The Mandarin Mustangs will face off against the Oakleaf Knights at 6:30 p.m. on Friday. Each of these teams will be battling to keep a three-game winning streak alive.
Last Friday, Mandarin beat Fletcher 22-13. Given the Mustangs' advantage in MaxPreps' Florida football rankings (they are ranked 23rd, while the Senators are ranked 105th) , the result wasn't entirely unexpected.
Shaunqueze Foster
| 10/10/25 vs Fletcher | 124 |
| 10/03/25 @ Rockledge | 81 |
| 09/26/25 @ First Coast | 47 |
| 09/19/25 vs IMG Academy | 31 |
| 09/12/25 vs Bradford | 73 |
| + 9 more games |
Shaunqueze Foster continued his habit of posting crazy stat lines, rushing for 124 yards and one TD. That's the most rushing yards he has posted since back in October of 2024. Kyree Wilson helped out on the ground, rushing for 100 yards.
They were just one part of a punishing run game: Mandarin was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 290 rushing yards. That's the most rushing yards they've managed all season.
Mandarin didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off two passes before the game was over. The picks came courtesy of Mario Pratt and Tamajh Mitchell. Israel Ratliff was another major factor on D, making ten total tackles (2.0 for loss) and defending one pass.
Meanwhile, even if it wasn't a dominant performance, Oakleaf beat ED White 45-41 on Friday.
One reason for the win was Oakleaf's imposing defensive line, which managed to get into the backfield for three sacks. The team can thank three different players for their defensive prowess: DeQuan Beecham, Isaiah Pierre-Val, and Mason Thomas, who each picked up one sack apiece. Another thorn in ED White's side was Jermaine Robinson, who made 21 total tackles (1.0 for loss).
Mandarin's victory bumped their record up to 7-1. As for Oakleaf, their win bumped their record up to an identical 7-1.
Friday's matchup might be decided on the ground. Mandarin has been excellent on the ground this season, having averaged 149.8 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Oakleaf struggles in that department as they've been averaging 218.9 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's contest turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Mandarin couldn't quite finish off Oakleaf when the teams last played back in November of 2024 and fell 17-14. Can the Mustangs avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
