Jacks wing Golden Eagles 41-35, head to playoffs
Photo by Leon Chuck at www.pressboxphoto.com
A Jacks cheerleader-in-training hurrahs for the team.
The Oakwood Lumberjacks traveled to Bellbrook for a meeting with their league rival Golden Eagles on Friday. Oakwood, 6 – 2, needed a victory to stay in the hunt for the league title and a home playoff berth. Bellbrook, 4 – 4 after losing four straight, was still hoping for a shot at the post season.
Bellbrook kicked off to begin the game and surprised the Jacks, recovering an onsides kick in Oakwood territory. Plays by Justin MacCaulay, Andrew Raichle and Tony Lamb thwarted the drive and forced a punt. Oakwood watched the punt be downed on their 15. The running of Robby Sherk, Connor Charbat and Lamb drove the ball to the Bellbrook 42. A key pass drop forced a punt. Bellbrook took over on their 31 after a short kick. Tackles by Joe Lefforge, Andrew Raichle and Ryan Dempsey forced another punt. Bellbrook’s kick went out of bounds inside the one foot line. two plays later, a fumble was recovered in the endzone giving the Golden Eagles a 7 – 0 lead.
Bellbrook tried another onsides kick and Trent Jervis the ball recovered on the Oakwood 34. Lamb hit the line for nine. Sherk rambled for 20 more. Lamb then went for 11 more. Damian Rudy carried for four. Joe Lefforge pancaked OSU recruit
Sam Longo and Sherk followed the block into the endzone and six points. David Miller booted the extra point and the game was knotted seven all.
Plays by Lamb, Zach Alex and an incomplete pass forced another punt. John Whalen returned the punt to the Bellbrook 46. Sherk ran 31 yards to the 15 and a late hit put the ball on Bellbrook 8. Sherk gained a yard, then Damian Rudy took a pitch and cut back to paydirt. Miller’s kick split the uprights and with 9:30 left in the half, Oakwood had a 14 – 7 lead.
Trent Jervis and Jason Elking made a great hit on the kickoff and Bellbrook started the next drive from their 15. Bellbrook drove down the field, but turned the ball over when Scott Feldmiller made an interception in the end zone. Lamb ran hard for 18 yards, then ran for nine more. A fumble on the play turned the ball over to Bellbrook 49. The Golden Eagles took advantage and scored late in the half, tying the score at 14. The drive was aided by a lousy call by the referee, who over officiated all night.
Bellbrook took the kickoff to their 28 to start the second half. Bellbrook was forced to punt after a 3 and out. The ball was downed on the Oakwood 8. The Jacks followed suit and went 3 and out. The Golden Eagles drove and scored with 5:26 left in the third quarter.
Trailing 21 – 14, Sherk, Lamb and Rudy followed the interior blocking of Lefforge, Tucker Jones, Ryan Dempsey, MacCaulay, Greg Ambrose down the field. Charbat and Will Garner made nice downfield blocks. The Jacks drove to the Bellbrook one as the quarter ended. Facing a fourth and goal from the one, Coach Paul Stone put his trust in the seniors. Sherk followed Lefforge into the endzone for six more. Miller’s kick was good and the score was tied again, 21 – 21.
Miller’s kick sailed into the endzone forcing a touchback. Bellbrook drove the ball their 35. Andrew Raichale hit the ball carrier forcing a fumble and Robby Sherk recovered on the Bellbrook 44. A penalty put the ball on the 49. Sherk tossed the ball to John Whalen who came clear and went into the endzone. Miller’s kick was good again and Oakwood took a 28 – 21 lead with 9:09 left in regulation.
Bellbrook returned the kickoff to their 19. Bellbrook had a drive going when Justin MacCaulay made a sack, forced a fumble and recovered the ball. Oakwood had the ball on the 40, when another ghost penalty was call moving the ball to the 30. The Jacks were forced to punt and the Golden Eagles took over on their 23. Bellbrook drove down the field and tied the score 28 -28 with 1:22 left in the 4th quarter.
After receiving the kickoff and returning it to the 23, the Jacks couldn’t move the ball. With 18 seconds left in regulation, Oakwood was forced to punt. Bellbrook fair caught the ball on their 29. Bellbrook dropped back and passed into a hook and ladder. Damian Rudy knocked the ball down and Bellbrook took a knee, forcing overtime.
Oakwood took the ball at the 20 and drove down and scored on a four yard plunge by Sherk. Bellbrook followed suit and scored on a pass play. The score stood at 35 – 35 and it was Bellbrook’s turn. The Jack defense got a second wind and held. Plays by Lamb, Lefforge, Ambrose and Sherk forced a field goal try. The ball hit the cross bar and Oakwood had a chance to put the game away.
Robby Sherk scored again and the Jacks won game, 41 – 35. What a great high school game!!
