Oakcrest High School football changed coaches this season, and the Falcons are without all-time leading rusher Terrence Smith, who graduated in 2016.
Despite the changes — or maybe because of them — the Falcons wanted to make a statement early this season that they are still a quality program. They did just that on their first offensive possession of a 35-0 win Friday night against Ocean City.
Oakcrest marched down the field for a 13-play, 85-yard drive that took 7 minutes, 8 seconds. The drive ended when Kendall Elliott found Yahsyn McKee for a 10-yard score.
“That first drive gave us a lot of confidence. We just kept pushing from there,” Elliott said.
The elusive Elliott rushed for 26 yards in the drive and threw for 35 more. He helped convert three third downs on the drive. Yaier Hinton added 19 yards in on the ground and nine in the air. Naji Hart recorded a 16-yard gain on a crossing route.
“I just told them to keep grinding, and pound the ball,” Oakcrest coach Eric Anderson said. “We had to set the tone on that drive. We had to execute and we did a good job.”

— Giuseppe Ungaro, Managing Editor