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The latest Tweets from Kyle McFadden (@k_fadd). Freelancer covering college sports, preps & #nascar. ?: @WashPostHS @BaltSunSports @frednewspost. @FrederickCC student. 2 Corinthians 12:1-10. Views=mine. New Market, MD
IJAMSVILLE — Bryce De Maille rushed over to his quarterback, Collin Schlee, who sat on the metal bench squirting water in his mouth after the two hooked up for a 52-yard pass-and-score. When the burly 6-foot-3, 230-pound receiver got within arms length of Schlee, the two coincided a playful hand gesture as De Maille yelled, “My man! I told you so. I told you so.”
Two plays before, Schlee took a deep shot that slipped through De Maille’s grasp. It was a rare drop by the receiver, since his reliable hands is largely why he holds nearly 20 Division I college football offers. De Maille told Schlee to go right back to him, and on the second time, they found pay dirt.
The score was the second of three touchdowns between the two, as the Schlee-De Maille rapport proved to be the deciding factor in a relatively close bout between two unbeatens. Oakdale roured to its seventh straight victory of the 2017 season on Friday night, pulling away from the Bayside’s Kent Island after a seven-point differential at the half, 49-27.
“We just have that chemistry,” said De Maille, who hauled in eight receptions for 157 yards and three scores. “We work at it every single day and he throws a great ball. I can’t say enough good things about him. He’s a great quarterback.”
De Maille accounted for well over half of Schlee’s air production, as the junior slinger finished 13-for-22 with 248 yards passing. After Oakdale and Kent Island traded touchdowns around the first quarter intermission — a 33-yard pass from Schlee to Logan Carey and a Trent Jackson 22-yard strike to Sean Mooney — the Bears put together a steady drive inside the Buccaneers’ 10-yard-line.
After a three half-hearted attempts on the ground, Schlee rolled out to his right and floated a jump-ball into the back corner of the end zone for De Maille, who then wrangled in the 7-yard score to put Oakdale up 14-7 with 5:06 left until halftime.
Kyle McFadden on Twitter
@OHSBearsFB @TMiles47ABC @Sim_Sabvute21 @CollinSchlee @YungJeffy5 .@Bryce_DeMaille wrangles in a 8-yd score in the back of the EZ to put Oakdale back on top, 14-7. Under-5 until halftime. https://t.co/46JSA8Sm2l
Less than four minutes later — after the Oakdale defense forced a Kent Island turnover on downs at the Bears’ 30-yard-line — that’s when De Maille urged Schlee to hit him over the top, which then made it 21-7.
With six minutes left in regulation, Schlee hit De Maille again — a 37-yard dagger down the right sideline — which swelled the Oakdale lead to 42-21.
Kyle McFadden on Twitter
@OHSBearsFB @TMiles47ABC @Sim_Sabvute21 @CollinSchlee @YungJeffy5 @Bryce_DeMaille .@CollinSchlee uncorks a 37yd dagger to @Bryce_DeMaille, swelling Oakdale’s lead to 42-21. Their 3rd hook-up for a TD (via @Evan_Engelhard) https://t.co/0nAbZeWysV
Even though Oakdale cruised off, it didn’t come without testy moments.
With roughly 11 seconds until halftime, at its own 46-yard-line and facing a 4th-and-6, Oakdale opted to go for it. The decision backfired as Schlee took a sack at the 30, ultimately giving Kent Island one more play with 4.6 seconds still on the clock. That’s when Jackson zipped a pass down the right sideline that found Jordan Walker, who then spun around and muscled an extra yard across the plane. The odd sequence made it a 21-14 game at the half.
Kyle McFadden on Twitter
@OHSBearsFB @TMiles47ABC @Sim_Sabvute21 @CollinSchlee @YungJeffy5 @Bryce_DeMaille Whoaaa. Caught the tailend of this, but Kent Island makes it 21-14 after an Oakdale TOD at the 30+ as the 1st half ends. Weird sequence https://t.co/UtNs2GAJA4
Additionally, Kent Island repeatedly found success through the air. Jackson gashed the Bears for 193 yards on 17-for-26 passing and hooked up with Mooney nine times for 95 yards.
“They came out tough, and we didn’t expect that,” De Maille said. “We thought we were going to impose our will on them, and they came out to play and I respect that. At the end of the day, at halftime, we had to step it up, and we rallied the troops. We stepped it up.”
Schlee ended up with 213 total yards and five total touchdowns. He added a 33-yard scoring reception on a trick play when sophomore Ethan Reifert received an end around and hit him in stride down the left sideline, which made it 35-21. The play came on the heels of a Kent Island 86-yard scoring drive when Brandon Galloway (147 yards on 19 carries) brought the game to 28-21 on a 7-yard run.
Kyle McFadden on Twitter
@OHSBearsFB @TMiles47ABC @Sim_Sabvute21 @CollinSchlee @YungJeffy5 @Bryce_DeMaille Brandon Galloway punches in a 2-yd score to cut into Oakdale’s lead, 28-21, with 11 minutes left in regulation. We got a game over here. https://t.co/gGHi7GuKfb
Running back Simeon Sabvute galloped his way for 191 rushing yards and a pair of scores on 19 carries. His scores at the goal line and from four yards out padded Oakdale’s lead to 28-14 and 49-21.
Kyle McFadden on Twitter
@OHSBearsFB @TMiles47ABC @Sim_Sabvute21 @CollinSchlee @YungJeffy5 @Bryce_DeMaille Oakdale converts a crucial 4th-&-6 on a drive capped by a @Sim_Sabvute21 (12-131) goal line score. Bears lead 28-14 with 3:50 left in the 3Q https://t.co/ZzyEqAq02R
Oakdale managed to outgain Kent Island in total offense, 469-386.
Despite being 7-0 for the first time in program history, Bears coach Kurt Stein harped on the need for refinement as they press deeper into the gauntlet. Twenty-seven points is the most they’ve allowed since Tuscarora put up 28 in the first round of the playoffs last year. Along with giving up nearly 200 yards through the air, Oakdale surrendered 220 yards on the ground, allowing many yards after contact.
The weapons are in place for a state title push. But in order to survive the grueling Class 2A West, which features ground-and-pound powers Damascus and Walkersville, the defense needs more tenacity and limit yards after contact.
“We have weapons, and that’s what it usually comes down to,” Stein said. “If you have weapons, and even if things aren’t going well, you’ll pop a big one. We seem to be able to do that. But if you’re going to beat someone at the caliber of those teams you’re talking about, you’re gonna have to play good in all phases.
“We know what we’re up against. We’ll cross that line once the ship gets there.”
UP NEXT: Oakdale (7-0) travels to Thomas Johnson, while Kent Island (6-1) hosts Easton.