Oakwood, now 7 – 2, has a chance to host a playoff game and if things fall into place, tie for the league title. The Jacks travel to Franklin Friday for another huge game. Go Jacks!!
8th grade football shut out by Valley View
An unproductive offense and big plays led to an 18-0 loss to Valley View by the Oakwood eighth-grade football team on Wednesday.
The visiting Spartans handed Oakwood its third loss in a row after opening the season with two wins. Oakwood’s offense had trouble with a tough Valley View defense, gaining only 45 yards of total offense. Oakwood’s defense was steady most of the game. Two of Valley View’s touchdowns came on big plays — a pass play of 55 yards and another of 43 yards. The other touchdown came on a three-yard run.
The game was a big improvement over last year when the team lost 50-0 to Valley View as seventh graders. The defensive line had a strong game for the Lumberjacks with two recovered fumbles — one by defensive tackle Daniel Stoecklein and another by defensive end Aric Anloague. The Lumberjack line also had four sacks; one by Sam Stanley, one by Stoecklein, one-and-a-half by Andrew Stephenson, and a half-sack by Jack Kegelmeyer.
Oakwood’s other top defensive performers were Micah Rhodes with one sack and Michael Kadash with three tackles and a forced fumble. Other key players on defense were Mason Ellis and Alex Marquis.
Oakwood, now 2-3, has two games this week: on Monday, Oct. 20, against Bellbrook at Mack Hummon Stadium, and on Thursday, Oct. 23, at Waynesville. Both games start at 6:30 p.m.
Cross country team advances to Regionals
Peter Hix led the Jacks and the rest of the field, finishing first with a personal best of 15:57.91. Troy Gould and Tory Tomlinson crossed the line in 25th and 26th. The last two scores were tallied by Joey Neff and Andy Lamb at 32nd and 33rd respectively. Will Reese and Chris Wolcott also completed the five kilometer course for the Jacks. The Jills were led by Julia Sizek who crossed the line in sixth. Elizabeth Connelly was tenth with Ericha Griep close behind at eighteenth. Hannah McCarthy was thirty-fifth and Alexandra Harmony, Chelsea Bolger and Autumn Bruno crossed the line in places thirty-eight through forty. The regional meet will be held on Saturday at the levee near Hobart Arena in Troy. The top four teams and the top sixteen finishers will advance to the state tournament on Nov. 1. |
Jills hockey shuts out Indian Hill in Regional play
And then there were four. The first round of the State Regional Tournament (Southwest Ohio) is complete with all four home teams winning including Oakwood in convincing fashion. The Jills hosted Indian Hill and the scoring began early as the Oakwood team that showed up was locked in and playing as a cohesive unit. After a season where many scoring opportunities went unfulfilled, the Jills made the most of this games scoring opportunities. Early in the game, communication on the field was excellent, ball passing was crisp, defense was stout and the level of teamwork was outstanding. As a result the Indian Hill Braves didn’t know what hit them.
Hannah French began the scoring with only their third shot on the Braves goal with 1:30 elapsed in the game. Ten minutes later Ali Taylor took a fast break up the left side and her shot caromed in off the right goal post for their second goal. In a game that had limited penalty corners, the Jills finished their first half scoring off of their third and final corner of the half. After the inbound, Brittany Hemmelgarn fed the ball to Laura German within a crush of bodies in front of the Braves goal for the score. With the Oakwood Forwards pressing up field and allowing the Mid-Fielders to feed their sticks, the defense was rarely tested in the first half.
The second half started similarly to the first as Hannah French (Caroline Hartel – assist) once again scored on the third shot of the half with only 4:15 played. Laura German scored again six minutes later on another penalty corner opportunity with a beautiful angle shot from the right wing. Up 5-0 and approximately 20 minutes remaining, Coach Schaefer began substantial substitutions. This provided more balance between the teams and goalie Amy Beck began to see some action from the Braves. Despite this, Sami Pavlofsky finished the scoring inside of 2:00 remaining for a 6-0 home shutout for the Jills. Oakwood next travels to take on the number one seeded team, St. Ursula on Wednesday.
Jills soccer - 7 wins, 9 losses, 2 ties for season
The regular season came to a close for the Oakwood girls soccer team two weeks ago, as the Jills traveled to Waynesville on Monday night, Oct. 6, and returned home to take on Brookville on Tuesday, the 7th.
Waynesville entered the contest with 10 wins, 2 losses, and 2 ties, and showed that their record was no fluke. Playing with a strong wind at their back in the first half, the Lady Spartans dominated possession, spending most of the half in the Oakwood defensive end. The Jill defenders held, however, as Erin Johnson, Erin Riley, Brianna McConnell, Molly Woodhull, Liz Dickerson, and Olivia Reasoner all played well in front of goalkeeper Lauren Luther, who was asked to make numerous saves. Oakwood did manage a strong counter in the final 30 seconds, having two corner kicks, but neither was converted, the first half ending in a 0-0 tie.
