Jacksonville Fl- The week 5 matchup between a highly ranked Bolles team, and a highly ranked Oakleaf team saw both the Knights and the Bulldogs coming in with one loss on the season. Bolles showed incredible resilience against Bishop Kenny the week before, coming from behind to get the win. Bolles trailed 28-13 at one point in the third quarter. They knew they couldn’t fall behind against an Oakleaf team that just went toe-to toe against defending back to back state champion Hawthorne the previous week. So Bolles came out swinging.
The Bulldogs got the ball first and immedietly drove down field for a Emmet Grzebin rushing touchdown to start off the game. The drive was orchestrated perfectly by quarterback Ethan Drumm, who has really settled in to the Bolles offense mid-season.
The Bulldogs strike first! Emmett Grzebin rushes in for a touchdown!
— Where’s Home Podcast (@WheresHomePod) September 20, 2024
Oakleaf-0
Bolles-7 @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/u7SO7NRuDz
The Knights then took advantage of the run game as Chris Foy II rushed in as score at the goal line to tie up the game 7-7 with 4:03 left to go in the first. Foy has been a major factor for Oakleaf on the ground, and he would prove to be so in this game as well.
The Knights respond! Chris Foy II does his thing and rushes in for a Touchdown!
— Where’s Home Podcast (@WheresHomePod) September 21, 2024
4:03 left to go in the first
Oakleaf- 7
Bolles- 7 @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/Xgl212fKH2
The Bolles offense had more to prove as Drumm handed the ball off to Tyrone Neal this time for a rushing touchdown to take the lead 14-7. Neal is a talented running back that can carry the load as well. Bolles has the most experienced backfield in the area.
Very quick response from the bulldogs. Tyrone Neal rushes in at the goal line to take the lead.
— Where’s Home Podcast (@WheresHomePod) September 21, 2024
Oakleaf- 7
Bolles- 14 @DuvalSports et pic.twitter.com/B2QsuBIZnT
The Knights got the ball back as the Bulldogs defense holds them to three points for a 14-10 score with 11:41 left to go in the half. Ethan Drumm would doe his thing this time through the air going deep down field to find Chase Collier to set up great field position. Drumm finished the drive stepping back to find Grzebin in the end zone on a swing pass as the Bulldogs lead 21-10 with 8:51 left to go in the half.
Ethan Drumm finds Emmett Grzebin in the end zone. Bulldogs lead 21-10 with 8:51 left to go in the half @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/tFvRe1JXXr
— Where’s Home Podcast (@WheresHomePod) September 21, 2024
The Bulldogs would attempt to put the dagger in Oakleaf early with an onside kick which they recovered. They took advantage of the field position as Tyrone Neal rushed in a score at the goal line to balloon the score to 28-10 with 3:48 left to go in the half.
Tyrone Neal rushes in at the goal line for seven.
— Where’s Home Podcast (@WheresHomePod) September 21, 2024
Bulldogs lead 28-10
3:48 left to go in the half @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/HhUSDvPu0M
However, what seemed to be a decisive dagger actually turned out to be an ammonia awakening for Oakleaf. Like a prize fighter who’d been knocked down, the Knights weren’t finished yet. Fareed Coleman would take the ensuing kick-off 71-yards to the house for Oakleaf to be back in the game, trailing 28-17.
The heavy weight prize fight was on as Ty Neal turned a routine play into a big play. Drumm threw a screen pass to Neal who took it for a 63-yard touchdown to extend the Bolles lead to 35-17 with 2:30 left to go in the half.
The Knights swung and landed when they got the ball back, when quarterback Jack Mckissock found Mike Connor in the end zone right before the half making the score 35-24. It was an important score for Oakleaf, as they would receive the ball after the halftime.
Jack Mckissock passes to Mike Connor in the end zone right before the half!
— Where’s Home Podcast (@WheresHomePod) September 21, 2024
Oakleaf- 24
Bolles-35 pic.twitter.com/EMt3oy5yxC
With momentum going into the locker room the Knights charged out of halftime on the back of their leading rusher. Chris Foy II did his thing and rushed in at the goal line to score as Oakleaf trailed 35-31 in the 3rd quarter.
Chris Foy II rushes in at the goal line! The Knights trail 35-31 @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/Hs7VLwyWFq
— Where’s Home Podcast (@WheresHomePod) September 21, 2024
Oakleaf defense would finally get a big stop and to put the the ball back in the hands of the offense. This is where Mckissock passed to Carlos Witherup who took it for a touchdown, as Oakleaf to their first lead of the game 37-35 with 1:55 left to go in the 3rd quarter.
The Knights take the lead!! Mckissock passes too Carlos Witherup for a touchdown!
— Where’s Home Podcast (@WheresHomePod) September 21, 2024
Oakleaf- 37
Bolles- 35
1:55 left to go in the 3rd @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/NtUz99No2B
Another big stop for the Oakleaf defense gave the ball back for the offense to drive down field. Jack Mckissock then found wide receiver Jordin Price for a touchdown, but 2-point conversion was no good, the Knights increased their lead 43-35 with 34 seconds left in the 3rd quarter.
Jack Mckissock passes to Jordin Price for a touchdown!! 2 point conversion no good
— Where’s Home Podcast (@WheresHomePod) September 21, 2024
Oakleaf- 43
Bolles- 35
34 left to go in the 3rd @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/w6tumM0q34
It was the Bulldogs turn to get off the mat, and 4-star receiver Naeem Burroughs said say no more, with an 80-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Their 2-point conversion was good however, as the Bulldogs tied up the game 43-43 with 19 seconds left to go in the 3rd.
When the Knights got the ball back, Jack Mckissock threw a screen to Chris Foy II who dove into the end-zone for a touchdown. It was McKissock’s 4th touchdown pass of the night, which gave the Knights a 50-43 lead with 6:58 left to go in the game.
Jack Mckissock passes to Chris Foy II for a touchdown! Knights lead 50-43
— Where’s Home Podcast (@WheresHomePod) September 21, 2024
6:58 left in the game @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/IsDrwuDMPH
It was plenty of time for Ethan Drumm to beat the drum of the Bolles steady and efficient offense. Drumm drove down the field to find his guy Chase Collier on a slant to tie up the game 50-50 with 5:04 left to go in the game.
The Bulldogs defense would come up with a huge stop on the ensuing drive, giving the ball back to Bolles and putting Drumm back on the field. He would deliver, executing a game-winning drive. He’d look to none other than Naeem Burroughs deep in the end zone who beat his man for the go ahead score. Bolles would land the deciding blow in a 12 round heavy weight bout, knocking out Oakleaf to secure the win 57-50.
Ethan Drumm finds Naeem Burroughs in the end zone! Bulldogs lead 57-50
— Where’s Home Podcast (@WheresHomePod) September 21, 2024
1:45 left to go @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/sv7UfuaYps
It was a great matchup between the two teams, as a total of 107 points were scored on the night. It was the highest scoring game for Oakleaf since 2018 when quarterback Walter Simmons III led them to a 69-53 victory over the A.J Jones led Bartram Trail Bears. For Bolles, it was their highest scoring game since a Jawan Jamison led team defeated Bradford County 55-54 in 2008. The Bulldogs will host the (2-3) Baldwin Indians next week at 7:30pm, while Oakleaf (3-2) welcomes 4-1 Fletcher.
