Jacksonville Fl- What started as a dream season for the Mandarin Mustangs turned into a nightmare Friday night with their loss to the Oakleaf Knights 17-14. The Mustangs started the season as the favorite to win the Class 6A state championship, but could not overcome injury to one of their star players.
Tramell Jones Jr (4-star quarterback) went down with an ankle injury in the second game of the season which thrust Freshman Knox Annis into the driver’s seat of the powerful Mustang offense, a tall order for a Freshman. Still, Mandarin with two 5-stars, one 4-star, and arguably the most talented roster in the area went 7-3 and defeated Oakleaf for the district championship just two weeks earlier.
Meanwhile, Oakleaf navigated a great 7-3 season, yet they suffered disappointments as well. A close hail marry loss to Hawthorne, a close shoot-out loss to Bolles, and a home loss to Mandarin saw them fall to very talented teams. It seemed like favor wasn’t on their side in big games, that is until the last seconds of their playoff rematch with Mandarin Friday.
After the Knights kicked a 32-yard field goal to take a 17-14 lead, Mandarin drove down the field in an attempt to tie or take the lead. Knox Annis orchestrated a beautiful drive, hitting 5-star wide receiver Jaime Ffrench. He also took off on a 20-yard scramble to get into Oakleaf territory with just 1:28 to play.
Oakleaf with a 32yd FG to take a 17-14 lead over Mandarin. 1:42 to go @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/jfwct2hKGB
— Strikeout Photography (@PaulSim5198139) November 16, 2024
Mandarin would get the ball all the way down to the Oakleaf 4-yard line, when Annis dropped back found no one, and belted for the right pylon just evading defenders for the apparent game-winning touchdown. The score would’ve given the Mustangs a 20-17 lead.
However, there was a very controversial penalty called on the Mustangs for illegal motion on the play, taking away the touchdown. With just :09 seconds left, the Mustangs failed to convert two more plays and decided to line up for a game tying field goal on 4th down. Yet they missed the 27-yarder, as the Oakleaf sidelines erupted securing the win.
Kick is no good. 17-14 Oakleaf :09 to go @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/9S72Ah5p8m
— Strikeout Photography (@PaulSim5198139) November 16, 2024
Oakleaf had slain a giant on their turf, enacted revenge over a district championship loss, and for former players like Carlos Witherup who played at Mandarin last year received a win over a previous team and teammates. There were a lot of connections in the game which made it extremely close from the start.
After a scoreless 1st quarter, the Knights scored the game’s first touchdown on the 1st play of the 2nd quarter. quarterback Jack Mckissock dropped back, and tossed a 20 yard pass to Carlos Witherup for a touchdown. The touchdown pass gave Oakleaf a 7-0 lead.
The Mustangs quickly tied it up at 7, when Knox Annis ran it in from 3-yards out. Mandarin got a stop on defense, and running back Deion Winstead powered his way in from 2-yards out for a touchdown. There was no surprise that two prize fighters would feel each other out in the first quarter, and land several blows in the second.
Td Mandarin @DeionWinstead pic.twitter.com/5tRUNtOJLo
— Strikeout Photography (@PaulSim5198139) November 16, 2024
With both schools trading touchdowns, the action continued to pick up before halftime. Mckissock bought time with great protection from his offensive line, and found Jordin Price in the end zone for a touchdown. Oakleaf came even in the game, and went to the half tied 14-14.
Oakleaf answers 14-14 with 1:17 to go before half @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/u6MD9WF1RN
— Strikeout Photography (@PaulSim5198139) November 16, 2024
Missing the tying field goal ultimately sealed the fate of the Mustangs, and sealed the hard fought road victory for the Knights. Defense dominated the 2nd half until the1:42 mark in the 4th quarter, and that is a testament to the excellent coaches on both sides of the ball that had their teams ready to play.
Mandarin’s final offensive drive
Yet in still, the illegal motion call at the end robbed us of a conclusion without controversy. A shame, considering it’s hard to see the actual penalty on tape, or a flag thrown on the play. In the end however, Oakleaf made the game winning kick, and stopped Mandarin two plays after the penalty. So the Mustangs still had their chances in the game, and Oakleaf finally stepped up big, in a big game.
At the start of the season, no one gave Oakleaf a chance at advancing this far. Credit should go to head coach Christopher Foy and staff. Now Oakleaf will travel to play another giant in undefeated the Nease next week in the 6A Regional Semifinals. The Panthers defeated Tate 42-14 and improved to 10-0 on the season.
Photos and coverage by Paul Simpson (Strikeout Photography)
