OAKLEAF - Though the Oakleaf High football team entered the 2025 with the credo of 15-0, the reality of executing for that goal has tested the Knights with bumps along the way.

Oakleaf (8-2) will travel to Nease High (8-2) on Friday for their first region playoff game in a game that will have the same ground and pound aspect as last year's region semifinal that Oakleaf won 31-14 with a defensive game that was a masterclass and a brutal run game. That playoff loss was unexpected and the first loss for the undefeated 10-0 Nease team that was used to pummel opponents.

"We get to see the same three teams as last year's region run except in a different order if things go our way," Foy said. "We get Nease, then Buchholz, then Mandarin if the bracket goes the way it should. Last year, it was Mandarin, Nease, then Buchholz, so we are not in unfamiliar territory."

With a team full of experienced and volatile athletes, Coach Chris Foy has had to endure some games of mistakes, penalties and miscues.

Bolles (9-1), the standard that Foy is pushing his Knights to surpass, was the first nashing with the Bulldogs able to withstand the Oakleaf attack with a counterattack on offense from a new running back phenom that rocked the Oakleaf defense for 184 tough yards to the 38-6 win for Bolles.

On the other side, quarterback Jack Mckissock still threw for 273 yards, but none for scores. Running back Fareed Coleman ran for 119 yards with a 7.4 average, but just the lone score.

"Jack has had similar numbers as he did last year, but we were asking for an improvement in those numbers," Horne said. "He has been efficient and directed the weapons around him. He is due a big game."

Coleman has since established himself as a workhorse "soldier" on the field with a 345-yard effort against ED White in a thrilling win that was his breakout game. Coleman has amassed consecutive 100-plus games up to this point including 150 yards in Oakleaf's second loss, a 31-14 district final loss to Mandarin. Against Tocoi Creek, Coleman was used sparingly with just 21 yards on seven carries.

"All of our players are as healthy as to be expected at this time in our season," said Foy. 
Add to the mix the return of C.J. Moses as the FOIL to Coleman and that was the same formula that emerged at the end of last year's region run.

Add to the mix the explosiveness of Trace Burney who was not a Knight last year and, with Foy, surely plans on utilizing his "game" players as necessary, including Jordin Price and Michael Connor on both sides of the ball. Mckissock and offensive coach Bubba Horne should be percolating at Nease.

The one-up factor for Oakleaf is the defense; Mason Thomas, Chris Jules on the line; Jermaine Robinson at linebacker and Price and Connor in the backfield. Robinson has been flying the field with 122 tackles with Thomas, Jules, Evan Brown, Daquan Beechan and Ashnel Louiceus all in the 85-90 range. That's scary.
Sack numbers are equally impressive with four players; Thomas, Louiceus, Beecham and Brown all with seven or more sacks; 12 by Thomas.

Stats aside, Nease is also a run strong, control offense led by sophomore quarterback Aiden Phifer with 18 TDs with nine interceptions on 1705 yards. The defensive front for Oakleaf will be a bucketload of chase for Phifer and his youth could create mistakes.
On the ground, Nease has no ringleader with junior Enrique Ordonez top ball carrier with 830 yards and four scores. Phifer is the leading scorer with six touchdowns off just 87 rush yards. Where Nease has been brutally effective is in the air; two receivers; Brayden Felder and Chase Phifer with 15 scores between them; 48 passes to Felder and 29 to Phifer.

Add it all up and Nease wins by attrition; two losses by none other than St. Augustine (28-24) and Buchholz (27-7). Three shutouts, a 50-8 score over Creekside, 47-10 over Lincoln and 47-17 over Beachside, no slouches there.
Oakleaf lost a few of the big boys from past schedules; Madison County, Buchholz, Bartram Trail and Bradford County, but still has Hawthorne and Bolles and Mandarin to contend with.

Penalty flags could be the decider in this one and the special teams which is Foy's bread and butter.

"It doesn't matter until it matters," Foy has repeated through the season.

Nease has a kickoff guy; Aric David-Baer with 23 touchbacks; that puts offenses 80 yards away, with near perfect on PATs, 31 of 32, with four of eight field goals.
For Oakleaf, Sam Pena is the quiet guy with the big leg; 12 touchbacks, but a 57.3 yard punt average on just three punts. Pena is also near perfect on PATs with 38 of 40 with five of seven field goals.

"We are very proud of our special teams and that is a credit to Special Teams Coordinator Travis Sayago and the leadership of long snapper Joel Bazinet," said Foy. 

Both kickers have longs of 38 yards. The game could be decided on PATs or a field goal with the strong defense keeping things close.