VALDOSTA - In an historically Friday of interstate football, Georgia high school's Lowndes County and Camden County scored two knockout punches in Florida attempts to throw a little chest out with victories on the Georgia side in both contests.

In Lowndes County, 8A-Oakleaf took to the road to take on the ninth-ranked nationally Vikings of Valdosta but found internal miscues and a bit more athleticism to give up a 24-0 halftime lead en route to a 37-17 loss. Lowndes County is the state 7A (AAAAAAA in Georgia) runnerup to powerhouse Marietta High.

In Jacksonville, at Raines High, the Class 5A Vikings of Florida took on 7A Georgia state semifinalist Camden County, who lost to state champion Marietta in that game, in their border clash and lost a 35-26 contest in a game that was Raines' second superpower clash in two weeks. Raines lost a 40-6 season opener to Venice, a 7A state semifinalist that lost to eventual champion St. Thomas Aquinas last year, in week one.

Lowndes County, Camden County and Oakleaf were all unbeaten prior to the Friday clashes. Oakleaf will host Camden County next week.

Against the vaunted Vikings of Georgia, Oakleaf deferred the opening kickoff. Kicker Drew Ammon's kickoff to the Vikings 30 got a return plus 15 yards for a personal foul to put Lowndes County at the Oakleaf 26 before fans were seated after the national anthem.

Oakleaf would settle in with defensive hurries on Lowndes quarterback Jacurri Brown from Isaac Bostic. The defensive effort plus a five yard illegal procedure flag halted the Vikings' first foray on offense and seemingly quelled a little of the awe of playing a nationally-ranked team as the Oakleaf sideline seemed energized from the effort.

Unfortunately, the Viking defense would strike fast and furious on Oakleaf's first play, from the Knights' 14, with defensive back Tyler Belcher snaring Knights' quarterback Walter Simmons' first pass from scrimmage putting Lowndes County's offense at midfield. Belcher made an acrobatic catch of the pass intended for wideout Terrance Anthony.

Oakleaf's defense again played up front with safety Larry Smith popping Brown on a scramble. Twice Lowndes looked for passes to wide out Chase Belcher against Knights defensive back Isiah Jones.

On second and two at the 42, passing quarterback Tristin Bohler hit Belcher to the Oakleaf 23, then Brown returned and looked for Belcher in the end zone where a pass interference flag put the Vikings on the eight.

A defensive offsides flag added five before Viking running back Justin Lee punched in from four yards out with 8:01 left in the quarter.

After the ensuing kickoff, Simmons opened up his air game with two strikes to Anthony; one for 26 yards against Belcher, that put Oakleaf into Vikings territory.

Oakleaf would return to their running game with Mike Mitchell netting just one yard in two carries garnering a Knights' punt.

On the Vikings possession, Oakleaf middle linebacker Devin Smith made two straight massive stops to push the Vikings back and force a punt.

Simmons kept the ball in the air with a connection to Cobie Bates for 16 yards putting Oakleaf past the midfield stripe and scrambles from Simmons getting Oakleaf to the Lowndes 32. Simmons would fail on a fourth and 10 to give Lowndes possessioin at their own 32.

Two sacks pushed Lowndes to a fourth and 15 that got a missed pass attempt and Oakleaf a first down at the Knights' 43 with 9:40 to halftime.

Another Belcher interception on second down put Lowndes back on the field at their own 41 where Brown took just four plays to paydirt with Lee rumbling in for his second score of the first half.

Oakleaf had about eight minutes to get a score on the board before the half and Simmons against got past midfield with a pass to Bates to the 46 and a scramble to the 40 before a holding flag on fourth got a loss of possession.

Again Bostic caught Brown for a loss to push the Vikings to a third and 13 with an incompletion getting a punt.

Simmons attacked the air with a 54 yarder to Anthony putting Oakleaf at the Lowndes County 13 with less than four minutes giving the Knights an opportunity for momentum into the lockers, but a personal foul flag erased 15 yards, a sack and a second 15 yard flag put Oakleaf at second at 20 at the Viking 26. Simmons took two shots at Bates that missed.

From there, Ammon's 43 yard field goal attempt was partially blocked with 2:50 left to the halftime.

Lowndes County wasted little time on their possession with Chase Belcher taking a skinny out pattern 80 yards in less than a minute scoring the game 21-0.

Simmons against went air; got a drop to Bates and sacked on third down to force a punt.

Tylar Belcher got one final dig in before the half with a punt return of 50 yards to the Oakleaf one yard line with 1:15 still on the clock.

Oakleaf stood firm on the brink of a fourth touchdown with Lamon Robertson stuffing a plunge on first down after an encroachment flag put Lowndes on the half a yard to goal mark. Brown sliced a pass into the end zone that got flagged for holding before Smith rambled in to sack Brown with Bostic and force the Vikings to settle for a 24-0 halftime mark.

Oakleaf would get a field goal and two scores in the second half.

Lowndes would intercept Knights' quarterback Isaiah Jones on his first pass of the third quarter putting Lowndes at the Knights one yard line with Brown punching in for a 31-0 score with just 28 ticks off the second half clock.

After an Ammon field goal, Lee bounced 50 yards to preempt his third score; a six yarder.

Simmons had a scramble for a score and a pass to Anthony; both in the fourth quarter. Anthony finished with 12 catches for 179 yards and the lone score. Simmons was 21 of 32 for 319 yards, a score and two interceptions.

Oakleaf next plays Class 2A University Christian then hosts Camden County and Fleming Island the next two weeks.