Oakwood Soccer tops Unity, football falls to Watseka, Young named to All-Tournament team
By FRED KRONER
Oakwood lost its season-opening football game on Friday when Watseka scored a tie-breaking touchdown in the final two minutes at home to claim a 28-21 triumph.
Colby Smiley rushed for 239 yards on 29 carries for the Comets. He scored two touchdowns, each pulling Oakwood into a tie.
Quarterback Rhett Harrison completed 4 of 10 passes for 96 yards, including a 68-yard score to Jack Carey.
Caleb Lashuay kicked the extra-point conversion after each TD.
Defensively, the team leaders were Caide Borden (12 tackles) and Bryce Harrison (11 tackles).
Oakwood returns to action on Friday at home against Warrensburg-Latham (1-0).
Soccer
Colin Merritt and Brady Tevebaugh each scored two goals on Thursday as the Comets topped Unity 6-1.
Caleb Lashuay scored the first goal of the match, on an assist by Tevebaugh.
Sam Howie hit a goal that lifted the Comets into a 2-0 halftime lead. Grant Powell assisted Howie.
Other second-half goals were assisted by Caleb Lashuay and Joe Lashuay.
Overall, Oakwood had 14 shots on goal, while Unity had six. Comets’ goalkeeper Chris Winkler had five saves.
Oakwood (2-0-1) returns to action today at home (Oakwood Grade School) against Monticello.
Girls’ cross-country
Oakwood finished eighth in the 14-school Saber Corn Classic, on Saturday at St. Thomas More.
The Comets’ top placer was Grace Davis, who was 34th in a field of 96 competitors. Her 3-mile time was 21 minutes, 27.1 seconds.
Other team leaders were Mackenzie Russell (42nd in 22:40.2), Ally Morris (56th in 24:03.5), Katie Fritz (64th in 24:56.8) and Cassie Fugate (77th in 27:31.8).
Oakwood returns to action on Saturday at Chrisman’s Cowchip Classic.
Boys’ cross-country
The Comets had two runners who participated in the Saber Corn Classic, on Saturday at St. Thomas More.
Ethan Brewer was 103rd with a 3-mile time of 21 minutes, 47.0 seconds. Teammate Bryce Tucker was 110th in 24:11.1.
Oakwood, which didn’t have enough runners to be scored as a team, returns to action on Saturday at Chrisman’s Cowchip Classic.
Volleyball
Oakwood senior Katelyn Young was chosen for the Cissna Park Timberwolf All-tournament Team after helping the Comets to the title in the third-place pool.
In the season’s first week, Oakwood played seven matches, winning four.
On Saturday, the team dispatched Cissna Park (25-17, 25-23) and Fisher (25-11, 25-12).
Oakwood totaled 18 kills and 14 assists against Cissna Park, and 16 kills and 12 assists against Fisher.
On Thursday, in a non-tournament match, Rantoul topped the Comets 25-19, 25-8. The Comets were limited to nine kills.
On Wednesday, Oakwood rallied to beat Watseka 15-25, 25-23, 15-3. In that match, Young and Alyssa Romito combined for 39 kills. Young collected five blocks.
“The whole team brought the energy,” coach Lynn Anderson said.
Oakwood returns to action on Tuesday for its home-opener, against Heritage. The Comets’ lineup includes two seniors, one freshman and, Anderson said, “five with just one year (experience) under their belt.”
