Oakwood senior Gaven Clouse had a memorable final home game on Friday (Oct. 15).

Clouse scored touchdowns on four of his eight rushing attempts, leading the Comets to a Senior Night victory over Georgetown-Ridge Farm, 47-6.

The home finale also marked the official naming of the field as Marty McFarland Field in recognition of the winningest Oakwood football coach in school history.

“He created a lot of the culture that we still have at Oakwood,” Comets’ coach Al Craig said. “It was good to see where that culture came from.”

Clouse rushed for 97 yards. He scored two first-period touchdowns and a 66-yard run by Dalton Hobick lifted the Comets into a 20-0 lead after one quarter.

Austin McDaniel converted two extra-point kicks in the first frame.

‘We opened the game up and gave the team some confidence,” Craig said. “It was a pretty good team effort.

“In the rain, you need everyone to do that. Our defense was on point, not allowing them to do a whole lot.”

Clouse added his other two TDs in the second quarter. Oakwood headed into the lockerroom with a 32-0 lead and created a running clock in the third period when a 10-yard scoring scamper by Griffin Trees and Hobick’s two-point conversion gave Oakwood a 40-0 advantage.

Trees rushed for 77 yards on three carries.

The team’s final TD was courtesy of the defense. Noah Phillips returned an interception 20 yards for a fourth-quarter TD.

McDaniel had a team-high seven tackles.

The 47 points scored against the Buffaloes were a team-high and the six points allowed were a team-low for the season.

“We started clicking in Week 6 and  have played  pretty well,” Craig said. “We’ve lost some tough games (two consecutive two-point setbacks before the G-RF game).”

Oakwood (2-6) closes its season on Friday (Oct. 22) with a game at Salt Fork (5-3).

“It’s a natural rivalry because we co-op with them in some sports,” Craig said. “It’s always the last game and it always means something.”

For Salt Fork, a sixth win would guarantee a berth in the postseason playoffs. For Oakwood, it’s a chance to close the season with back-to-back wins for the first time this year.

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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.”

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Oakwood came up short on Friday (Oct. 1) in a historic high school football game in Vermilion County.

The Comets dropped a 14-12 decision at Westville in the first game played in Vermilion County on artificial turf. For Westville, it was the first home game since October, 2019. The school’s athletic complex was recently refurbished.

“The field is great, the atmosphere is fantastic and the game lived up to the hype,” Oakwood coach Al Craig said. “We came out on the short end, but we tell them to just keep battling.”

The Comets pulled within 7-6 in the second quarter when Dalton Hobick – who returned from an injury that had sidelined him the previous two games – hooked up with Josh Young on an 85-yard scoring play.

Westville moved its lead to 14-6 at halftime and was scoreless the last two periods.

“As a whole, our defense played well,” Oakwood coach Al Craig said. “Our kids played hard and stuck to the game plan.”

The game was the second since the Comets’ staff shifted Gaven Clouse and Austin McDaniel into the linebacker positions.

The lone second-half TD on a 3-yard run by Hobick in the third quarter.

Hobick completed 9 of 17 passes for 185 yards. Young had four of the receptions and turned them into gains of 125 yards.

Defensively, Griffin Trees had a team-high eight tackles, followed by Clouse with seven tackles.

Oakwood (1-5) returns to action on Friday (Oct. 8) against Hoopeston Area in a game that will mark the formal dedication of the Comets home site as Marty McFarland Field.

“Marty put in a lot of time and is very deserving of this honor,” Craig said.

Besides the two-point setback at Westville, Oakwood also suffered a one-point loss to Iroquois West.

The post Comets end up short at Westville first appeared on SJO Daily.

The Oakwood Comets scored the game’s first and last touchdowns on Saturday (Sept. 25) in their homecoming game.

Gaven Clouse, who rushed for a team-high 236 yards on 31 carries, opened the scoring in the first quarter, exploding for a 71-yard scoring burst.

He also added the two-point conversion.

Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin scored the next 42 points and emerged with a 42-14 triumph.

“We played well, but they played even better,” Oakwood coach Al Craig said. “We had the lead early and a chance to put them down.”