Claire Davis tried to get Oakwood on the scoreboard early in the second half, but her left-footed boot was snared by the Waynesville keeper. At the 35:47 Waynesville standout Lauren Price got past the Oakwood defense at midfield, showed her great speed as she raced down the field, and was able to knock one past Luther for a 1-0 lead. Ten minutes in Oakwood’s Colleen Hallinan got off a strong shot which caromed off the crossbar. A hustling Claire Davis was there for the ricochet, but her shot sailed just high. With 18 minutes left Brianna McConnell launched a long left-footed shot, but the Spartan keeper was able to stretch high and bring it in. With 17:24 to go Price struck again, placing a crossing pass on the foot of a teammate, who knocked it in to make the final score 2-0.
Tuesday night, Oct. 7, was Senior Night, and Oakwood’s eight seniors were honored in pre-game ceremonies. Molly Breidenbach, Liz Daganhardt, Liz Dickerson, Taylor Garrity, Maeve Harper, Lauren Luther, Olivia Reasoner, and Sarah Shewell walked down the track, escorted by their parents. This fine group has given four strong years to the program. Their activities and volunteering are impressive, their combined G.P. A. is 3.6.
Oakwood controlled the first half action, but the Brookville goalie played well, and the Jills had trouble scoring. At the 9:58 mark Liz Dickerson and Maeve Harper put together a nice sequence to get the ball to an open Alex Miller in front of the goal, and Alex finished the play, giving Oak wood a 1-0 halftime lead. Brookville had only two opportunities in the first half, one on a breakaway on which Oakwood keeper Lauren Luther timed her charge well and smothered the ball before it could be kicked, and the other when the Jills were called for a foul just one yard out of the box, and the direct kick went just high.
The Jills started finding the net in the second half. At the 35:20 mark a Molly Breidenbach throw-in led to a Colleen Hallinnan assist to Maeve Harper, who scored to make it 2-0. Two minutes later it was Breidenbach putting an assist on the foot of Claire Davis, who put it in to run the count to 3-0. The scoring was completed at the 23:27 mark when Christina Davis passed to an open Cara Mumford, who then assisted on Alex Miller’s second goal of the night. Mumford, along with four other freshmen (Annie Bartlett, Olivia Lewis, Molly Reese, and Amanda Winch) have been promoted to the varsity for the District Tournament.
The Jills finished the regular season with a record of 6 wins, 8 losses, and 2 ties. The Junior Varsity posted a record of 9-2-4.
Monday night, Oct. 13, Oakwood hosted Miami Valley in a first round tournament game. Spurred on by a raucous group of mothers armed with noisemakers, the Jills struck early. Just five minutes into the game Claire Davis fired a shot which the Miami Valley keeper was able to block, but Alex Miller was there to bang it in, giving Oakwood a 1-0 lead. Oakwood controlled possession, but goals were tough to come by. With just 1:31 left in the half Molly Breidenbach took a direct kick from 30 yards out. Mo’s blast was on target but blocked, and Miller again was there for the put-back, and a 2-0 halftime lead.
The second half was all Oakwood, the Miami Valley team rarely threatening, the Jills controlling, but no more goals. Final score: 2-0. With the win, sixth seed Oakwood advanced to a second round game at third seeded Halmilton Badin on Thursday night.
The Badin girls were big, fast, and aggressive, and took it to the Jills in the first half. The Oakwood defenders were under constant pressure, but fine play by sweeper Olivia Reasoner and goalie Lauren Luther kept the Rams off the scoreboard for the first sixteen minutes. At that point Oakwood was whistled for a foul just a foot outside the box. Badin’s direct kick was a perfect bender into the far upper corner, good for a 1-0 lead. Nine minutes later Badin put on a passing clinic, taking the ball the length of the field with short, accurate passes, and finishing at the offensive end for a 2-0 halftime lead.
It looked bleak at that point, but coach Dawn Gaydosh’s troops came out fired up in the second half, playing their best 40 minutes of the year. The Jills battled Badin evenly the first ten minutes. Alex Miller then found an open Claire Davis in front of the goal, the freshman striker blasted one over the keeper and into the net, and the Jills were back in the game. At the five minute mark, after an apparent hand-ball in the box was not called, Claire Davis was just wide with a strong shot. With two minutes to go Molly Breidenbach placed a strong throw-in into a crowd in front of the goal. Oakwood got a head on the ball, but the Badin keeper made the save, stopping Oakwood’s last threat. The Jill’s lost 2-1, but walked off the field proudly, knowing they had given a very good Badin team all they wanted. Final record: 7 wins, 9 losses, 2 ties.
October 21, 2008
Volume 17, No. 43
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