Sandalwood HS- In a game that featured at least eleven division one college prospects, including two committed to Miami, two committed to Florida State, and one committed to Alabama, there were just two players predominantly responsible for carrying Oakleaf to victory against Sandalwood Friday night. That was junior quarterback Walter Simmons III, and senior defensive end Chantz Williams.
On fourth and short with just over two minutes remaining in the game and trailing Oakleaf 30-22, Sandalwood needed a stop on defense. Instead what they received was dust from the cleats of Walter Simmons III who took a direct snap up the middle for 46-yards and an Oakleaf touchdown. Simmons finished with 145 passing yards, two passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown.
It was a dagger in the heart of Sandalwood who had clawed their way back into the game after trailing 30-14 in the fourth quarter. With the ball in the hands of Florida State Commit Jeff Sims, Sandalwood would score quickly on a 15 yd strike from Sims to wide receiver Javonte Kinsey to make the score 30-20. Sims would then power his way to a 2-point conversion to pull the Saints with 8 points. However, that’s as close as they would get to Oakleaf since the first quarter.
In the first, Sims hooked up with Kinsey (Bowling Green commit) on a long catch and run touchdown to put Sandalwood up early 7-0. Sims and Kinsey would connect on two touchdowns on the night.
Yet Walter Simmons III and company responded quickly, driving down the field with a mixture of runs and passes culminating with a 20-yard touchdown pass to Sean Washington to tie the score at 7 all in the first quarter. Washington finished with three receptions for 50 yards and a score.
Simmons would go to work again, carving up the Sandalwood secondary as he hit his other wide receiver Terrance Anthony for his second touchdown pass of the game. Anthony made an incredible toe tapping catch in the end-zone with a defender draped over him for the score. He finished with three catches for 48 yards and a touchdown. It was that type of effort from Oakleaf’s play-makers that resonated throughout the team. Energy and confidence that seemed to weather every storm Sandalwood attempted to create.
That control stemmed from their head coach Frank Garis, and their top player Chantz Williams. Williams, a University of Miami commit, put on a show for the Sandalwood homecoming crowd and future head coach Miami’s Manny Diaz who was in attendance. Williams routinely harassed Sims sacking him four times on the night. He was virtually un-blockable on defense as he stuffed the run game as well.
His play created turnovers for Oakleaf’s defense. The first came on a jarring hit by linebacker Marcus Anthony that popped the ball in the air , and was intercepted by defensive tackle Marcus Brown. The second, late in the game when defensive back Donovan Thomas picked off Sims to end the game.
Williams incredible effort extended to the offensive side of the ball as well. He rushed for two goal-line touchdowns in Oakleaf’s heavy package. The second increased their lead to 30-14 in the fourth quarter. In all, he accounted for two touchdowns, four sacks, and a nasty exclamation point on his team’s 37-22 Distict 8A-1 victory on the night.
Oakleaf (5-1, 1-0) is tied in the district race with Bartram (5-0, 1-0). It looks like it’s going to be a showdown between the two schools in two weeks. Sandalwood (3-2, 1-1) is not out of the race yet. They’ll need help from another district team, but must take care of business if they hope to make a run for the playoffs.
Oakleaf hosts Mandarin after a bye week, while Sandalwood will travel to Raines next week.
