OAKLEAF - Oakleaf quarterback Jack McKissock and running back Fareed Coleman combined for three rushing touchdowns as Oakleaf celebrated Homecoming with their second shutout of the season, a soggy 24-0 district 2-6A victory over First Coast on Oct. 10.

The pair of seniors led a balanced Oakleaf offense that gained 170 yards on the ground and 155 yards through the air. McKissock was sharp despite a light rain that fell throughout the contest, completing eight of 14 throws. His statistics would have been even better but for three passes dropped by his receivers.

Coleman punished the Buccaneers with 137 yards rushing on 16 carries.
The victory over the Buccaneers moves Oakleaf’s mark to 2-0 in District 2-6A and sets up a de facto district championship game at Mandarin on Oct. 24. Mandarin (7-1, 2-0 in district play) beat First Coast 34-13 on Sept. 26.

The win is followed by two road district clashes: ED White, then Mandarin.
The Knights were on their game early, stuffing First Coast on defense and scoring touchdowns on their first two possessions. The defense forced a three and out to start the game, and First Coast punter Elijah Gooden’s punt went backwards against a stiff wind, allowing the Knights to take possession at the Buccaneers’ 28-yard line.

Oakleaf traversed the short field in five plays. Coleman converted a third and four from the 22-yard line with a 12-yard run. Two plays later, McKissock rolled right, cut upfield and was able to hold the ball over the goal line as he was chopped down by First Coast safety Jaylen Parks.

Sam Pena’s extra point gave the Knights a 7-0 lead halfway through the first quarter.

“That was a pass play,” McKissock explained. “I did not see anything, then I saw a hole, and I ran it in.”

The Knights marched 61 yards on their second possession. McKissock kept the drive alive with a 19-yard pass to Trace Burney to convert a third and 10 from the First Coast 21-yard line. On the play, McKissock dropped a bad shotgun snap, picked up the ball, tried to run forward but was met with a wall of his own linemen, ran left and then spied Burney all alone on a hook pattern on the left side.

From the one-yard line, McKissock received a tush push from Anthony Salas and burrowed into the end zone on the first play of the second quarter. Coleman accounted for all 45 yards on a drive that started at the Oakleaf 49-yard line and culminated with Sam Pena’s 26-yard field goal, giving Oakleaf a 17-0 lead at halftime. After First Coast running back Tony Kennedy earned first downs on two of the Buccaneers’ first three plays from scrimmage, the Oakleaf defense held the visitors without another first down until less than two minutes remained in the third quarter.

Led by tackles Chris Jules and Mason Thomas, who each had one of Oakleaf’s four sacks and a tackle for loss, the Knights held First Coast to six first downs and 143 total yards. The Buccaneers never penetrated further than the Knights’ 27-yard line. Oakleaf linebacker Jermaine Robinson sacked First Coast quarterback David Hunter on the final play of the first half at the Knights’ 33-yard line, and cornerback T.J. Early broke up a fourth down pass along the sideline to preserve the shutout on the Buccaneers’ final possession.

The second half was sloppy, as each team was called for eight penalties. Oakleaf incurred six penalties on their first possession of the third quarter, a drive that stalled when a bad snap led to a missed field goal attempt by Pena. For the game, each team committed 13 infractions, resulting in 240 combined penalty yards.

Coleman capped the scoring by running untouched to the end zone from 23 yards out with 1:53 remaining in the third quarter. Facing a third down, the speedster shot through a hole up the middle and then split the safeties.

“Buck is electric," McKissock said of Coleman, using his nickname. “He will break one for 80 if you miss one tackle.”

Despite the win, the Knights were not satisfied with the performance.

“We did not execute. We had a lot of penalties, a lot of stupid controllable mistakes,” said McKissock, who vowed to be more of a leader going forward. “It was probably our worst game.”

Oakleaf linebacker Travis Scott was taken from the field on a stretcher in the third quarter. No update on his condition was available at press time.
Before the Knights can think about their date with Mandarin, they must travel to Jacksonville Ed White for a dangerous game at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 17.

The Commanders, 6-1 and ranked 14th in the Maxpreps.com Florida FHSAA Class 4A rankings, have two shutouts themselves and are coming off a 49-6 walloping of Sandalwood on Friday.

Kennedy, who has offers from several colleges including Florida A&M, had 43 rushing yards and 26 yards receiving for First Coast. The Buccaneers, who fell to 4-3 overall, 0-2 in District 2-6A play, travel to Bishop Kenny for a non-district matchup on Oct. 17.