OAKLEAF - With loud music from upstairs by the Queen of Oakleaf football, Wendy Foy, the Oakleaf neighborhoods within listening distance of Oakleaf High School got a hint of the energy that will be filling the stadium for the upcoming football season as the Knights took on the hot, steamy night to be the first players on the practice fields as area high school sports kicked off their seasons with Monday, July 28 tryouts, practices and conditioning sessions, most at 8 a.m., not midnight.

"We are here to bring in the new season with a higher energy and with the focus to go two games further," said Oakleaf High football coach Chris Foy, referring to his astounding Class 6A region final finish last year with a spinetingling 29-22 loss to perennial Final Four finisher Gainesville Buchholz. "I want to see a lot of fun tonight and a lot of team bonding."

As Foy's troops battled through two hours of running, jumping, blocking and pass catching drills in the steamy wee hours of Monday, the energy on the field was contagious as the key names of Michael Conner, Jordin Price, Chris Jules, Jermaine Robinson, C.J. Moses were the ringleaders of the circus while newcomers on the offensive line; two big dudes, one , DJ Aliaga from Chiles in Tallahassee, the other from Andrew Jackson, Vladimir Adamcy, and both six foot plus, near 300 pounds of destruction getting a quick taste of Oakleaf football.
"Those guys that come here from other schools have to understand that we do things the tough way here," said Foy. "We run everywhere, we smile a lot and we love our brothers. That's what tonight is about."
One guy that Foy admittedly was the spine of the Oakleaf 2024 team was graduated defensive tackle Amare "Biggie" Thomas, now on the roster at NCAA Div. II Gannon University in Erie, PA.
"He was the difference because he was so destructive in the middle of our defense," said Foy. "Right now, we have Mason Thomas and Dequan Beacham in their on the defensive line and they are going to be special. We shall see if they spell Biggie. That's some big shoes to fill."

Newest kid on the block and one who was wisping around with a quiet, but rivoting purpose was former Fleming Island High wide receiver standout Trace Burney, who recently transferred to Oakleaf to finish his football career with his neighborhood buddies.
"He lives right around the block and played Pop Warner ball with all these guys," said Foy. "He makes our speed team even more dangerous, Holy Smokes, Michael Conner, Jordin Price, Fareed "Buck" Coleman, and, now, Burney. That's a scary lineup to have."
For Foy, the anticipation of a second chase of a state Final Four berth comes from the reminder of just how close the Knights got last year.
"I've said it before that we've tasted it being that close with that game last year," said Foy. "We're going back. The only thing in our way is our schedule which is full of state contenders that now know coming to us is going to be a battle. We're not unknown anymore."