MIDDLEBURG - Middleburg High senior running back Sam Craven, after changing his mind from focusing on his state weightlifting goals, returned to the Broncos football practice field in July with coach Ryan Wolfe welcoming the tough ball carrier into his Bronco backfield.

"Having a senior with his kind of athletic experience can only help the young guys on the team and the team itself," Wolfe said in July after seeing Craven on the field for the first time. "We graduated a big class of seniors last year and an athlete like him is a great addition to the roster."

Wolfe's prophecy of Craven's value came to fruition on Friday with Craven taking top ball carrier duties late in the Broncos' 23-6 season opening win over Menendez with starter Brayden Ventura getting dinged with a minor knee injury.

“The O-line did everything,” Craven said. “I can’t take any praise for it. They made gaps all night long, all I had to do was run forward and it worked out.”

After a nearly scoreless first half, Middleburg’s stout defense and physical running game proved to be too much for Menendez to overcome. The Broncos pulled away with tough consecutive handoffs to Craven, who powered in a four-yard scoring plunge for a 9-0 lead in the third quarter.

The Falcons’ offense wasn’t just lackluster; Middleburg’s defense was suffocating. The Broncos forced two fumbles and two interceptions, while also recovering two errant punts.

Senior linebacker Kellen Blackburn, who blocked a punt in the third quarter, credited the defense’s preparation.

“It just all goes back to practice, and just going hard every day,” Blackburn said. “The defense came together. We did it together. [We] all run to the ball and made it happen.”

The third quarter is when the game exploded. Middleburg senior defensive back Darrick Marshall took an interception to the Menendez 4-yard line. Two plays later, Craven punched in a touchdown to put Middleburg up 9-0 after the missed extra point.

On Menendez’s next possession, Blackburn blocked a punt, and Broncos freshman running back Khaden “KK” Robinson scored his first varsity touchdown four plays later. On the Falcons’ following drive, a tipped pass was intercepted, and Robinson scored just two plays later to push the lead to 23-0.

Menendez was finally able to find the scoreboard on a 75-yard breakaway run, but the Broncos still held a three-possession lead with only 13:34 remaining.

Knights' penalty flags costly against state champs

By Randy Lefko

randy@claytodayonline.com

OAKLEAF - Three penalty flags on one fourth-quarter play proved to be decisive as the Oakleaf High football team lost a 21-7 non-district game to defending state champion Raines Friday night in front of a standing-room-only crowd.

"I often say the old adage that if you are going to beat a man, you have to beat the man," said Oakleaf coach Chris Foy. "A situation like that - 45 yards in penalties on one play - is not a way to beat a state champion team. We have to play smarter and take accountability for our mistakes."

Foy's lament came after the Knights' gallantly went toe-to-toe with the Vikings of Raines.

"This team (Raines) has played like 30 games in the past two years and we have played 24 - and that's a lot of football," Foy said. "This was just a classic game of football played the old way: tough, hard hitting, explosive with us coming up short even with some of our players - Syncere (Murphy), Michael (Conner), Mason (Thomas) and TJ (Terrance James) all putting out great efforts."

In the first half, Oakleaf was answering the Vikings' scoring machine behind the defensive trio of Mason Thomas, Nigel McClendon and Isaiah Pierre-Val who continually found Raines' backfield combination of quarterback Sa'mon Ellison- Morgan and running back TJ Williamson for sacks and losses. The game was like a heavyweight fight with early body blows that softened the defense for knockout bombs in the latter rounds.

"We knew they were going to come right at us, and they played a tough, up front game," said Raines coach Donovan Masline. "We made some adjustments to find ways to win. We always talk about going 1-0 each week. "

Raines struck first with a blocked punt by Vikings safety Zion Green just outside the Oakleaf goal line. The Knights' defense got a Pierre-Val sack to force a Raines field goal try. Ironically, Oakleaf blocked the first attempt, but got flagged for a quick start before Raines converted for a 3-0 lead.

Raines capitalized on the next Oakleaf series with a fumble recovery. Again, Oakleaf's defense stood up to force a second field goal - and a 6-0 lead with 8:51 left in the half.

Conner got his first highlight reel move with a 35-yard kickoff return that put Oakleaf near midfield. They also got an additional 15 yards for a late hit on Raines linebacker Johdeem Jones.

A series of quick passes from Oakleaf quarterback Jaidan Delaune to Syncere Murphy and another throw to Connor put the Knights on the Vikings doorstep before running back CJ Moses powered to the 12. Murphy found a seam right down the center of the Vikings defense, with Delaune dropping the ball in his lap for the Knights' score at 3:13 to take a 7-6 lead.

"They have a great front line and Jaidan had to quicken his release to get his passes off," Foy said. "He got chased too many times and we adjusted to get him out in space to look around."

As they neared the break, Oakleaf punter Giovanni Garcon let loose a 6- yard missile to flip the field and not give Raines a chance at a late first half score.

In the third quarter, flags littered the field as officials huddled to figure out the 45 yards worth of penalties against Oakleaf that put Raines at the Oakleaf 11 yard line, Raines running back Curtis Asberry crashed in to put the Vikings up 14-7 with a two-point conversion just before the fourth quarter was to begin.

James rolled with a thrilling kick return that got Oakleaf to the Raines' 30 with another late hit flag. But penalties and a sack put Oakleaf at a second-and-30 that led to a Garcon punt.

Raines struck fast again with a wide open pass play to Tristan Stevenson, a Fleming Island High transfer. He was stopped at the 10 by Oakleaf safety Qasim Swain.

Raines was forced to try and field goal, but Landon Nichols blocked the kick to put the Knights at the Oakleaf 17.

Moses rumbled for 15, plus a horse collar flag, got Oakleaf to midfield.

A fumble with six minutes remaining led to Raines' final score with 2:03 to go.