After the Comets’ first score, Young intercepted a pass, but Oakwood was unable to take advantage.

On the first B-H/R-A scoring down, the Blue Devils needed to convert a third-and-18 play.

Also before halftime, Oakwood moved inside the B-H/R-A 30-yard line, but came up empty.

“We’d get inside the 30, but couldn’t push it in,” Craig said. “We’d have a good drive and then have a false start or somehow find a way to lose yards.”

 Austin McDaniel hauled in a 6-yard scoring strike from Josh Young in the final quarter to complete the scoring in a Vermilion Valley Conference contest.

Clouse had a season’s high for rushing yardage.

“Gaven puts in the time to get those yards,” Craig said. “It was nice to see the offensive line open holes for him.”

Young was 3-for-6, throwing for 27 yards. He has filled in the past two games for the injured Dalton Hobick, who is hoping to play this week.

Oakwood (1-4) returns to action on Friday (Oct. 1) at Westville (4-1). The game will be the first one played on Westville’s turf field at its all-new athletic complex west of the high school.

It will be the Tigers’ first home football game since 2019.

“Westville is a very physical team and it’s always a war when we play them,” Craig said.

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The Comets dropped a heartbreaking 33-32 loss in overtime to unbeaten Iroquois West in their home-opener on Friday (Sept. 3).

Iroquois West nailed a 42-yard field goal with 16 seconds to play in regulation to force the extra session.

Dalton Hobick scored his second touchdown for Oakwood in OT, but the Comets were unable to make the two-point conversion.

The Raiders scored on a pass play and then nailed the extra-point placement to salvage the one-point triumph.

“It was a heck of a high school game, but we came up short,” Oakwood coach Al Craig said. “Iroquois West made big plays when they needed them most.”

Hobick completed 10 of 13 passes for 159 yards. He fired second-half scoring strikes of 6 and 28 yards to Josh Young, who caught seven passes for 109 yards.

Gaven Clouse was the top Oakwood rusher, gaining 77 yards on 12 carries. Clouse scored a fourth-quarter TD on a 17-yard run.

Hobick’s 48-yard scoring romp in the second quarter was the team’s longest scoring play. It also accounted for Oakwood’s only points before halftime.

“We got better as the game went on,” Craig said. “Basically it was Week 1 for us (because 16 players sat out the opener due to COVID-19 tracing).

“We only had two starters play the week before and one of them was out of position.

“We hoped to get momentum going in the second half, and we broke out and built an 11-point lead. I was impressed with how they battled and handled adversity. We missed two weeks of practice and our conditioning was not the best.”

The Comets scored five TDs, but only made one conversion try, a run by Hobick in the second half.

Austin McDaniel led Oakwood defensively with 10 tackles.

Oakwood (0-2) returns to action on Friday (Sept. 10) against Clifton Central.

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fred@mahometnews.com

Area high schools are in the process of preparing their athletes to return to competition.

The IHSA permitted limited participation last week, allowing districts to conduct conditioning, agility and strength training exercises in small groups.

Oakwood chose to wait until this week in order to get its plan in place.

“We are taking a cautious approach for right now,” Oakwood football coach Al Craig said. “We are making sure all the ducks are in a row before we start.

“We have been meeting with the athletes once a week on Zoom and going over things we would have normally gone over. It has gone well.”

Craig fears the repercussions of doing too much too soon.

“I am just concerned with health and safety,” he said. “I don’t ever want our student-athletes or coaches in danger.

 “I’m also worried that too much at the beginning gets everything closed down again, then we lose August. We don’t want that. Nobody wants that.”

St. Joseph-Ogden and Villa Grove/Heritage began the process of restarting workouts last week.

Throughout the area, slow steps are the norm.

“Right now, they are student-athletes who we haven’t seen for multiple weeks,” SJ-O football coach Shawn Skinner said. “We are working on getting them in shape.

“Their core, legs and lungs are what we want to ensure are getting ready as we progress at this time.”

SJ-O athletes are at the school in shifts, taking advantage of the weight room.

