JACKSONVILLE - On the first series of the day for the Oakleaf High Knights’ football contest against Orange Park High at the Bold City Showcase on Saturday night in front of a local TV presention, Oakleaf defensive end Keyshawn Riley, a converted basketball athlete, savagely sacked Raider quarterback Tavien Wilkerson.

“That was just his third time to ever wear a football helmet in a game,” said Oakleaf High coach Frank Garis, who turned around a 35-6 stomping by Bolles in their preseason classic just a week ago to impressively defeat Orange Park 42-21. “He was a basketball player. Coach Jake Scott had him in his car going to Tallahassee for a basketball game and convinced him to play football.”

Riley also picke up a first quarter onsides kick attempt that was nullified by a penalty flag.

On the first play of the Knights’ first offensive series, senior tailback Devin Outlaw rolled through a massive hole at the Knights’ five yard line, scrambled away from three Raider tacklers and outsprinted everyone to paydirt to put Oakleaf up 7-0. Outlaw finished with 214 yards on 14 carries with two scores. Outlawed scored from a yard out just after the teams returned from the rain delay to put Oakleaf up 35-14.

“Our right side of the offensive line is very big and very physical; led by Wyatt Norean and Kyland Armstrong,” said Garis. “The rest of the five up front; Jordan Mitchell and Krishawn Sanders have developed very quickly with senior center Garion Ray the call-maker up front.”

In the Bold City Showcase, which featured three marquis games all at Bolles, all on TV and all on radio; one Friday night; Bolles beating West Nassau 42-0; one Saturday afternoon, Creekside beating Ribault 16-7, and one Saturday night, Oakleaf 42-21 over Orange Park that gave the season opening weekend a big-time football flavor.

After a lively response by Wilkerson and the Orange Park offense, led by running back JoJo Restall’s strong running (146 yards, 18 carries) and a passing attack led by Brian Green and Nolan Chambers (six catches, 113 yards, two first half TDs) on the outside, Orange Park refused to wilt under the Oakleaf running gauntlet. Wilkerson hit Chambers for a pass play to the Oakleaf that led to a Jiovanni Fowlin touchdown run in the fourth for the final score of the night.

One unexpected, but not surprising development was a torrential downpour sprinkled with massive lightning strikes at about eight minutes of the second quarter that halted the game at 21-14 for nearly two hours.

“The rain had been altering our practices all week and I wanted the kids to get the full game feel,” said Garis, who agreed to continue play despite the delay. “We kind of simplified things and just let the kids play football.”

Garis was glad for his team’s response to the rain delay.

“We only had three days of tackling before our Bolles preseason game,” said Garis, who lost a 35-6 matchup with Bolles’ front defensive roster dominating the young Oakleaf offensive line. “Three of them have Power 5 scholarship offers and the other two have significant college offers as well. We took our lumps and we responded with a decent week of practice to be prepared for Orange Park.”

Garis finished the game with a run game that had a second 100-plus rusher; Michael Brannon who had 158 yards; Ar’mon Cooper added 97 yards and Isaiah Shevchook added 75 yards as Oakleaf piled up 28 first downs for the night and nearly 500 total rush yards.

Knights quarterback Drew Ammon, employing a one hut quick snap offensive attack, hit wide out Taylor Bradshow with a 33 yard scoring pass to put the game at 21-6 with just 1:31 left in the first quarter. Shevchook powered in for a touchdown to put Oakleaf up 14-0 before Bradshaw’s score.

“He was snapping the ball very fast after each down and that kept Orange Park on their heels,” said Garis. “I would think he had a very high QBR (quarterback rating).”

Ammons finished with 122 passing yards and two scores; Bradshaw and Honrae Murray. Murray snared a 35 yard scoring pass in the third period after Nasir Bailey recovered an Orange Park fumble.

Oakleaf returns home to host Carol City of Miami, a Class 4A opponent. Carol City beat Goleman High (Miami) 40-36 in their opener.

The score was 0-0 at the half of Carol City vs. Goleman with Goleman holding a precarious 28-26 lead into the fourth quarter. Carol City won with a 14-8 fourth quarter. Orange Park (6A now) returns home also to host 5A-Ridgeview, who had a BYE for week one.