) October 2, 2018
Not to be out done, Singleton scored his second touchdown of the game in the closing minutes of the game to extend the lead to 30-3 and secure the Tigers playoff berth.
Sam Singleton 5 yard touchdowns run makes it 30-3 with 4:28 left in the game. @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/5U4dxh3uLm
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) October 2, 2018
Lake Asbury (3-2, 2-1) clinched the final playoff spot with the win today and had to wait several hours to find out who their playoff opponent was.
Bryce Hampton and Sam Barrington on win today and clinching playoff spot. @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/xgSWWA2g7V
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) October 3, 2018
Oakleaf 34, Baker County 28
Despite having already clinched playoff spots, both the Oakleaf Yellow Jackets and the host Baker County Bobcats gave it their all Tuesday night in a battle for the North Division title.
Given a second chance, visiting Oakleaf made Baker County pay for it in a 34-28 double overtime win at Memorial Stadium.
Tied at 28 all, a fumbled pitch by the Bobcats ended up in the hands of a Jackets player giving Oakleaf a second chance to win it.
Quarterback Drew Ammon 1 yard quarterback sneak cleared the goal line giving Oakleaf a stunning 34-28 win over Baker County and more importantly the North Division title and No. 1 seed.
What a game, what an ending https://t.co/Q8Eu4eXGS4
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) October 3, 2018
The second chance occurred after Devin Outlaw gave Oakleaf a 28-22 lead on a fourth and goal play in the first overtime, the two point conversion was stuffed giving Baker County a chance to win it on its possession.
Bobcats quarterback Davion Dean 13-yard game-tying touchdown pass to Cam Smith tied the game again at 28 all. Instead of kicking the extra point and winning it, the coaches decided to go for two and the Bobcats were denied forcing a second overtime.
Overtime was needed as Baker County rallied with a late score in the game to stun the visitors from Oakleaf with less than two minutes left in the game.
Baker County’s Cam Smith goes 91 yards on a catch and run from Davion Dean. PAT fails. Still, Baker County ties Oakleaf at 22-all in dramatic fashion with 1:23 left to play.
— Jon Shumake (@JonShu89) October 3, 2018
It looked like Oakleaf was well on their way to the win in regulation as Ammon connected with wide receiver Jeremiah Shack for a second time to put Oakleaf ahead 22-16 early in the fourth quarter.
Oakleaf’s Drew Ammon throws his second TD pass of the game to Jeremiah Shack on a 7-yard pass. Devin Outlaw converts the 2-point try, giving Oakleaf a 22-16 lead over Baker County with 7:51 left to play.
— Jon Shumake (@JonShu89) October 2, 2018
The back and forth game was a testament to the two teams and the skill level on display as both teams gave it everything they had through out the night.
Baker County took a 16-14 lead into the fourth quarter on Cam Smith’s 22 yard run and the ensuing two point conversion late in the third quarter.
Baker County’s Cam Smith high steps into the end zone as he crosses the goal line on a 22-yard TD run. Walker Avera converts the 2-point attempt, giving the Bobcats a 16-14 lead over Oakleaf with 3:18 left in the third quarter.
— Jon Shumake (@JonShu89) October 2, 2018
An Outlaw 1 yard run put Oakleaf ahead 14-8 seconds before the half to give the Jackets the momentum heading into the second half.
Baker County went ahead for the first time on a 2 yard run from Jabari Ruise and two point conversion run by Cam Smith, which gave the Bobcats a 8-7 lead early in the second quarter.
Baker County’s Jabari Ruise scores on a 2-yard run. Cam Smith converts 2-point try to give Bobcats an 8-7 lead over Oakleaf with 6:03 left in the first half. Drive started at Oakleaf’s 11 after Jayden Crawford jumped on a fumble.
— Jon Shumake (@JonShu89) October 2, 2018
Oakleaf jumped out to a 7-0 lead as Ammon hit Shack on a 20 yard touchdown pass with about two minutes left in the first quarter after a lengthy opening drive.
