OHS gridders squash the Yellow Jackets

The Oakwood Varsity Panther Football team traveled to Coolidge this week and showed the Yellow Jackets that they were not to be messed with.

Oakwood's James Edwards got things started with a nice 12 yard run and the first touchdown of the game. Marcus Howard put up the extra two points. Coolidge countered with a TD but were denied the extra point. Edwards came back with a 7 yard run for the touchdown. Eric Ballard passed one down to Cardarell Stubblefield for the extra point. The first quarter left Oakwood on top with a score of 15-6.

Coolidge took the first TD of the second quarter but were again denied the extra point. Edwards took in 11 yards on his way to the endzone to pick up another one for the Panthers. Howard kicked in the extra two. Edwards came up with the next TD off an awesome 28 yard run. Howard put it between the posts for the extra points. Edwards was not done yet. He put up the next TD off an 18 yard run. No extra point. Zach Bynum got a shot at a short 3 yard run and took it to the endzone. Still no extra points. Oakwood stayed on top of the second quarter with 43-12.

Back from the half, Coolidge decided to get back in the game. They picked up a touchdown but not the extra point. Edwards was working that third quarter as he ran in 7 yards for a TD. Bynum put up the extra two points. The Yellow Jackets snagged another touchdown before the Panthers shut down their attempt at the extra point. The Panthers were overpowering the Yellow Jackets with 51-24 at the end of the third quarter.

Bryson Randle dominated the fourth quarter. He ran for 11, 45, and then 28 yards to put up three touchdowns in a row! Oakwood did not put up any extra points but they did not need them. The mercy rule was called late in the quarter when the score reached a debilitating 69-24.

The Panther defense was hard at work and did a fantastic job of putting the Yellow Jackets in their place. Howard had an amazing 13.5 tackles, 5 assists, and a tackle for a loss. Senior Randall Dunn is making the most of his last year at Oakwood. He had 11 tackles, 10 assists, and 4.5 TFLs. J.P. Hicks is leaving an impression before he graduates. He had 7.5 tackles, 9 assists, and 4 TFLs. Edwards came up with 3 tackles and a couple of assists. Ballard had a couple of tackles and assists and 1.5 TFLs. Kealyne Durham put up 1.5 tackles as did Robert Myrick. Bynum had an assisted tackle and an assist. Alias Sardaneta did as well.

This win puts Oakwood one step closer to a district title. The Panthers play Avalon at home this week.