Oakwood football playoff berth secure, Volleyball to play Devils in VCC championship
By FRED KRONER
Thanks to a 27-point fourth quarter on Friday, Oakwood rallied to defeat visiting Westville and officially clinch a berth in the postseason football playoffs.
The Comets improved their season record to 6-2 with a come-from-behind 34-24 conquest of the Tigers.
Westville (3-5) carried a 12-7 lead into the final period.
Oakwood coach Albert Craig said his squad had a lackluster start.
“We came out very flat in the first half,” Craig said. “I would say it was one of the worst halves of football I’d seen us play offensively since I’ve been here.”
Thankfully, the defense buckled down.
“Our defense hung tough and made plays to keep us close,” Craig said. “Really proud of them. They have been consistent all year and they will be key for us the rest of the way.”
Brady Howard sparked the defense with three pass interceptions. Colby Smiley registered a team-high 10 tackles. Caide Borton had nine stops.
Oakwood put four touchdowns on the scoreboard during the final 12 minutes.
“Offense finally broke out in the fourth quarter,” Craig added. “Getting Smiley back was big for us. Things open up when he plays.”
Jack Carey scored the Comets’ first two touchdowns of the final period on runs of 22 and 11 yards.
Before the game ended, Rhett Harrison tossed a 40-yard TD pass to Bryce Harrison, and Smiley raced 87 yards for the capper.
Joe Lashuay connected on two extra-point attempts.
Clouse rushed for a team-high 159 yards. Smiley gained 126 on the ground. Carey contributed 63 yards on the ground.
Rhett Harrison passed for 109 yards. Kade Anderson had three receptions for 68 yards.
Oakwood will close out the regular season on Friday at Salt Fork (5-3) in a game that will determine the runner-up position in the Vermilion Valley Conference.
Volleyball
Oakwood secured a berth on tonight’s Vermilion County Tournament championship match at Bismarck by virtue of two straight-set wins on Saturday.
The Comets dispatched Armstrong-Potomac 25-13, 25-17 and Westville 25-15, 25-12.
Top-seeded Oakwood will play the second-seeded Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin Blue Devils in tonight’s finals at 7 o’clock.
The Comets pounded 29 kills against A-P.
Aaliyah Denius led a balanced attack with nine kills. Katelyn Young contributed seven kills, Alyssa Romito had six kills and Addie Wright added five kills.
Madison Doan led the team with two aces and Denius led with two blocks.
Karsen Rupp (13 assists) and Young (10 assists) shared the setting duties.
Against Westville, Romito and Young each delivered seven kills. Denius landed three kills to go with a team-high four blocks.
Doan and Denius each served three aces. Rupp handed out seven assists and Young contributed six.
On Thursday, the Comets improved to 10-1 in Vermilion Valley Conference matches with a two-set sweep at Westville, 25-13, 25-20.
Young posted nine kills and seven assists.
Denius contributed seven kills and Romito had five kills.
Rupp had nine assists.
Oakwood is 19-11 overall and returns to action tonight in the finals of the Vermilion County Tournament.
The Comets have won 13 of their last 15 matches and are on the verge of a 20-win season for the third consecutive year, which will match a school record. The only other programs in school history to achieve 20-win seasons three years in a row were the ones from 1999, 2000 and 2001.
Head coach Lynn Anderson is in her 32nd year in charge of the volleyball program.