“We have eight groups and those groups have six to eight kids,” Skinner said. “We have some groups going at 7 a.m., another set at 11 a.m. and another round at 5 p.m.

“Prior to working out, we have to check the kids in with a series of questions and we record their temperatures. We will do that every time we work out, at least during this stage of our return-to-play plan.

“We have essentially created small weight rooms outside on and around our track and sports fields. The workouts incorporate speed improvement, flexibility, strength and conditioning.”

The workout takes about an hour and the athletes remain with the same group every day. Sixty-five Spartan football prospects, from freshmen through seniors, worked out last week.

Skinner said his program is not far behind where he originally expected to be by mid-June.

“Our summer plan was to always be in the weight room three days a week, so from that standpoint we are moving forward with that plan,” Skinner said. “We have lost only about two weeks of summer workouts, so we are trying to stay positive from that standpoint.”

He said the school’s staff is doing everything possible to not put anyone at risk.

“Obviously we want everyone to be as safe and healthy as can be,” Skinner said, “so we’re being cognizant of spacing and what we touch; wiping down and cleaning equipment after every athlete uses that.

“For the athletes, we want to avoid over-taxing them early. Some of them have been working out at home, but several of them have not. It’s not a race to get back in shape in one week.

“This will be a process and we have to ensure we avoid injuries, especially soft tissue injuries, as that could linger all season.”

Unless athletes were working out on their own, most had been away from regimented practices for more than 80 days. Skinner didn’t know what level of conditioning and fitness to expect from his returnees.

“I was really concerned with what shape we would be in,” he said. “Honestly, it’s better than I thought. It’s not good, but it’s not bad either.”

Villa Grove/Heritage football coach Heath Wilson has about 50 potential football players working out.

“At this point, I am just excited,” Wilson said. “Excited to get to start working with the players and coaches.

“A lot of our players are out of shape due to the stay-at-home order, so it’s time to do the work and get ready for the season.”

The staff at VG/Heritage is adhering to recommendations.

“First and foremost, we are making sure we understand and implement the guidelines appropriately,” Wilson said. “The safety of these athletes is very important. We have worked quickly to survey our players, break them into groups and get them in the weight room. 

“With seven coaches, we are able to divide and conquer. We have six groups that are working out three days a week. During this phase, we are focused on lifting and conditioning.”

The emphasis is not the same for coaches in cross-country and soccer as it is in football.

“The great thing about our sport, although it’s better to be together, it can be done solo,” SJ-O cross-country coach Jason Retz said. “Every athlete has the same ability to improve.

“We are simply going to control what we can control and enjoy each day as it comes.”

Retz expects a turnout between 40 and 50, including both the boys’ and girls’ programs.

“We meet once a week and have four groups right now,” Retz said. “They already have their own schedules they are working off, so we get together and they get it done.”

Bill DeJarnette is returning to the SJ-O soccer program he helped to implement. He has about 15 potential players thus far and they are divided into two groups.

“We plan to continue to add (groups) as we expand our recruitment,” DeJarnette said. “The workouts will vary within cycles.

“Cycle examples are Plyo, Long Slow, Intervals, fast twitch, strength and visualization, with constant evaluation of strengths and weaknesses so we can tune the workouts to address issues as needed.”

Conditioning is generally not an activity that teen-agers look forward to. This month could be an exception.

“We are excited to be back together, even if only for conditioning,” Villa Grove coach Jeanine Block said. “The girls are excited to see one another and are anxious for the next phase.”

Oakwood volleyball coach Lynn Anderson said the starting point is to make clear that the guidelines in place must be followed.

“My main concern is getting the players to understand we have regulations we have to follow,” Anderson said. “That is foreign to them, in a sense, especially with the sport.”

Block said she tries to keep things fresh and not repeat the same routine.

“Kids get bored without sport-specific activities,” Block said. “We are doing our best to make the workouts ‘competitive,’ but these girls are anxious to play volleyball.”

The unexpected break, which was mandated by the COVID-19 pandemic, took away from the ongoing changes around the SJ-O facilities.

