The Oakville High School scoreboard clock, much less the football team, couldn’t function correctly in the Tigers’ 42-0 loss to DeSmet Jesuit High School Friday.
“That’s a first right there. We’ve never been shut out and had the running clock on us. That was an experience right there,” Tigers head coach Arlee Conners said.
The clock didn’t function for most of the first half. And the Spartans (3-3) clocked Oakville (1-5) with passing scores of 67, 58 and 23 yards and punt returns for touchdown of 54 and 48 yards. The sixth score came on a one-yard run after an interception return to the one-yard line.
“Really what got us all night were the big plays. I thought, for the most part, against the run we stuck in there pretty well. But the big plays are inexcusable,” Conners said.
After Oakville senior kicker Andrew Messmer’s 39-yard field-goal attempt sailed left of the goal post, DeSmet sophomore quarterback Conner Harrison hit junior Durron Neal on a slant route for a 67-yard touchdown pass on DeSmet’s second offensive play of the game. DeSmet ran six plays on its second possession before Harrison found junior KeVonn Mabon for a 58-yard touchdown pass to lead 14-0.
“They have some good athletes and we were out of position. Put those two together and it’s tough playing,” Conners said.
The Spartans doubled their lead in the final two minutes before halftime. Harrison tossed a 23-yard touchdown pass to Neal with about two minutes left, and Mabon returned a punt 54 yards with a minute left for his second of three touchdowns.
“They made some key plays, and we knew they would be talented,” Conners said. “We thought we would be in better position to help ourselves against those plays, but we weren’t.”
Oakville’s first completed pass for a positive gain came with 5:47 left in the game.
It was a 32-yard completion from one quarterback to another — sophomore Brendan Jost to junior Javon Henderson.
“(Jost)’s coming around. He’s a young kid, and he’s learning what’s going on out there. Just like the rest of these guys, he just has to get a little more confidence out there,” Conners said.
Jost completed five of 11 passes for 49 yards. Henderson finished two of seven for two yards. Each threw an interception.
Oakville totaled 211 yards of offense, and was led by senior Darrion Moore’s 84 rushing yards.
“You just have to stay positive. You have to stick together. We still have a nice stretch ahead of us. We have a chance to go into district play playing better. When you get to districts, you go out there and let it all hang out and see what happens,” Conners said.
Oakville plays host to the 3-3 Lafayette High School Lancers at 7 p.m. Friday.
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