MIDDLEBURG - Middleburg High revved up its offensive engine with a convincing 46-6 nondistrict win, while Oakleaf High took early control of a rematch with double state champion Hawthorne as both the Broncos and Knights stayed undefeated so far in 2025.

Middleburg, 4-0, had little trouble with Zarephath Academy, who came in with one win and two losses. Middleburg takes on Ridgeview High next, then has a road trip for their first of four straight district games against Orange Park, Ponte Vedra, Beachside and Fleming Island.

"Our district is one of the hardest in the state," said Middleburg coach Ryan Wolfe. "Zarephath had good speed and size. We are healthy so that is a positive going into district play."

For the Broncos, a stable of hard running ball carriers, led by the return of senior Gino Addison, got boosted with the increased game play from sophomore Brandon Ventura. Ventura ran for two touchdowns and had a passing score in the 46-6-win last Friday.

Middleburg got scores from four different running backs, with Sam Craven (25-yard pass), Addison (27-yard run), Travis Pinkard (one-yard run) and Lawson Padgett (eight-yard run) all putting points on the board for Wolfe.

"We have a great set of running backs with Addison, Pinkard, Ventura and Padgett, with Ventura just a sophomore," said Wolfe, noting Middleburg scored their entire 46 points in the first half.

Bronco quarterback Mason Bacus was efficient with 157 yards passing on eight completions, with C.J. Williams snaring three passes and Jordan Williams getting two catches.

On defense, Middleburg got four sacks and two interceptions on the night: Darrius Swilley and Floyd Reed.

Oakleaf, also 4-0, got an early 14-0 lead on Hawthorne—a state runner-up last year in Rural and twice the state champion in 2023 and 2024—holding off some awkward moments to win a 36-26 game at Oakleaf High.

Ridgeview, 1-2 and coming off of a bye week after beating Englewood 13-7 two Fridays ago, came in with a much-improved defense and with quarterback Jordan Mesa getting comfortable behind center. Panther running back Christian Felder ran for 128 yards and one score against Englewood.

Clay and Keystone Heights both suffered losses last Friday. Clay scored first off of a 50-yard scamper from running back Nehemiah Bailey but fell 46-7 to Tocoi Creek. Keystone Heights lost 51-7 to Newberry.

Both teams were winless prior to the game. Keystone Heights has winless Dixie County next in Dixie County.

The Knights will return home Sept. 19 to take on a 3-1 Bolles—who lost a 40-35 fourth quarter thriller to St. Augustine two weeks ago, then belted Bishop Kenny 36-0 last Friday. Bolles sophomore running back Zander Edwards rushed for 184 yards with four touchdowns.

Oakleaf quarterback Jack McKissock, wide receiver Trace Burney and running back Fareed Coleman riddled the Hawthorne offense with big play scores throughout the night.

After Mason Thomas' sack on Hawthorne's first series, Oakleaf needed just one play—a 17-yard scamper by Coleman and off blocks from Jailen Wilson and Isaiah Pierre-Val—to score first.

After a Hawthorne punt, McKissock started near midfield, then hit Burney twice for big plays to the Hawthorne 25. Wide receiver Jordin Price jetted into the end zone for the second score of the night.

A misplayed line drive punt by Hawthorne, that hit Oakleaf return man Josiah Brown, set up Hawthorne's first score: a 27-yard pass play to a wide-open receiver down the center of the field.

Oakleaf went to the double hammer combination of fullback C.J. Moses and Coleman to batter the interior of Hawthorne's defensive line. Coleman broke on a fourth and one plunge, kept his balance and sprinted to paydirt, putting Oakleaf up 21-7 at the half.

In the third, a reverse half back pass scored Hawthorne's second touchdown with 6:33 left in the quarter. Burney almost broke the ensuing kickoff and later caught another McKissock strike to put Oakleaf near midfield.

A swing-out pass had Coleman and two juked tacklers sprinting to paydirt for a 28-14 Oakleaf lead.

Another long pass by Hawthorne caught the Oakleaf secondary off guard, but Oakleaf safety Rodney Townsend stole a pass to thwart the scoring attempt.

In the fourth, McKissock hit Burney with a 40-yard pass down the sideline to the Hawthorne 25 before finding Price again in the end zone with 6:03 left in the game.

Hawthorne's final score came off of an Oakleaf onsides kick attempt that was stolen in full flight by a Hawthorne return man who sprinted to the end zone.