Football Game Preview: Oakleaf Knights vs. Mandarin Mustangs

The Oakleaf Knights will take on the Mandarin Mustangs at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Oakleaf's defense has only allowed 12.9 points per game this season, so Mandarin's offense will have their work cut out for them.

Oakleaf is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Monday. They strolled past Atlantic Coast with points to spare, taking the game 22-6. That looming 22-6 mark stands out as the most commanding margin for the Knights yet this season.

Meanwhile, after only six points in their last matchup, Mandarin made sure to put some points up on the board against Atlantic Coast on Wednesday. The Mustangs really took it to the Stingrays for the full four quarters, racking up a 31-0 victory. Considering the Mustangs have won five contests by more than 21 points this season, Wednesday's blowout was nothing new.

Oakleaf better keep an eye on Grace Brown. She was instrumental in Mandarin's win, throwing for 237 yards and four TDs while completing 76% of her passes. That's the most passing yards Brown has posted since back in February. Avaya Brown also helped out with an impressive 81 receiving yards.

Mandarin didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off four passes before the game was over. The picks came courtesy of Bridget Martinez and Olivia Gamble.

Mandarin has been performing well recently as they've won three of their last four games. That's provided a nice bump to their 10-5 record this season. Those wins came thanks in part to their defensive effort, having only surrendered 7.8 points on average over those games. As for Oakleaf, they now have a winning record of 6-5.

Everything came up roses for Oakleaf against Mandarin when the teams last played back in April of 2021, as the squad secured a 33-0 victory. Will the Knights repeat their success, or do the Mustangs have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.