Oak Hall Football Preps For First Postseason Game Against Bozeman

Oak Hall football is not done yet.

The Eagles (6-3) are ready to take flight against the Panama City Bozeman Bucks (3-7) Thursday in the region semifinals of the FHSAA Independent League 2 State Championships.

The Eagles are heading into the postseason with a 42-12 victory against the Winter Park Trinity Prep Saints.

With the loss of two-way standout Darius Medley, coach R.J. Fuhr was anxious to see how his team would show. Medley’s half-brother BJ Johnson stepped up and led the Eagles in that Oct. 30 game.

“He’s just an amazing player,” Fuhr said. “He does stuff that we can’t teach and coach.”

Johnson completed 3 of 9 passes for one touchdown while rushing for 148 yards and two touchdowns.

The Eagles, who won the Sunshine State Athletic Association 3A championship last year, hope to carry the momentum into Thursday’s 6 p.m. game on their home field.

Before the official FHSAA rankings were released, Oak Hall was slated to play against Bozeman, but in Panama City.

Bozeman, seeded No. 4, lost in its makeup game last Thursday night, moving the Bucks down in the seedings.

Oak Hall is now seeded No. 4, while the Bucks are No. 5.

Fuhr believes the home-field advantage will bring his team encouragement.

“It was a big, big thing for us to be able to be a four seed,” Fuhr said.

Despite a 3-7 record, the Bucks will not be an easy feat for the Eagles.

Throughout the past two weeks of practice, the Eagles have been honing in on their defense, with Fuhr believing Bozeman will pressure his secondary.

“They will be the toughest passing team that maybe I’ve ever faced in my 13 years here,” Fuhr said.

As the Eagles’ first playoff game approaches, the message is clear: play urgently while maintaining confidence and calmness.

“I want to keep playing, like I want to be practicing next week,” Fuhr said. “I want to be practicing on Thanksgiving morning.”

If the Eagles pull out a victory, they would face the winner of top seed Mount Dora Christian Academy Bulldogs (8-1) and eight seed The Masters Academy Eagles (3-7) from the other semifinals.

Category: Football, High School Sports, Oak Hall High School