MANDARIN - Oakleaf High running back Fareed Coleman rushed for 148 yards but Oakleaf could not overcome four turnovers as the Knights lost 31-14 at Mandarin on Oct. 24, giving the District 2-6A title to the Mustangs for the second straight year. 

A first quarter pick-six interception return by the Mustangs started a fast start by Mandarin who pushed to a 17-0 halftime lead. 

Fourth-ranked Mandarin, now 8-1 and 3-0 in district play, won the highly anticipated showdown with the ninth-ranked Knights, now 7-2 and 2-1, by controlling the line of scrimmage. The Mustangs’ offensive line pushed the Knights around, allowing the running back trio of Shaunqueze Foster, Ayden Owens and Kyree Wilson to rack up 220 yards on 26 rushes, 8.5 yards per carry. Meanwhile, the Mustangs defensive front harassed Oakleaf quarterback Jack McKissock all evening, sacking him five times and pressuring him on numerous other occasions. 

“It is very, very disappointing,” Oakleaf head coach Christopher Foy said of the loss. “We only have one district title in the history of the school, 2014. So we have gotten there [to a district championship showdown game with Mandarin] twice and we did not get it.”

Mandarin dominated the first half, enjoying a 217-47 edge in total offense. Two-way starter Brysen Wright, who stars at receiver on offense, put the hosts on the scoreboard first with a 45-yard interception return.

Oakleaf receiver Jordin Price ran a post pattern and it appeared that McKissock thought he was going to run a go route as he lofted a long pass down the sideline. Wright saw the ball and made an uncontested interception. The sophomore ran to the middle of the field, cut back to his right, broke two tackles and cruised the rest of the way to the end zone. 

Ermin Mehmedovic’s extra point gave Mandarin a 7-0 lead with 5:45 remaining in the opening quarter. 

McKissock was intercepted again on the ensuing Oakleaf possession when Mustangs cornerback Mario Pratt high pointed an underthrown ball along the left sideline at the Mandarin 36-yard line. The Mustangs cashed in on the turnover, marching 64 yards in nine plays. Wright converted a third and three from the nine-yard line with a six-yard run from the wildcat formation.

Two plays later, Foster, who led all Mandarin ball carriers with 124 yards on 11 carries, ran untouched through a crease on the right side to put Mandarin ahead 14-0 half a minute into the second quarter. 

The Knights responded with a 61-yard drive, earning their only three first downs of the first half, but came away empty when Sam Pena’s 23-yard attempt was blocked at the line of scrimmage. On fourth down and one from the two-yard line, Coleman had pushed his way into the end zone over left tackle, but a sideline coaching zone infraction on the Oakleaf coaching staff nullified the play. From the seven-yard line, Foy opted for the field goal attempt.

Mandarin kept the ball the remaining 5:55 of the half, moving 78 yards before Mehmedovic booted a 27-yard field goal to give the hosts a 17-0 lead at the intermission. Wright got the Mustangs into scoring position, hauling in a bomb from Knox Annis for a 59-yard gain on third and 16 from the Mandarin 33-yard line.

The Knights came alive in the third quarter with two long scoring drives and two stops of the Mandarin offense to narrow their deficit to 17-14. Foy made several adjustments to their defensive alignment and turned to Coleman for offense. Three rushes by Coleman brought the ball to the one-yard line on the opening drive of the half, and McKissock burrowed across the goal line from there to cap a 58-yard, four-minute march. The Knights went to work again after forcing a Mandarin punt, traveling 69 yards in just five plays. Coleman made the key play, bursting 60 yards up the middle on third and two from the Oakleaf 39-yard line.

McKissock scored the touchdown on another quarterback sneak with 2:38 remaining in the quarter. 

“Coleman is a warrior,” Foy said. “This is his senior year, and he really wanted the trophy tonight.” 

The Oakleaf defense forced a punt and the Knights got the ball back with 11:48 left in the game with a chance to tie or take the lead. With all of the momentum on their side, the drive was off to a promising start with a 10-yard run by McKissock and a 21-yard catch and run by Coleman. But then disaster struck as Mandarin’s Kyree Wilson made the play of the game. Oakleaf receiver Michael Conner III, ran an out and up pattern on the left side. 

McKissock threw the ball on the out cut, but Conner had turned upfield, leaving Wilson all alone where the ball was heading. The junior cornerback made the interception, raced down the sideline, cut back to evade McKissock and scored. The back-breaking 62-yard return, with Mehmedovic’s extra point, gave Mandarin a 24-14 lead.

“It’s turnovers. That is the difference,” said Foy after the game. “You can’t turn the ball over. You give a team of that kind of ability four extra possessions.” 

Oakleaf went nowhere on its next possession thanks to consecutive sacks by Mandarin tackle Christian McGowan and Foster clinched the game for the Mustangs with a 46-yard touchdown run with 5:15 remaining. Mandarin linebacker Cory Matthews tackled Coleman for a one-yard loss on fourth down to end Oakleaf’s final possession.

McKissock finished with four completions in 10 attempts for 46 yards with three interceptions. Trace Burney, Jordin Price and Conner, Oakleaf’s dynamic trio of receivers, was limited to a combined two catches for 31 yards and no rushing yards. 

Knights’ cornerback Abdias (A.D.) Mentor had an interception in the first quarter to thwart a Mandarin drive, and Conner recovered a fumble in the fourth quarter. However, Conner fumbled the ball himself while returning it, giving possession back to the Mustangs. 

Oakleaf may get a chance for revenge, since the Knights may face Mandarin again in the Class 6A playoffs. While Mandarin receives an automatic berth by virtue of their district title, Oakleaf is almost assured of receiving an at-large bid. The Knights travel to Tocoi Creek (4-5, 0-3 in District 3-6A) for a non-district regular season finale on Halloween. Foy cited the need to fine tune a few things and said he will not hold back any healthy starters, pointing out that there is an off week between the regular season and the first round of the playoffs. 

“We have to win that game,” he said. “You want to keep your ranking. You don’t want to go into the tournament with a heavy heart.” 

Oakleaf starting linebacker Travis Scott did not play in the game, remaining in the concussion protocol after being taken from the field on a stretcher during the Knights’ game against First Coast on Oct. 10. The senior has a chance to return in time for the playoffs. 

The Mustangs, who overcame 21 penalties for a whopping 171 penalty yards, travel to St. Augustine for a non-district clash of titans on Oct. 30. St. Augustine is 9-0 and ranked number one in Florida’s Class 4A by Maxpreps.com.