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Oakley rolls past Elkhart 50-0
Published on -11/8/2009, 2:34 PM
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OAKLEY — Under head coach Randall Rath, the Oakley prep football team is one of Class 2-1A's longtime powerhouses, including posting a 43-5 record from 2004-07.
However, in 2008, Oakley dropped to 7-3 and lost in the second round of the postseason to Meade.
From summer camp and two-a-day practices this fall, Oakley thought about last season and resolved to return to normalcy.
"We wanted to finish the season completely out," senior Tad Parsons said. "We weren't happy with the way it happened last year. That wasn't a good season for us. Everyone else may look at a 7-3 season, that's not bad, but for us, we weren't happy with that."
On Saturday, Oakley continued a terrific turnaround year and moved one game past last season's squad. The Plainsmen picked up a 50-0 home victory against Elkhart in the second round of the Class 2-1A state playoffs. Oakley, ranked No. 3 in the statewide media poll, moved to 10-0. The Plainsmen have won six straight games by at least 40 points and have outscored opponents 418-34.
"We thought about it a lot," senior quarterback Lex Parsons said of 2008. "We always don't want to take anything for granted and I think that kind of happened last year and we really this year, we're focusing one game at a time and make sure we get the most out of it."
Oakley will have a rematch at Ellis (9-2) in the sectional playoffs Friday. In Week 2, Oakley defeated Ellis 14-0 and held the Railers under 100 yards of total offense. On Saturday, the Plainsmen had a similar defensive performance — and another big offensive showing.
Oakley, which averaged 26.5 points per game in the season's first four weeks, has scored 52.6 points per contest in the last six wins.
"The line has really improved a lot," Rath, 97-39 at Oakley, said. "They have grown together a little bit. We've been rotating about seven kids in the front five, which helps us, too. I have been impressed with them. I think they have been doing a great job and our coaches do a good job with them in practice. We have got some good line coaches."
The Plainsmen have played the last three games without senior fullback Jace Campbell (547 yards), who broke his leg in a Week 8 contest against Oberlin and will miss the rest of the season. Senior Brandon Maurath moved into Campbell's starting role, picked up over 180 yards in a first round playoff win against Atwood and collected 37 yards on seven carries Saturday.
"He ran the ball extremely well again," Rath said.
"We got so many people that can just step up and make plays," Tad Parsons said.
Against Elkhart (6-5), Oakley led 34-0 at the half and rushed for 350 yards in the game. Tad Parsons picked up 93 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries. Lex Parsons was 4-for-4 passing for 109 yards and rushed 11 times for 84 yards. Junior Patrick Loftus hauled in three catches for 103 yards and two scores.
"Their offense is scary," Elkhart head coach Rob Wilson said.
Oakley scored less than three minutes into the game for an 8-0 lead. Elkhart, a run-heavy squad that uses a double-wing formation, opened the game with three straight rushes for minus (-5) yards. Oakley returned a punt down to the 10-yard line and two plays later, Tad Parsons scored from two yards out. Parsons, who tacked on a 10-yard TD run later in the first half, is averaging over 10 yards a carry, has 1,063 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns.
"Team is really clicking now," he said. "Things are going pretty well for us. We have got a strong senior class here and things are just kind of flowing together. Leadership out there, guys trust each other, depended on each man to be in their spot."
Elkhart, which finished its best season since 2003, didn't cross midfield until less than five minutes remained in the first half. They had 23 yards on 15 plays in the first quarter and 37 yards before intermission.
"They were more physical than us," Wilson said.
In the passing game, Lex Parsons connected on two first half scores (44 and 16 yards) to Loftus. In addition, Lex Parsons had a 43-yard completion to Loftus in the second half. Parsons has completed over 70 percent of his passes for 867 passing yards this season.
"He threw two balls right over their best corner and that corner is maybe one of the best corners we have played this year," Rath said. "I thought he put the ball right on the money. He has just been real consistent."
In the second half, senior Kraig Siruta had a 20-yard run and freshman Eric Albers ran in from 12 yards out. Elkhart had one chance at scoring when a punt hit off an Oakley player inside the Plainsmen 10-yard line. On the next play, Elkhart fumbled and Oakley took over en route to its third shutout - and another win after the disappointing showing last season.
"That's something we have had in our mind all this year," Tad Parsons said.
