LAKE ASBURY – Lake Asbury Junior High football stamped out a strong start of the 2017 season with a 20-14 win over defending conference champion Oakleaf Junior High Aug. 31 at Oakleaf Junior High School.

Lake Asbury scored the first two touchdowns of the game to go up 14-0 at the half, but Oakleaf responded with an 80 yard run from Devin Outlaw and a second score from six yards out to tie the game at 14-14. Lake Asbury scored their first on a left side sweep of 45 yards from tailback Samuel Singleton that was aided by an offsides flag on Oakleaf on fourth down and a yard near midfield.

Lake Asbury recovered a loose ball on the ensuing kickoff near the Oakleaf 15 yard and made quick work of the opportunity with quarterback David Ford hitting wideout Jonathan Rouw to the two yard line. The ball got inches closer on a flag before fullback Alquerious Ray punched in for the score and the 14-0 score with 11:37 left in the half.

In the third, Oakleaf tailback Devin Outlaw bounced to the Oakleaf sideline on a dive play at the 32 and sprinted untouched to the end zone to score the game 14-8 with 2:29 left in the third period.

Lake Asbury continued to move the ball downfield and looked ready to score a third touchdown from the Oakleaf seven yard line before Rouw fumbled away to Oakleaf defender Khalil Copeland with 14 seconds left in the period.

As the fourth period started, Oakleaf struck again with Outlaw rumbling 85 yards to paydirt to tie the score at 14-14.

Lake Asbury’s defense stiffened after the tying run to set up a 50 yard scoring run by Ray who powered left and broke away from three tacklers before hitting the end zone and putting the Tigers up 20-14 with 4:58 to go.

With 1:27 left in the game, Rouw, on defense, intercepted a fourth down pass by Oakleaf quarterback Terry Washington to end the game.