By Fred Kroner
Oakwood High School endured yet another close football loss on Friday (Oct. 8) when visiting Hoopeston Area/Armstrong-Potomac pulled out a 29-27 triumph in overtime.
The loss was the third of the season for Oakwood by two points, or less.
“It’s like we’re living in ‘Groundhog Day,’” Oakwood coach Al Craig said. “It has been tough.”
The Cornjerkers had the ball first in the extra session. They scored a TD and converted a two-point extra-point attempt.
Oakwood senior Gaven Clouse, who rushed for a team-high 169 yards on 32 carries, scampered 10 yards for a TD, but the Comets’ two-point attempt in overtime was thwarted.
Oakwood scored first, in the second period, on a 4-yard run by Griffin Trees, followed by a placekick from Austin McDaniel.
The Cornjerkers scored twice before halftime and expanded their lead to 21-7 before Oakwood started its comeback.
Craig was pleased by the way his squad responded to the early deficit.
“When you’re behind 21-7 and the playoffs are not on the line, you worry what the kids will do,” Craig said. “They came back and gave us a chance to win.”
Clouse scored a third-quarter TD. Dalton Hobick ran 32 yards for a fourth-period score and added the equalizer on a two-point conversion that sent the game into overtime, tied 21-21.
For the game, Hobick rushed for 61 yards.
Trees led the Comets’ defensive effort with seven tackles.
Oakwood (1-6) returns to action on Friday (Oct. 15) in its home-finale and Senior Night game against Georgetown-Ridge Farm (0-7), a team that Craig said “is making improvements every week.”
Due to COVID-19 concerns, the dedication of the Oakwood football field to former coach Marty McFarland was postponed last week and rescheduled for halftime of the upcoming game against Georgetown-Ridge Farm.
Seven Oakwood seniors will be recognized on Friday in a pre-game ceremony.
They are: Gaven Clouse, Xander Draper, Connor Matson, Auston McDaniel, Devin Sanders, Griffin Trees and Josh Young.
“They are a great bunch of kids who love football and work hard,” Craig said. “They definitely will be missed.
“They have been through some great times and this year, some tough times, but they have handled it in stride.”
