OAKVILLE — As fall camp commenced and Skyler Davis was assessing his Oakville-North River football team, one glaring issue needed to be addressed.
For as much as the Rodas brothers Gio and Daniel impact the offense and showcase their sibling connection, the Acorns leaned heavily on them in the run game. Whether it was designed QB runs for Gio or sweeps that involved Daniel, it was a two-man show.
While they have shined as a passing combo, Ben Kimbrel has taken the reins as the primary ball carrier out of the backfield.
The junior bulldozed his way to a career game on Thursday night.
Kimbrel darted for 161 yards on 19 carries and two first half touchdowns that, coupled with some defensive adjustments, put the clamps on Sound Christian and walked out with a 56-42 Class 1B Southwest triumph on homecoming.
“Definitely our best running all year,” Davis said. “Ben Kimbrel ran the best game of his life. He’s so mature now. He’s never scored (a touchdown) until this year. We always want to start with some runs with Ben. After a few, we had to stick to it.”
Kimbrel has been on the roster since his eighth grade year and has slowly – but surely – finding his way onto the field more often. He found the end zone on a 17-yard scamper and 5-yard plunge.
The Acorns offensive line opened up sizable gaps for Kimbrel to burst through for an average of over eight yards per touch.
“There’s no blocking, I wouldn't make that run,” Kimbrel said. “Last year, I usually just put my head down and ran. Now, I run with my head up and have much better vision.”
Up 48-36 entering the second half, ONR allowed just a late fourth quarter touchdown to the Lions. The shift to playing four down linemen was the primary reason Sound Christian’s power zone and sweeps were neutralized.
Even with the Lions ending the night with 374 ground yards, the Acorns came away with two second half fourth down stops, including one inside their own five-yard line.
“The adjustments were great,” Daniel Rodas said.
Gio Rodas delivered the dagger with 4 minutes, 14 seconds left in regulation.
On fourth and goal from the Lions 12-yard line, the junior rolled to his left and the entire side was green. He raced towards the pylon, then connected with Jordan Eichelberger on the two-point pass for a 20-point cushion.
Despite Sound Christian forcing and recovering a fumble late plus scoring with 58 second left, it couldn’t recover the final onside kick. ONR (4-2, 4-2 Southwest) took two kneels and celebrated.
Three wins a season ago, the Acorns surpassed the mark and with a victory next week versus Evergreen Lutheran, will lock up a crossover bid.
“Like we’ve been telling our team all year, we gotta win it in the fourth (quarter),” Gio Rodas said. “We gotta keep grinding. Work on our mistakes, but once we work on those mistakes, we’ll keep rolling.”
Down 30-14 in the second quarter, ONR unleashed a clinic.
Daniel Rodas took a wildcat snap 55 yards to the house to make it 30-22. Then the Acorns recovered the onside kick and Kimbrel’s second score made it a two-point game. Three straight TD passes from Gio to Daniel gave them a double digit halftime advantage.
Sandwiched between the brotherly love was a fumble recovery. ONR totaled 517 yards of offense.
“We didn’t hang our heads,” Davis said.
All four of Daniel Rodas’ catches went for TDs, piling up 133 yards. Gio Rodas tossed for 280 yards and completed a pass to six different receivers. They combined for 101 rushing yards.
By this time a season ago, the Acorns were either blowing teams out or getting blown out. The last two weeks have been tight, so too was a Week 2 win over North Beach.
Which was one of the primary goals they wanted to hit this fall.
“That really makes it a fun game,” Kimbrel said. “You lose by 80 points, that sucks; you win by 80 points, it’s cool, but they’re a bad team. Having it being really close, like it has been, is really good.”
