OAKLEAF – Devin Outlaw fell to the ground and pounded his fist into the ground in frustration after fumbling the ball away late in the third quarter; perhaps thinking he just fumbled away his teams hopes of a county and conference championship.
Fortunately his team was there to pick him up and remind him they got his back and there still in this.
He listened rallying his team from a 12 point fourth quarter deficit to help Oakleaf stun Lake Asbury 41-40 with a 4 yard score with 1:05 left in the game on his 34th carry of the game.
Down twelve at the half, the Jackets came out of the third quarter with a slow time consuming methodical drive chewing up all but a minute in the quarter.
Outlaw led the Jackets inside the 30 and picked up a key first down on a third and six play getting to the 18 yard line before fumbling the ball away on his way down to the ground. The ball squirted ten yards forward and into the hands of Sam Singleton to give the Tigers the ball back as the quarter nearly came to a close.
Running their first offensive play of scrimmage with 1:09 left in the quarter, Lake Asbury ran two plays before the clock expired and the Tigers carried the momentum into the start of the fourth quarter just eight minutes away from a spot in the conference championship game.
A funny thing happened though, the Jackets defense which couldn’t stop Singleton all night came up with a huge stop and a rare three and out and punt. A wobbly punt was downed at the Tigers 31 yard line giving the Jackets the ball back in striking distance with under seven minutes left.
Outlaw broke off a 24 yard run to put them inside the 6 yard line and quarterback Drew Ammon’s 1 yard sneak cut the lead to 32-27 with 5:23 left in the game.
Realizing his defense had a hard time stopping Singleton, head coach Merlin Smith gambled calling an onside kick, which the Jackets recovered at midfield.
Outlaw broke off a 31 yard run two plays later to put them into striking range to tie the game with under five minutes remaining.
Four consecutive carries on the drive by Outlaw helped the Jackets get inside the 3 yard line, Outlaw capped the drive with a 3 yard scamper putting the Jackets ahead 33-32 with 2:46 left in the game, their first lead of the game.
The momentum was short lived though as Singleton raced 60 yards down the right sideline untouched on the ensuing play from scrimmage putting the Tigers back in the lead at 40-33 with 2:31 left in the game.
Ensuing play, Sam Singleton scores his fourth touchdown on a 60 yard scamper, puts Lake Asbury back in front 40-33 with 2:31 left in game. @DuvalSports @JonBCPress
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) October 16, 2018
Oakleaf didn’t panic though as there was an eternity of time left in the game considering neither defense could stop each other.
Three plays later, Ammon found Jeremiah Shack wide open along the sideline for a 30 yard completion down to the 40 yard line.
Outlaw busted off a run of 17 and 5 yards to put them inside the 19 and Annon broke the pocket and scrambled 15 yards down to the 4 yard line . After stopping Outlaw on the ensuing play, a timeout brought both teams to the sideline to talk about the crucial play.
On the ensuing play, Outlaw took a handoff from Ammon and bounced through a hole and through a Tigers defender with a stiff arm to find his way inside the end zone to put Oakleaf back in front 41-40 with 1:09 left in the game.
Devin Outlaw powers his way for the winning score with about a minute left in the game give Oakleaf a come from behind 41-40 win over Lake Asbury. @DuvalSports @JonBCPress pic.twitter.com/7rMK9Bffyo
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) October 17, 2018
It still wasn’t over though as the Tigers had one final drive to pull it out and took over near midfield at their own 45 yard line.
A short run by Jhace Edwards was stuffed and back-to-back bad snaps nearly were nearly fumbled away draining the clock and yardage.
As the clock expired, Oakleaf players doused Smith with a cold Gatorade shower as the Jackets could finally breathe and celebrate their third county title in the last four years.
Oakleaf in victory formation and getting coach Merlin Smith with post game Gatorade shower. @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/hMXSvfR3dU
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) October 17, 2018
“We knew they (Lake Asbury) could hit the homerun, they hit a couple homeruns on us last time, our job was try to contain them,” Smith said.
Quite opposite of how things started as the Tigers stunned the Jackets home crowd with a quick score barely a minute into the game thanks to a 65 yard kickoff return from Edwards which set them up inside the 30 yard line.
Singleton took advantage of the tremendous field position by carrying the ball three straight plays capping the drive with a 14 yard run up the middle giving the Tigers a quick 8-0 lead with 6:43 left in the first quarter.
Jhace Edwards opens game with 65 yard kickofff return to the 30, three plays later Sam Singleton rumbles 15 yards to give Lake Asbury a 8-0 lead with 6:43 left in first. @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/Am7LgFK1Uu
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) October 16, 2018
Both defenses knew the key to winning was stopping the other teams No. 5 as both teams featured tailbacks wore No. 5 in Singleton for Lake Asbury and Outlaw for Oakleaf.
After a couple short runs by Outlaw, Ammon hit Shack on a 20 yard completion and Outlaw followed with a 26 yard run to put the Jackets inside the 11. Outlaw capped the drive with a 11 yard scamper tying the game at 8-8 just two minutes later.
Bryce Hampton bobbled the ensuing kickoff but picked it up and raced 90 yards untouched to put Lake Asbury back ahead 16-8 seconds later.
Bryce Hampton bobbles the ensuing kick but recovers it and takes it back 90 yards untouched for a score, Sam Singleton adds two point conversion, Tigers lead 16-8 with 3:58 left in first. @DuvalSports @JonBCPress pic.twitter.com/7WZLB3Dlm2
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) October 16, 2018
Ammon kept the ball on a keeper for a huge 21 yard gain on the first play of the scrimmage and Outlaw busted runs of 17, 12 and 5 to put the Jackets inside the 31 yard line.