“Prior to the virus shutting everything down, we were having a very good offseason,” Skinner said. “We had really built up some momentum in our weight room.

“Casey Hug, our athletic trainer, has assisted us in changing our strength and conditioning program and you could really see the kids’ bodies starting to change.”

A booster support group was helping to implement other additions and improvements,

“Our SJO Fan Club had purchased new equipment and Mr. Hug had updated our weight room,” Skinner said. “If we had returned from Spring Break, it would have been an entirely new facility for our kids.

“I can’t wait to get to use it in the manner we really want to soon. We hope that happens in early July as we enter the next stage in the return-to-play.”

The coaches have mixed feelings about what is in store in the weeks and months ahead.

“We will plan and work with the assumption that the fall season is a go,” DeJarnette said. “Even if not, there are no downsides to working together as a team every opportunity you get.”

Added Retz: “The opportunity to help student-athletes grow will continue to happen regardless of what the season looks like.

“Our goal is to help make better people. That will happen regardless if we get to race against other schools or not.”

Craig sees many issues that need to be resolved before games can again take place. He isn’t convinced that everything can fall into place.

“I would love to say I’m really confident, but I’m not,” Craig said. “I would say I’m somewhere between pessimist and optimist.

“I just need to see the logistics of games and locker room usage before I can become really confident.”

Block said now is the time to plan for the possibilities of what a new-normal may look like.

“I can see us playing, with precautions and possibly no fans,” she said. “We are looking at options to live stream games in case the parents/fans are not allowed to attend games.”

Anderson, too, wonders what athletic competition will look like once the games resume.

“My concern is whether we can just relax and play eventually,” Anderson said. “If we have to wear masks, wipe down balls, not touch each other, etc.

“Where is the consistency of just playing, when we have to worry with everything else? Hopefully, it won’t come to that. How confident about whether we have a season or not depends on the day and who I listen to.”

Skinner said this is a time of many questions, but few answers.

“Obviously, the threat of the virus is going to remain and it’s not going to change anytime soon,” he said. “What do we do if one of our players or coaches gets it? What will that look like? Also, how do we advance the workouts in the best/safest way; safe from a physical and spacial standpoint, but also an emotional and mental standpoint?

“These are real concerns that we need to be aware of and observe. We have a tendency as Midwesterners to have a blue color, tough-it-out, mentality. I think that we need to really reflect on that.

“If you’re feeling sick, if you have a sore throat, cough, etc., then maybe stay home a day or two. That goes against our mentality, but maybe we need to take a step back and realize it’s OK to miss a day of work, school, practice, if that means in the long run you’re healthier for it.”

He realizes that is easier said than done.

“That would require a huge change in our perception, and I am probably as guilty of this attitude as anyone,” Skinner said. “But it may be time to acknowledge we can take better care of ourselves and in the process take better care of those around us.”

Like others, Skinner knows it’s merely speculation as to whether there will be a season and – if so – when it would start and how it will look different from previous years.

“What we know is that at this time there is a strong desire and intention for there to be a return to school in August and with that a fall-sport season,” he said. “I’m working with that in mind.

“That’s all I can do at this point. If/when that changes, we will adjust.”

Retz said in one respect this year will be like all others:  There will be a need to deal with the unexpected.

“Each year brings different challenges and it will be fun to take these on one day at a time,” Retz said. “Distance running takes time.

“We’ll deal with any bump in the road there may be, but those bumps only help us learn and grow.”

The key word, Wilson said, is optimism.

“I have to stay positive and say there will be a season,” Wilson said. “I can’t imagine a fall without football.”

If the green light is given for competition, Anderson knows one fact for certain.

“We will be ready to play,” she said. “All athletes just want to get started, which might be a positive out of this whole deal.

“They will not take for granted anymore that things just always happen how they want it to. They know their lives can change that quickly now.”

The post High school athletes return for team workouts with coronavirus guidelines in place first appeared on SJO Daily.

fred@mahometnews.com

Jack Carey is one of those athletes who is at home on a football field, regardless of where he is positioned.

He might be a running back, a slot or a receiver on offense. On defense, he might be in the secondary or even an outside linebacker.

