The Oak Hall Eagles headed into their 2024 season opener at Bell on Friday night with high hopes for the new season.
But mistakes and Bell’s running game cost the Eagles as the Bulldogs scored the last 21 points of the game to pull away from visiting Oak Hall, 42-21, at The Boneyard.
Bell, who won only two games in 2023, starts this season off on a much higher note.
The Bulldogs (1-0) took advantage of Oak Hall’s mistakes and their own potent running game to pull away from the Eagles in the second half.
“We didn’t play a preseason game this year with the SSAA format this year,” Bell coach Joey Whittington said. “We were wondering how we would respond, and we responded pretty well tonight. If we continue to run the ball like that, we will be pretty good.”
Bell scored the first 21 points of the game. On Oak Hall’s opening drive, senior quarterback Dakota Brower was intercepted by Bell’s Kaleb Williams and returned to the Eagles’ 37-yard line. Senior quarterback Isaac Johnson ran to the one-yard line, and sophomore running back Landin Williams punched it in for a 7-0 lead.
On the ensuing possession, Oak Hall quarterback Dakota Brower fumbled the ball near midfield at the Bell 48-yard line. The Bulldogs converted two fourth downs including a 25-yard pass from Johnson to senior wide receiver Jayden Lopez on a fourth-and-nine play. Johnson scored from three yards out to extend the Bell lead to 14-0 with 7:56 left before halftime.
Oak Hall committed another miscue on the ensuing kickoff, fumbling the kickoff and Bell recovered at the Eagles 23-yard line. Johnson capped off the short drive with another 3-yard touchdown and suddenly Bell led 21-0 with 4:44 left before the half.
But Oak Hall (0-1) settled down and scored the next 21 points, tying the game at 21-all with senior running back Briggs Copeland scoring from five yards out after a Bell fumble at its 30-yard line.
Unfortunately, Brower hurt his left shoulder earlier in the drive and was lost for the rest of the game. And that was it for Oak Hall offensively.
“They’ve got some dudes but there’s no doubt he No. 1 (Brower) runs the show,” Whittington said. “I hate anytime a kid gets hurt in high school football, but it’s part of the game.”
The Bulldogs took over from there. Landin Williams ran for two more touchdowns and Kaleb Williams added another as Bell scored the last 21 unanswered points.
“We’ve been kind of keeping our eye on Landin and as a sophomore, we finally get him up here full time,” Whittington said. “He was our leading rusher as a freshman and we’re excited about him.”
Bell travels 10 miles south next Friday to take on Gilchrist County rival Trenton. Oak Hall will be back on the road at Branford.
Thursday, Aug. 15 Â
Buchholz 7, Spruce Creek (Port Orange) 2 Â
Chiefland 38, Crystal River 7 Â
Fort White 42, North Florida Educational Institute (Jacksonville) 14 Â
Newberry 38, Lafayette (Mayo) 6 Â
 Â
Friday, Aug. 16 Â
Bell 42, Oak Hall 21Â
Santa Fe (Alachua) 14, Dixie County (Cross City) 7 Â
Hawthorne 35, Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville) 7Â
Bradford (Starke) 19, Columbia (Lake City) 8Â
Union County (Lake Butler) 14, Baker County (Glen St. Mary) 14Â
Williston 21, University Christian (Jacksonville) 13Â
Keystone Heights 23, Ridgeview (Orange Park) 20
Carrollwood Day (Tampa) 42, Eastside 20Â
Lake Weir (Ocala) 54, Bronson 8Â
Cedar Creek Christian (Jacksonville) 42, St. Francis Catholic Academy 6Â
Crescent City 21, Trenton 7*
Crescent City 14, Branford 12*
Branford 21, Trenton 0*
*Played one half each and three-team Kickoff Classic in Trenton