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Junior high football goes to a six-way tie

By Randy Lefko
Posted 10/12/17

OAKLEAF – Two upsets in the junior high football ranks on Thursday; an 18-0 win by Bradford County over Wilkinson and a 20-19 win by Oakleaf over Green Cove Springs created a three-way tie in both …

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Junior high football goes to a six-way tie


Posted

OAKLEAF – Two upsets in the junior high football ranks on Thursday; an 18-0 win by Bradford County over Wilkinson and a 20-19 win by Oakleaf over Green Cove Springs created a three-way tie in both divisions; South and North, of the Northeast Florida Athletic Conference. Oakleaf, coached by Merlin Smith, is the defending county champion.

Green Cove Springs and Wilkinson both had 2-0 records prior to Thursday’s game and could have been the championship game teams with a win.

With the Wilkinson loss, three teams; Wilkinson, Bradford and Lake Asbury all tied up with 2-1 conference records.

With the Green Cove Springs loss, three teams; Green Cove Springs, Oakleaf and Orange Park (winner over Lakeside) all tied up at 2-1 also. Coaches were to determine the criteria format to figure out a championship game set for October 24.

In the Green Cove Springs vs. Oakleaf game, a 7-6 Oakleaf halftime lead was reversed with a fumble recovered on the Oakleaf kick return and Cougar fullback Ricky Joseph , all of 215 pounds of thrust, pounded in from 30 yards out for the touchdown and a 13-7 Cougar lead at 4:19 of the third period.

On the ensuing drive, Oakleaf tailback Donovan Shannon rumbled 44 yards to paydirt to tie the game at 13-13 as the fourth quarter started.

Green Cove Springs quarterback Donnie McClain got stripped of the ball at the Cougar 10 by Oakleaf defender Harold Stubbs for the second touchdown of the half for Shannon as Oakleaf went up 20-13 with 6:03 left.

Green Cove Springs got two untimely penalties that pushed the Cougars backward from the Oakleaf 18 to near midfield, but McClain scrambled to paydirt to put the score at 20-19. Cougar kicker Aaron Montoya’s PAT kick was blocked by Jonathan Goddard to end the scoring.