For the second straight week, the Buchholz football team won a state playoff game late.
Last week, Buchholz scored the game-winner with 2:41 to play in a regional semifinal win against No. 3 seed Pace.
On Friday night at Citizens Field, also known as “The Pit,” the No. 2 seed Bobcats rallied again for a 25-19 win against No. 5 seed Oakleaf (Orange Park) in an FHSAA Class 6A-Region 1 Final.
The win sends the Bobcats (10-3) to the state semifinals for the fourth straight year.
“They’re talented,” Buchholz coach Mark Whittemore said of Oakleaf. “Let’s make sure we underscore the fact that it’s the Elite Eight in the state of Florida, and it’s like I told the boys, ‘They got here because they got better and better and better,’ and their head coach is actually really good. He takes care of the little things. That was a different Oakleaf team than usual…they were legit.”
Indeed, the Knights (8-4) defeated Class 4M state runner-up Mandarin (Jacksonville) two weeks ago, their first regional playoff win in 10 years, followed by an upset win last week at Nease (Ponte Vedra), the overall No. 1 team in the FHSAA rankings.
Buchholz led 10-6 at the half, and the defense allowed just one touchdown through the first three quarters.
“We’ve been playing complementary football, and we’re coaching together as an offensive and defensive staff, and the kids are playing together,” said Buchholz defensive coordinator Chuck Bell. “Anytime when the offense needs us to step up, we’ve stepped up lately in these last four weeks. When the defense needs the offense to step up and give us some juice, offense has really stepped up, so I love the idea that both sides are picking each other up.”
Oakleaf took its first lead since the first quarter on a 1-yard touchdown run by junior quarterback Jack McKissock, capping a 67-yard scoring drive with 6:33 to play.
Buchholz’s special teams made back-to-back big plays, blocking the extra point, and getting a 29-yard kickoff return by junior Keil McGriff to give the ‘Cats a short field to work with.
Trailing 12-10 and facing a 4th-and-4 at the Oakleaf 35-yard line, Buchholz junior quarterback Trace Johnson rolled to his left under heavy duress on the Buchholz sideline and threw the ball across his body into the middle of the field where McGriff was wide open.
“I saw Keil in the corner of my eye, knew what he had, so I just got back to him on my third read and gave him the ball,” Johnson said.
McGriff made the catch at the 18-yard line and on the next play junior Justin Williams raced up the middle for the score to give Buchholz a 16-12 lead with 3:51 to play.
It was one of two touchdowns for Williams, who had over 100 yards rushing to give him over 1,000 yards rushing and receiving this season.
“Special, just super special,” Whittemore said. “He’s a kid that’s so multifaceted, he’s got all the tools. He’s a 5-tool player, what can you say?”
Buchholz converted the 2-point conversion on a pass from Johnson to tight end Anthony Sanchez for an 18-12 lead.
But it was the fourth-down play that may have saved Buchholz’s season.
“We just said let’s roll him out and give him a chance to make a play,” Whittemore said. “I didn’t expect him to throw it back against the grain. The design of the play had a person, we had a player there in that spot, and he knew that so just a great heads up play for him.”
Oakleaf faced a similar fate with a 4th-and-5 from their own 32-yard line with 2:47 remaining.
This time the Buchholz defense made the game-winning play as senior defensive lineman Elijah Daniels had a strip sack, taking the ball away from McKissock, and returning it 23 yards for the score and a 25-12 lead with 2:33 to play.
“Elijah almost had a touchdown on a scoop and score last week and then was able to get him one on the sack,” Bell said. “Elijah’s a kid that came to Buchholz wanting to get better and wanted to play with the best and for the best, so I’m proud that he’s gotten to play in two final fours in a row.”
But the Knights didn’t go down without a fight, answering the score with a 79-yard touchdown pass from McKissock to sophomore wide receiver Mike Conner less than 30 seconds later.
Oakleaf’s onside kick with 2:09 to play didn’t travel 10 yards and Buchholz took over at the Knights’ 48-yard line, converted a first down, and ran out the clock.
Buchholz’s win, coupled with Osceola’s (Kissimmee) 17-7 win against Armwood (Seffner), ensured the Bobcats a home game in the state semifinals for the second consecutive season.
They will be the No. 2 seed and host No. 3 seed Osceola at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6.
“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” Whittemore said. “I’m super excited about it. Our mission is to get to that state championship and win it. It’s been like that, and so, just another step closer.”
Editor’s Note: This story was updated to include the new kickoff time of 7:30 p.m.
FHSAA Football playoffs
Friday, Nov. 29
Area teams in bold
State Semifinals
Rural
Hawthorne 28, Williston 7
Madison County 34, Union County (Lake Butler) 8
Semifinals
Rural (Division B)
Dixie County (Cross City) 52, Trenton 22
Regional Finals
Class 2A-Region 2
Cocoa 40, Newberry 3
Class 6A-Region 1
Buchholz 25, Oakleaf (Orange Park) 19
And Hawthorne is headed to their 5th state final having won back to back championships! Oh and we had already beat Oakleaf!!!
Cardiac? Does this mean they’re playing with all their heart, or…? ❤