Oakland-Craig scored on its first five offensive possessions of the first half, and rolled to a 54-13 win over St. Paul in a battle of 11-0 teams in the Class C2 state football semifinals Friday night, November 15 in Oakland, in a game aired on 107.9 The Bull.
The Knights started the game with the ball at their own 35, and finished the drive with a five-yard scoring run by Ian Lundquist. The two-point conversion made it 8-0 with 8:20 in the first.
St. Paul went three-and-out and were forced to punt.
O-C took over at their own 45 and scored on a 20-yard run from Coulter Thiele. The two-point try made it 16-0 Knights with 4:31 in the first.
Following another St. Paul punt, Oakland-Craig capped off a 68-yard drive with a one-yard run from Caden Nelson. The two-point conversion failed, and the Knights led 22-0 at the end of the first quarter.
The Wildcats had a big kick return and started their next drive at the Oakland-Craig 16 yard line. Eli Larson finished the drive with a one-yard scoring plunge. The PAT missed and Oakland-Craig led 22-6 with 9:34 in the second quarter.
Oakland-Craig didn’t take long to score again, as Jaron Meyer broke loose for a 55-yard touchdown run. The two-point try made it 30-6 Knights with 8:23 in the second.
St. Paul moved the ball into O-C territory, before Meyer intercepted a pass, giving the Knights the ball at their own 43.
Meyer added another big touchdown run, this time from 30-yards out. The two-point conversion made it 38-6 in favor of O-C with 3:48 in the second.
The Wildcats were pinned back at their own 15 for their next drive. They moved the ball out to their own 32, but Thiele intercepted a pass and the Knights took over at their own 35.
The Knights were turned away on fourth down from the Wildcat 44.
St. Paul scored in one play on a 56-yard hook-and-ladder pitch to Larson. The PAT made the score Oakland-Craig 38, St.Paul 13 with 19 seconds left in the half.
Oakland-Craig took a knee and sent things into halftime with a 38-13 advantage.
Both teams traded punts on the first possessions of the second half.
St. Paul again drove to the O-C side of the field, but the Knights got their third interception of the evening, and the second by Meyer.
O-C capped of the 54-yard scoring drive on a one-yard run by Nelson. The 2PC made the score 46-13 in favor of the Knights with 2:38 in the third.
St. Paul threw their fourth interception of the game, this time it was picked off by Nelson, and O-C took over at their own 28.
This drive ended on a four-yard run from Nelson. The two-point try made the score 54-13 with Oakland-Craig in the lead and 9:03 to play.
The Wildcats drove down to the Oakland-Craig 35 before failing on a fourth down attempt.
The Knights took over at their own 35 and were able to run out the remaining 2:50, preserving the final score of Oakland-Craig 54, St. Paul 13.
Head Coach Joe Anderson says being in the State Championship Game is an amazing feeling. "It feels great. Just so happy for these kids. They put in so much time to get to this point. And it's just fun to see it finally pay off. And it couldn't happen to a better group. We have a great bunch of football players, but more importantly have a great bunch of young men that fought together and won together and accomplished one of their goals."
Oakland-Craig remains undefeated at 12-0 on the season, and will meet Sutton for the Class C2 state championship on Tuesday, November 26 at 2:45 at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. The game will be broadcast on The Bull.
The Mustangs downed BRLD 38-28 in the other semifinal in Lyons Friday night.
Anderson says the two teams are very similar. "They're a lot like us. They're a power football team. They're going to line up in the I and just come right at ya. They're big, they're physical."
Sutton rushed for 550 yards against the Wolverines, and had two ball carriers over 200 yards.
Jackson Perrien rushed for 250 yards and Cade Wiseman had 206.
The Knights will have to do what they did to St. Paul 2,000 yard running back Eli Larson, who only had 63 yards rushing.
The difference will be Oakland-Craig will have to shut down a two-headed monster instead of just one great back.
Definitely a big and perhaps new challenge for the Knights, but one they're up for I'm sure.
If the game goes anything like Friday night's game did then Oakland-Craig will be State Champs.
Anderson says Friday night's game wasn't what he expected. "No it really wasn't. St. Paul's a very good football team, but we just told our kids we've done a really good job of coming out and playing well early in games, and coming out and playing physical."
That's exactly what the Knights will need to do once again next Tuesday.
Oakland-Craig has found the blueprint for winning a State Title, and has to stick to it against the Mustangs.
The Knights made it in 2015 and lost to heavy favorite David City Aquinas.
Now Oakland-Craig would probably have to be considered at least somewhat of a heavy favorite in this one.
We'll see if the Knights can get it done this time.
I think they can and will as long as they play the way they have all season.
This is what you play for and dream of as a kid....that is a State Championship and an opportunity to play at Memorial Stadium...home of the Huskers.
Oakland-Craig can't be intimidated by the Stadium.
I think this year's senior class having been there as Student Managers when the team played Aquinas is a huge advantage for the Knights.
Oakland-Craig knows what it's like and what to expect, so has all the makings of winning a State Championship.
Pregame coverage will begin next Tuesday between 2:00 and 2:15 p.m. on the Bull.
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