OAKLEAF – For baseball teams four games in five days is no big deal. Even basketball teams can manage the same type of schedule once in a while. However, football is a different animal and the Oakleaf Knights (3-1) had to prepare for a Monday game at county rival Ridgeview along with two junior varsity games leading up to their Friday night game hosting a Gainesville team that had two weeks rest. Typically that, preparing for four games in five days, is a recipe for disaster.

“This week was a grind for our players and coaching staff. Having two varsity and two junior varsity games this week and going 4-0 is awesome,” said Oakleaf coach Frank Garis. “The kids went hard all week and did the right thing but your body can only handle so much so we tried to be as smart as possible with practice schedules and meetings.”

The Gainesville Purple Hurricanes gave the Knights all they could handle and more before settling down and dominating to a 37-6 win.

The Oakleaf offense sputtered early going three plays and a punt on their first two possessions then failing to convert on a fourth down on their own 27 yard line on their third possession of the game. Fortunately, the Knights defense was rock solid at all three levels smothering the Gainesville offense on virtually every play.

It was nearly a scoreless first quarter until the final play when Knights quarterback Walter Simmons III ran up the middle for an 80 yard touchdown for the first score of the game. The Knights would convert the two point conversion to take an 8-0 lead after 12 minutes of play.

After another Gainesville punt, the Oakleaf offense would drive down the field and Simmons III would find Terrance Anthony on a 12 yard touchdown pass to up the lead to 15-0 just two minutes into the second quarter. Then Miami commit Chantz Williams would get a strip sack on speedy Gainesville quarterback Rodjericus Williams. Gainesville would recover the fumble but the message was sent that there would be little to no time in the passing game for the Purple Hurricanes (Who knew Hurricanes were Purple?).

The Knights would continue to move the ball at will as Simmons III found Sean Washington for a 60 yard reception to the Gainesville 24 yard line. The drive would end with an Adrian Grey touchdown with 6:22 left until halftime and a 23-0 lead.

After a 36 yard missed field goal by Oakleaf kicker Damian Roger’s in the third quarter, the Knights got back on the scoring track on their second possession set up by a 60 yard pass to Terrance Anthony to the Gainesville 15 yard line. Simmons III found Sean Washington on the next play to increase the lead to 30-0.

“Terrance and Sean really helped us open up in the passing game tonight. Along with great protection by the offensive line” said Garis.

The Knights would add one more touchdown early in the fourth quarter on a Kevin Davis two yard run to go up 37-0 and start the mandatory running clock for the remainder of the game. Gainesville would add a late touchdown on the final play of the game for a 37-6 final.

The Knights host Ed White which has a similar passing attack looking to go up tempo against Oakleaf and ruin their homecoming game. Garis was quick to point out his defense will be need to be sharp for the Knights to continue their winning ways even after a near flawless performance on this night.

“We have no weeks off with this schedule and our defense will need to continue having a solid collective effort and gang tackling like we had tonight,” said Garis.