JACKSONVILLE - Oakleaf quarterback Jaidan Delaune ran for two touchdowns and threw for a third, but it was not enough as the visiting Knights were outclassed by Jacksonville Bolles 42-24 on Sept. 18.

Bolles, now 3-1 and ranked fifth in Class 2A by Maxpreps.com, won the highly-anticipated clash of area powers. Bulldogs running back Xander Edwards was unstoppable, rushing for 167 yards, three touchdowns and a two-point conversion on 13 carries. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound junior also had a receiving touchdown.

Meanwhile, the Bolles front seven bottled up Knights running backs London Carswell and C.J. Moses. They combined for only 18 yards on 14 rushes, and made life miserable for Delaune, sacking him five times.

“It was a tough night. Every good program like this is going to start with the line of scrimmage,” said Oakleaf head coach Christopher Foy. “They got a pretty good front. [Bolles defensive end Asher] Ghioto is a really good player. [Bolles defensive tackle A.J.] Bivins is a pretty good player, too. That is what we are going to see in week 10 [in a district game against Gainesville Buchholz]. We have got to be prepared.”

Major Lee deflected an Oakleaf punt on the game’s opening possession to set up a 32-yard scoring pass from Toland to Edwards for the game’s first score.

Delaune stood tall against the pressure, scrambling out of the pocket for 76 yards on 23 carries. He also completed 23 of 40 passes for 212 yards. The senior led a 15-play, 80-yard drive that he finished with a three-yard fourth down run to put the Knights ahead, 7-6, with one minute remaining in the first quarter.

“I thought Jaiden was tremendous for us,” Foy said. “Even when we were down at our lowest tonight, he still gave us a chance.”

Oakleaf's lead lasted 16 seconds. On the first play after a touchback, Edwards ran through a hole over right guard, bounced off Oakleaf linebacker Eric Hill, and then outran the safeties for 80 yards to the end zone. Landon Florence added the extra point to give Bolles a 13-7 lead.

Bolles punt returner Truett Henderson turned the game in the hosts’ favor midway through the second quarter. He fielded a low punt and raced down the left sideline for 40 yards before being pushed out of bounds at the 4-yard line. On the next play, Edwards ran left, was hit by Oakleaf’s Quassim Swain at the 2, but extended the ball over the goal line to give Bolles a 20-7 advantage.

Delaune guided the Knights into field goal range on the final drive of the half, converting on fourth down with a 10-yard pass to Mike Conner. Oakleaf soccer player Julian Felix, who wasn't on the Knights’ roster a week earlier, kicked Oakleaf’s first field goal of the season, a 25-yarder, to send the Knights into halftime trailing, 20-10.

The Bulldogs removed all doubt in the third quarter. Bolles scored touchdowns on all three of its possessions to take a 42-10 lead. First, Henderson made a fingertip catch from quarterback Luke Toland for a 34-yard score. Then Edwards ran off left tackle for a 55-yard touchdown. Finally, Toland connected with tight end Jack Riley on a corner route from 34 yards out that allowed Bolles to pull most of its starters.

But the Knights continued to battle. Delaune, mixed passes to Conner and wideout Syncere Murphy with scrambles for two scoring drives in the final six minutes. The Knights converted two fourth downs on the first drive, which culminated with Murphy’s 18-yard catch and run. Delaune then scored on a three-yard run up the middle to cap a 45-yard march with 42 seconds remaining.

Murphy and Conner each had 11 catches and combined for 198 receiving yards for Oakleaf, which fell to 2-2. The Knights will try to regroup before their first District 3-5A game of the season on Sept. 25 against West Port (2-3, 0-1).

“We can build on that fourth quarter,” Foy said. “Let the coaches struggle with what we did in quarters one through three and let the kids build off the fourth quarter.”

Ghioto had two sacks for the Bulldogs, who will host Baldwin in a District 3-2A contest on Sept. 25.

Week 6 high school football

Clay visits the Monsters; Eagles, Raiders in county clash

Thursday, Sept. 24

Clay at St. Augustine: If the Blue Devils want a feather in their cap, Clay can post a major upset. Think of the story with the seniors ushering all the energy of Green Cove Springs to St. Augustine.

Clay traveled to Fernandina Beach and got socked with the Pirates scoring a touchdown at the start before Clay quarterback Landon Martin started wheeling and dealing in a 42-14 win.

"Against Orange Park, our run game - mainly Kamari Davis and Connor Beck - started to punish the Raiders' defense, and we just kept the offense there," said Martin, after Clay's 63-18 district victory. "We didn't really show off our passing game, and that's a good thing."

Against Fernandina Beach, Martin banked a 53-yard scoring pass to Daylen Brown to tie the game, 7-7. The score was set up by a big Davis run.

From there, the snowball got bigger with a pass to Matt Jones and a scoring run from Wyatt Rapoza for a 14-7 lead. Martin went 58 yards to paydirt on the next series for a 21-7 lead.

