Coming off an Elite 8 finish in its first playoff appearance, Oakleaf had extremely high expectations for the 2015 season.
After a surprising 20-14 home loss to Buchholz, the season came down to a winner-take-all game at Bartram Trail for the District 3-7A runner up spot. Unfortunately, the Bears stunned Oakleaf 37-34 to end the Knights season.
All spring and summer long, the motto was to finish the mission and finish what we started. Don’t be the third team in the mix and left out again.
For Oakleaf to get back in the mix, the Knights, who were hit hard with graduation, losing nearly all of its offense and its leaders on defense, must have new players step up and fill their holes.
Jordan Johnson is back for his fourth season as the starting quarterback after throwing for 1,735 yards and 17 touchdowns. Johnson has thrown for over 1,400 yards each season for a combined 5,156 yards and 45 touchdowns.
Who else was going to step up on offense was a big question heading into the spring. Among the guys who stepped up were senior wide receivers Rashaan Swain and Rontrez Morgan. Against a Lee team that made the playoffs last year, the Knights put up 34 points thanks to the combination of Johnson, Swain and Morgan.
Nick Roberts, the former Miami Hurricane commit who opened up his recruitment in the summer, is back to lead a defense which needs a lot of work after giving up 46 points in the spring.
Its most successful coach to date, Derek Chipoletti, stepped down after the season and turned the program over to assistant Steve Reynolds. The switch shouldn’t affect the program at all, due to having a familiar face remain with the program.
Reynolds should have the Knights ready to play and back in playoff contention again.
Oakleaf Knights
Knights Looking To Finish The Mission
Written by Corey Davis
Photo by Oakleaf High School