He is, Oakwood coach Al Craig said, someone who lives up to his name.

“He was our Jack of all trades,” Craig said.

Versatile athletes are valuable athletes. They are not locked into one position, but capable of playing many, which affords them multiple opportunities to be on the field.

As a senior at Oakwood, Carey averaged 8.2 yards per carry and scored touchdowns on six of his 51 attempts. He was the Comets’ No. 1 receiver, gaining 294 yards on receptions and turning four of his six catches into touchdowns.

Defensively, he tied for the team-lead in interceptions with five.

This from a person who started high school as a 5-foot-5, 100-pound freshman.

He is now 5-11, 165 and ready to embark on a collegiate career with the Rockford University football team.

“I grew a lot when I got into high school, which of course helped tremendously,” Carey said. “I got much stronger and much faster, which is what led to me being much better at football.”

Despite his success for Oakwood’s Class 2A playoff entry – an 8-3 team which advanced into the second round – Carey anticipated that the end of the high school season would also mark the end of his competitive career on the gridiron.

“I thought after my senior year, football would be over and it was just sad to think about never stepping on a field to play football again,” Carey said.

“I know it’s very hard to get into a college to play any sport and being from a small town, the idea just didn’t seem realistic.”

Until it did.

“I thought about competing in college when I started getting emails by the end of the season from schools saying they were interested,” Carey said. “Having this opportunity is a dream come true.”

Carey was motivated not only by coaches, but he also drew inspiration from other players, “whether they be on my team or the team I am playing against, mainly because even if it’s not possible, I want to be the best on the field.”

That attitude of determination is one Craig has seen since Carey has been on the scene at Oakwood.

“He was a hard worker,” Craig said. “Between his junior and senior seasons, he put on about 20 pounds of muscle and just lived in the weight room that off-season.”

Developing a strong work ethic was necessary for Carey’s survival in the sport in his early years when he found himself at a size disadvantage.

“Football was definitely a sport that had to grow on me because I wasn’t very physical when I was young, so I got tossed around a lot,” Carey said, “but eventually, I stepped up, the frustration passed and I got better. 

“When I started playing football (as an 8-year-old), I wasn’t very good or very physical, so it took some work, but through good coaching and motivation I started to learn the ropes and become much better.”

As he began to flourish in the sport, his enjoyment increased.

“Football is undoubtedly my favorite sport,” said Carey, who tried his hand at several other athletic endeavors, including baseball, basketball, hockey, soccer, track and wrestling.

“Just everything about it drives me to be the best I can for my team. I feel like I’ve always been best at contact sports because of my physicality.”

Among the coaches who have been instrumental in Carey’s development were Bruce and Brett Harrison, Brady Leeman, Al Craig, Cameron Lee, “and a few others,” Carey said.

“I’ve been surrounded by some very good coaches in my time and they’ve helped me because without them I wouldn’t have the football IQ that I have now and I wouldn’t know certain techniques that I know now,” he added.

Craig sees Carey as someone who can continue to make an impact, even when he reaches college.

“Jack was a really heady player for us. He knew several positions on the field which made him very versatile,” Craig said.

“I see Jack filling that same role at Rockford. I could see him playing offense as a slot receiver or receiving back.

“I could also see him on defense as a defensive back. Rockford got a really good player that will be able to fill needs at the next level.”

Carey’s college decision, he said, came down to two finalists and two different paths.

“I was only really looking at Eastern Illinois University and Rockford,” he said. “At EIU, I would just be going to school and Rockford would be for both school and football.”

Though he had hoped to play football, his choice was made for other factors.

“When I visited, it just seemed like the school for me,” Carey said. “I don’t really know how to explain it other than it just felt right.”

He plans to enter a pre-med curriculum.

Carey didn’t find the recruiting experience to be difficult.

“The recruiting process was very easy actually and I wouldn’t say I didn’t like anything,” he said. “I just found it intimidating meeting some of the older football players because I thought it was going to be a cliche of having to meet their standards, but it wasn’t like that at all. They were easy-going, easy to talk to and just nice people.”