In the second half, Martin took to the air to Daylon Brown and MiKeise Battle, that set up a Battle TD for a 28-7 lead. Davis and Beck added scores from there following a Jones interception.

St. Augustine traveled to Orlando Evans and fought to a 24-20 win on Friday. Running back Chance Carter rambled for 148 yards and two scores to lead the Yellow Jackets, now 5-0 and ranked first in Class 4A.

"Jay'Shawn McCloud is having a heck of a season, and he will be a key player against St. Augustine up front," said Clay coach Jeff Gierke. "Our run game is solid and we can take time off the clock if we keep the chains moving."

Friday, Sept. 25

Atlantic at Keystone Heights: Both teams were 0-10 last year. Keystone Heights will have momentum following its 16-13 overtime win at undefeated Bell last week. Atlantic (3-1) lost, 16-0, to unbeaten Satellite last week. The Scorpions scored all 16 points in the first quarter. Both teams battled without scoring in the last three quarters. Atlantic features two solid running backs - freshman Dwawn Fountain Jr., who has 278 yards and two scores in the Sharks' first three games, and senior Elijah Canidate, who added another 142.

Fleming Island at Orange Park: Now a key district game, Orange Park coach Marcus Wimberly may use it as a pivotal shot in the arm. Both teams have showed spots of greatness in the first half of the season.

Against Ponte Vedra on Friday, Fleming Island had solid first half in 31-18 loss. The Golden Eagles got some highlight reel pass plays from quarterback Greyson Critch to wide receiver Gavin Boysen, including a 45-yard, one-handed reception, that led to a 30-yard scoring pass to Boysen. But Fleming Island couldn't get a hold of Ponte Vedra running back Alex Winkles, who broke the Golden Eagles for 122 yards and scores on the ground and air.

Only down 14-12 in the third, Fleming Island couldn't plug the holes along the line of scrimmage as the Sharks rolled to a 31-12 lead before defensive back Michael Nesmith intercepted a pass and returned it for a 25-yard score.

Orange Park rebounded from a 63-18 shellacking by Clay the previous week by blasting an 80-yard opening kickoff touchdown by Xzavier Jones in a 28-14 win against Terry Parker during the Raiders' homecoming weekend.

Orange Park built up to a 21-0 lead with a scoring bomb to Jaden Fields and tough running from Austee'n Mills, who was got big blocks from fullback James Waters all the way to a one-yard plunge.

In the third, a fumble pickup from Raiders defensive end Corey Williams on a strip sack from Zachariah Murphy set up a second Mills score for a 28-0 lead.

West Port at Oakleaf: This is a homecoming game, and keeping the clock moving will be key. Class 5A's West Port (2-3) has not played too many slouches with a 65-0 loss to unbeaten (5-0) Bradford, a 59-0 loss to unbeaten (5-0) Dunnellon and a 21-0 loss to unbeaten (5-0) Buchholz. Last week, West Port beat North Marion, 23-21. The Wolf Pack have a hot passing game with senior quarterback  Avin Pickering whipping up 511 yards and seven touchdown passes against top tiered teams. The Wolfpack only have 30 rushing yards thus far. The hot receiver is junior Caleb Anderson (No. 11) with 11 catches, 201 yards and three touchdowns.

Game of the Week

Middleburg at Ridgeview: Being so close, Ridgeview coach Jason Smith likes this game in his own backyard. It could be an alumni festival as well. On an upset scale, Ridgeview could shake things up.

Middleburg went to overtime to defeat scrappy Newberry, 20-17, while Ridgeview had an very big Ribault on the ropes for much of the game behind a punt fumble recovery that led to an Amani Blount touchdown in the first half. Alex Garcia kicked a 35-yard field goal to give the Panthers a 10-6 halftime lead after Edren Rhodes blocked the Ribault PAT kick.

The Trojans opened by recovering an onsides kick that led to a fast 45-yard scoring pass. But the Panthers ran a half dozen plays, plus a handful of Ribault penalty flags, didn't keep the Trojans from scoring the go ahead touchdown.

Panthers defensive end Drake Batts had a momentous strip-sack of Ribault quarterback Leo Taylor that bounced into Batts hands. He returned 65 yards to the Ribault red zone. But the play was negated as officials called the strip sack an incomplete pass.

Panthers running back Ty Edmondson also had a 60-yard run to the Ribault 20 in the first half.

Week Seven

Friday, Oct. 2

Middleburg, Clay, Fleming Island, Orange Park byes

Ed White at Oakleaf: The quarterback for ED White, King Boylston, is back. He was a impactful player in last year's Oakleaf win. The Knights don't have Fareed Coleman - and his 400 yards and five scores - back. This could be a barnburner.

Paxon at Ridgeview: Paxon was fired up at Media Day, and this could be a snoozer game for Panthers. Don't nap here. Ride the momentum.

Game of the Week

Keystone Heights at Crescent City: This could be one of the toughest rivalry games for Keystone Heights - and one that could offer a big boost for new coach Cameron Porch and his staff. Both teams have tough kids, play aggressive and have big fan bases.