Oakleaf cap a nine-play opening drive with a 20-yard TD pass to take a 7-0 lead over Baker County with 2:27 left in the first quarter.
— Jon Shumake (@JonShu89) October 2, 2018
The game was delayed for at least 30 minutes as half of the referee crew was late to the game thanks to a massive pile up on I-10.
Orange Park 42, Lakeside 12
It took six long weeks, but the wait was finally worth it for Orange Park and head coach Lonnie Crim after a 42-12 win over arch-rival Lakeside at Ridgeview.
After weeks of running clocks and embarrassing losses, Orange Park was finally on the good side of the scoreboard for once picking up their first win of the season.
Musthafa Marshall scored three touchdowns to help the Wildcats break the game open including a 20 yard score with 5:36 left in the third quarter that gave the Wildcats a 36-12 lead.
Musthafa Marshall 20 yard touchdown run gives Orange Park 36-12 lead over Lakeside with 5:40 left in third. @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/jKRgswtUVu
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) October 2, 2018
The huge lead carried over into the fourth quarter as the Wildcats held a 36-12 lead going into the final quarter of the game.
Orange Park leads Lakeside 36-12 end of three. @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/kXC065uKgF
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) October 2, 2018
Even with several backups in the fourth quarter, the Wildcats offense couldn’t be stopped as Myrick Durrionte’ hit the corner and scored on a 4 yard touchdown run to put the Wildcats ahead 42-12.
Myrick Durrionte’ 4 yard touchdown in closing minute gives OP a 42-12 lead. @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/PqFn2J1R28
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) October 2, 2018
As the clock hit all zeros finally, a loud celebration began on the Orange Park sideline and side of the field as the Wildcats finally won a game.
More importantly, the Wildcats held on to the Blanding Brawl trophy for the third consecutive year, their third straight win over arch-rival Lakeside.
Blanding Brawl trophy stays with Orange Park for third year in a row @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/sxH5zEJroU
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) October 3, 2018
Third win in a row over arch rival Lakeside allows Orange Park to hold onto Blanding Brawl trophy again @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/6kXWRX417u
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) October 3, 2018
A jubilated Crim spoke about the first win of the season and also beating arch-rival Lakeside again for the third consecutive year allowing the Wildcats to hold onto the Blanding Brawl trophy.
Orange Park coach Crim on first win of season and taking down arch-rival Lakeside @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/ix8cFex9uN
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) October 3, 2018
Bradford 16, Wilkinson 0
Having already secured the South Division title and the No. 1 seed in the Division, Bradford County took it easy on visiting Wilkinson Tuesday.
Bradford coaches said they played okay despite such a sloppy game but Wilkinson played very hard tonight.
NEFAC Standings
North Overall Division
Oakleaf (5-0) (3-0)
Baker County (4-1-1) (2-1)
Orange Park (1-4) (1-2)
Lakeside (0-5) (0-3)
South Overall Division
Bradford (5-0-1) (3-0)
Lake Asbury (3-2) (2-1)
Green Cove (2-4) (1-2)
Wilkinson (1-4) (0-3)
SCORES
Week 5, Sept. 25
Baker County 38, Orange Park 20
Oakleaf 28, Lakeside 0
Bradford 38, Lake Asbury 18
Green Cove 28, Wilkinson 26
Week 6, Oct. 2
Bradford 16, Wilkinson 0
Orange Park 42, Lakeside 12
Lake Asbury 30, Green Cove 3
Oakleaf 34, Baker County 28 (2 OT)
Next week, Oct. 9
Bradford (5-0-1) at Baker County (4-1-1) (Semifinals)
Lake Asbury (3-2) at Oakleaf (5-0) (Semifinals)
Green Cove (2-4) at Orange Park (1-4) (5th place)
Wilkinson (1-4) at Lakeside (0-5) (7th place)