Carey said his family was instrumental, not only during the recruiting process, but also for instilling confidence throughout his career.

“My parents (Jon and Jo Carey) and my siblings (Dylan Kasey and Shauna Carey) were just so great through the whole process from when I was young to now,” Jack Carey said. “They’ve always stood behind me and it means so much.

“It’s great having them there because they pick you up when you fall down and feel like you can’t get back up. They motivate you because you want them to be proud, so you do everything you can to make them proud.”

The post Jack Carey to play football at Rockford University first appeared on SJO Daily.

Oakwood football

There has not been a change in offensive philosophy within the Oakwood football program.

The Comets are a run-first team which boasts two players with more than 800 yards rushing for the season.

And yet, on Friday when the school ended a 31-year streak without a postseason football victory, both of the team’s first-half touchdowns were on passes from quarterback Rhett Harrison.

It turned out they were the only passes he completed in Oakwood’s 20-0 shutout over Nokomis, a win that will move the team into the second round in Class 2A and a Saturday, Nov. 9 date at Pana.

The kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Pana (9-1), tied for eighth in the final state rankings, opened the postseason with a 46-12 win over Red Bud. Pana’s offense is averaging nearly 44 points per game.

The 12-game postseason losing streak was a burden that Oakwood coach Al Craig was happy to shed.

“We wanted to get the monkey off our back,” he said. “It was getting heavier each year.”

Harrison helped that happen. He hooked up with Gaven Clouse on a 20-yard scoring strike in the final 90 seconds of the first period and, before halftime arrived, connected with Colby Smiley on a 66-yard scoring play.

“We don’t throw a ton,” Craig said, “but we’re looking to score when we do throw.”

For the year, Harrison is attempting less than 2 passes per quarter. His 10-game stats show 40 completions in 72 attempts.

More than one-third of his completions have gone for TDs. He has thrown 15 TD passes. He is closing in on 1,000 passing yards and needs 18 more to reach that plateau.

Clouse added a third-quarter score on an 8-yard run. Caleb Lashuay converted two conversion kicks to account for the remainder of the Comets’ point total.

The shutout was the third of the season for Oakwood (8-2).

“We tell the kids there might be a game we struggle on offense, but the defense needs to be consistent,” Craig said.

That defense limited Nokomis (7-3) to 109 yards of total offense in the first-round game.

Linebackers Smiley and Elijah Harden led the way with 14 and 10 tackles, respectively.

The offense continues to be led by a trio of backs – Clouse, Smiley and Jack Carey – who collectively have accounted for 2,175 yards rushing and 24 TDs on the ground as well as another 511 receiving yards and eight touchdowns through the air.

Clouse started the season playing JV ball, but was pressed into varsity duty when Smiley was sidelined.

“Three weeks in a row, he had 150 or more yards,” Craig said. “We didn’t understand what we had until we saw him in action.”

Clouse adds the dimension of elusiveness to go with the existing power attack.

“I’ve been super-lucky,” Craig said, “to have loaded backfields both of my years as coach.”

Against Nokomis, Clouse rushed for 83 yards and Smiley gained 71.

The Comets’ second-round game will be a rematch from 2018 when Pana rallied in the final quarter to hand Oakwood a 28-21 loss.

“We had Pana down, but couldn’t close it out,” Craig said.

The coach said his squad “looks forward to,” not only the next opponent, but also a road trip to the same location as where the 2018 season ended.

“We can’t say enough good things about the hospitality we received last year,” Craig said. “There’s a lot of love and respect from the Comets.”

Now that Oakwood has ended one lengthy drought, it can start work on another. With one more victory, the Comets can tie the single-season school record for wins (nine), set by the 1983 team and matched by the 1988 squad.

The Comets have a three-game winning streak and have won eight of their last nine games. Oakwood was tied for 13th in the final Class 2A state poll.

Oakwood Girls’ Cross-Country

Senior Grace Davis ended her season in Saturday’s Effingham St. Anthony Class 1A Sectional. She placed 84th.

Davis’ 3-mile time was 23 minutes, 18.53 seconds.

There were 136 competitors in the event.

