OAKLEAF – A penalty flag for excessive celebration on a game-tying touchdown proved costly to the Oakleaf High football playoff aspirations in a 25-22 overtime defeat to defending district 3-7A champion Gainesville Buchholz Friday night at Oakleaf High School.

“In a moment like that, just that moment for them to celebrate, I understand why they got excited,” said Oakleaf coach Steve Reynolds, visibly distraught at the game’s outcome. “I told them not one play will cost us the game. It’s ever little one thing involved that matters. “

The loss pretty much eliminates Oakleaf from a region playoff spot even with Fleming Island taking an upset loss to Creekside.

“With so much youth, we can’t stop coaching them, we can’t say we’re mailing it in because the seasons not great and things haven’t worked out the way we want,” said Reynolds. “ We’re going to get in Monday, go through everything and make sure we progress the way we need to.”

Oakleaf opened with running back Keshawn King moving the ball downfield in seven carries and field goal kicker Mason McKenney hitting a 34 yard field goal.

An interception by Oakleaf linebacker Donovan Sparrow put the Oakleaf offense back on the field and wideout Mehlyn Clinkscale combined with King to move the Knights downfield including a nifty catch of a deflected pass for a 21 yard gain. Eight plays later, King scored to put Oakleaf up 9-0 with enthusiasm high for a typical Knights’ strong finish.

In the third period, King struck again with a punt return for a score from 60 yards out as the Buchholz punt coverage failed to down the ball properly.

Up 16-0 into the fourth period, Oakleaf allowed Buchholz to close the score to 16-14 before a tipped pass from quarterback Walter Simmons landed in Bobcat hands with 2:10 on the clock.

Now down 22-16 with just 17 seconds, Oakleaf went with an old-school hook and ladder pass and lateral play that wideout Jakari Williams started with a catch then lateraled to a speeding King on the fly that landed 33 yards later in the Buchholz red zone. Simmons found Williams three yards out of the end zone, but Williams dove and stretched the ball over the goal line to tie the game at 22-22 with a PAT kick imminent.

First, the penalty flag for excessive celebration, then the missed PAT.

In the overtime, the Knights won the coin flip and deferred. On their drive, the Bobcats were stymied by the Knights on two runs and a pass attempt. Their Field goal was good putting them up 25-22. The Knights came out with their heavy package using Dexter Moore behind center, taking the snap and running a tight inside option, and using the Rugby-type scrum push to gain two yards. Next play, same play, another three yards. On third and goal from the 5-yard line, the Knights tried a pass that fell incomplete. The 21-yard attempt from McKenney would again pull left and dash the Knights dreams of one more chance to fight for victory.

With two games remaining, Oakleaf faces district 3-7A’s Creekside before finishing with unbeaten 6A-Ocala Vanguard.