Hampton dropped a sure interception on the next play and Outlaw made him for it scampering 40 yards on the very next play for a score on a third and 19 play cutting the lead to 16-14 with less than a minute left in the first quarter.
The defense finally made a play as Corey Washington picked off a Connor O’Shields pass inside the 10 as the Tigers threatened to score again.
However, the Jackets would turn it right back over as Ammon hit Washington for a short pass and Washington fumbled it way on the way down to give the Tigers the ball back.
Singleton struck again racing 45 yards on the next play as the Tigers extended their lead to 24-14 with two minutes left in the half.
One play after Oakleaf fumble, Sam Singleton races 45 yards untouched for a score and 24–14 Lake Asbury lead with 2:08 left till half. @DuvalSports
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) October 16, 2018
Three plays later, Outlaw turned on the burners for a 47 yard score down the left side cutting the lead to 24-20 thirty seconds later.
Singleton responded two plays later breaking off a 47 yard run of his own to put Lake Asbury back ahead two scores 32-20 with 38.6 left till half.
Oakleaf tried to hurry up and pulled out a trick play as well as Outlaw took a handoff from Annon and pulled up and tossed a deep pass downfield to a wide open Shack but the ball was over thrown forcing a incomplete pass.
Coaches decided to run Outlaw one more time before heading into the locker room down two scores, knowing they would receive the ball to start the third quarter.
What a display by tailbacks Sam Singleton (7 carries, 122 yards, 3 TDS) and Devin Outlaw (14 carries, 206 yards, 3 TDs) in the first half. @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/7A0X5U5KIb
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) October 16, 2018
“I told the team to stay focused,” Smith on being down 32-20 going into the fourth quarter. “It was going to be hard to come back but our game plan was to use as much as time of the clock as we could in that third quarter and score to keep them off the field.”
After hearing about Outlaw’s final stats, Smith responded back, “That’s Outlaw being Outlaw”.
Devin Outlaw had a unbelievable night for a Oakleaf with 34 carries, 380 yards and 5 touchdowns. @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/s3YBEjaVwa
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) October 17, 2018
Outlaw finished with 34 carries on 380 yards and five touchdowns on the night, while Singleton countered with 182 yards and four touchdowns on 9 carries as the duo combined for 562 yards and 9 touchdowns on the night.
A huge reason for Outlaw success was the play of his offensive line Dorean Lang-Cleveland, Micah Wynne, Jordan Mitchell, Christopher Markum and Isaiah Shevchook as well as tailback Trevyn Smith who provided several key down the field blocks which sprung Outlaw on touchdown runs and first downs.
Devin Outlaw on tonight’s performance leading his team to the NEFAC title game. @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/ao1rYAmGAX
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) October 17, 2018
“We’re not Oakleaf No. 5 Junior High, this team plays together as a team,” Smith said, “Our offensive line played outstanding tonight.”
Devin Outlaw and Sam Singleton combined for 562 yards and 9 touchdowns tonight, what a performance for both of them. @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/XNLoqEJ6YZ
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) October 17, 2018
With the county title out of the way now, the Jackets (6-0) will travel to Bradford County (6-0-1) next week in the North East Florida Athletic Conference title game.
The two didn’t play in the regular season this year, but met last year with Oakleaf winning 7-0 in the regular season.
“We know those guys are big and fast, we’re going to have to play sound football to win,” Smith said. “We’re going to have to play Oakleaf football, we will clean some things up on defense and be ready to play. ”
Bradford County 34, Baker County 16
MACLENNY – Like Oakleaf and Lake Asbury, both Baker County and Bradford County were ready to settle the score in this one.
A month ago, both battled to a scoreless tie with three minutes remaining before lightning cancelled the rest of the game, leaving both teams with a dreaded tie.
Fortunately today would settle things as the two met in Maclenny in the second semifinal game of the North East Athletic Conference playoffs.
After seeing Baker County tie it up ,midway through the first quarter, vising Bradford County responded with a 26-0 run to pull ahead 34-8 on its way to a 34-16 win at Memorial Stadium.
Bradford didn’t wait long to establish momentum as the defense forced a quick three and out and Gavin Cook fielded the punt and returned it 44 yards to give the visiting Tornadoes a 8-0 lead three minutes into the game.
Bobcats quarterback Camron Smith scrambled 54 yards on a fake get sweep keeper tying the game at 8-8 less than a minute later.
That’s as close as the game would be as the Tornadoes rolled off 26 in a row to take a commanding lead of the game.
Da’vinotae Thompson broke an 80-yard touchdown run and Dae’Jon Shanks found Chalil Cummings for a 2-yard touchdown pass for a 22-8 lead midway through the second quarter.
Bradford’s Torin Brazell and Elijah Williams end the first half with back-to-back sacks to give the Tornadoes a 22-8 halftime lead.
Jametrious Pringle’s 38-yard touchdown run extended the Tornadoes lead to 28-8 early in the third quarter.
On third and goal from the 19 yard line, Shanks found Cummings for a touchdown reception putting the Tornadoes ahead 34-8 midway through the third quarter.
Late in the fourth quarter, the Bobcats finally broke through with a score on a 1 yard run to cut the lead to 34-16 with about three minutes left.
This story contains information from Baker County Press Sports Editor Jon Shumake.
Baker County (4-2-1) will travel to Lake Asbury (3-3) next week in the third place game.