The post Oakwood Football picks up playoff win after 31 years, Davis’ cross country season come to end first appeared on SJO Daily.

Oakwood’s football team became playoff-eligible on Friday as it raced past Georgetown-Ridge Farm 34-20 in its homecoming game at Fithian.

Oakwood is 5-1 overall and faces the other 5-1 team from the Vermilion Valley Conference on Friday when it plays host to Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin. Neither team has lost this fall in VVC games.

Gaven Clouse led the Comets with two touchdowns and 169 rushing yards on 16 attempts. He scored two touchdowns and added one two-point conversion.

Quarterback Rhett Harrison connected on 7 of 8 passes for 113 yards. He tossed two TD passes and ran for one TD.

Elijah Harden hauled in two scoring strikes from Harrison, covering 5 and 19 yards respectively. The 5-yard reception accounted for the only points of the first period.

Harden is the ninth different Comet to score a touchdown this season.

Joe Lashuay converted two extra-point kicks.

Defensively, the Oakwood leaders were Blaine McCord with 11 tackles and Caide Borden with 10 stops.

“We played pretty well against a good Georgetown team,” Oakwood coach Al Craig said. “It’s always a really physical game every time you play those guys, so it is good to get a win.

“We are starting to play well offensively and we are starting to get healthy for the stretch run of the season.”

Oakwood Girls’ cross-country

Grace Davis placed ninth for Oakwood/Salt Fork in Saturday’s Oakwood Invitational at Kickapoo State Park.

Her 3-mile time was 21 minutes, 39 seconds.

The team champion was St. Thomas More. Oakwood/SF did not have enough runners to be scored as a team.

The other Comet finishers were Allie Morris (12th in 23:11) and Cassie Fugate (19th in 25:33).

Oakwood/Salt Fork returns to action on Tuesday at Kickapoo against Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin.

Oakwood Boys’ cross-country

Ethan Brewer was the top Oakwood/Salt Fork finisher in Saturday’s Oakwood Invitational at Kickapoo State Farm.

Brewer covered the 3-mile course in 20 minutes, 43 seconds and ended in 41st place.

Teammate Bryce Tucker was 63rd in 24:01.

The Comets return to action on Tuesday at Kickapoo against Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin.

Oakwood Volleyball

Milford dealt the Comets their first Vermilion Valley Conference setback on Thursday, handling the visiting Comets 25-18, 25-16.

Oakwood is 6-1 in VVC matches and 12-10 overall.

Oakwood returns to action tonight at home against Judah Christian.

Oakwood Boys’ Golf

Logen Hoshauer tied for sixth and Reed Sperry finished 10th on Thursday to earn all-league honors in the annual Vermilion Valley Conference Golf Tournament at Harrison Park.

Hoshauer fired an 89. Sperry carded a 94. Both are juniors.

In the team race, the Comets combined for a 405 and placed fourth. The meet champion was Schlarman Academy (357).

Travis Goodner, Kyle McFarland and Seth Halls were the team’s other competitors at the VVC meet.

Oakwood returns to action today in a 15-school Class 1A regional it will host at Harrison Park.

Oakwood Girls’ Golf

Senior Joie Sollers fired a 106 on Thursday, placing third individually and winning all-conference honors in the Vermilion Valley Conference meet at Harrison Park.

Milford took team honors in the tournament.

Oakwood returns to action on Thursday in a 16-school Class 1A regional hosted by St. Thomas More, which will be held at Lincolnshire Fields Country Club.

Oakwood Soccer

Reef Pacot’s second-half goal cut into Oakwood/Salt Fork’s deficit on Saturday, but visiting Judah Christian added four more goals thereafter to produce a 6-1 non-conference win.

Pacot’s goal was assisted by Brady Tevebaugh.

Aaron Dean recorded 11 saves.

Oakwood was shut out on Thursday at Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin, 7-0, in a Vermilion Valley Conference game.

The Comets (5-12-1) return to action today at St. Thomas More, in Champaign.

The post Comets became playoff-eligible, Hoshauer, Sperry and Soellers named All-Conference first appeared on SJO Daily.