By Lance Winkler

The newest retail addition to the Shops of Oakwood became a future reality when the Oakwood Planning Commission gave the go-ahead to build the Oakwood Retail Center, a new building that will be located at 2500 Far Hills Avenue.

Commercial rendering of future Oakwood Retail Center.

According tos Jay Weiskircher, Oakwood deputy city manager, the building is slated to hold about 10,500 square feet of retail space. The building developers are DDG & MDG Investments LLC. K&A Architecture is the design firm and MUHA Construction is the building management company overseeing the project.

We’re excited about the opportunity this beautiful building presents to continue and tie together the walking community of Oakwood. This key, new addition, as all of our buildings, is held to very high standards. We have surrounded the building with parking and have created what we hope will be a “center piece” for the community,” said Darlene Gutmann of DDG & MDG Investments LLC.

By John Lefforge

The Oakwood Lumberjacks traveled to Charles Laughlin Field to renew their rivalry with the Carlisle Indians. The teams were butting helmets for the first time since the Jack’s victory in the 2001 playoffs.  The history of Oakwood dominance was in jeopardy, as Carlisle has shown steady improvement in recent years.  

Defensive action was to be the story of the game.  Oakwood and Carlisle struggled on offense and special teams play.  Bad snaps, mishandles, over thrown passes and turnovers haunted both teams.  The hard hitting and on-going blitzing contributed to havoc.

Carlisle returned the opening kick to their 25.  The Indians moved the ball to midfield with a bubble screen and a series of running plays, but a Zach Smith interception shut them down.  Smith returned the interception to the Oakwood 41.  Sam Jones tossed the ball to Alex Meritt for a 20 yard gain.  The Jacks couldn’t capitalize and turned the ball over on downs.  Carlisle, on their 26, drove into Lumberjack territory with 3 first downs.  The defense held and the Indians pooched a kick inside the Lumberjack ten.  John Diefenderfer, Sam Schubert and Chris Hardy carried the ball to mid field.  Facing a 4th and 2, Smith converted the first down on a punt fake. Diefenderfer scampered for 7 and Schubert pounded 10 hard yards as the 1st quarter ended.

Quarterback Sam Jones takes time to pass while offensive line creates wall.

The passing game had left the building.  Carlisle intercepted on the next play and were back in business.  The Indians drove to the Jack 30, but their passing game left with Oakwood’s.  Smith nearly intercepted again.  Ben Scott and Mitch Jones broke up an attempt on 4th and long.  Oakwood took possession on their 30.  Diefenderfer cranked it up and sped 70 yards for the game’s first score.  The counter trap was blocked perfectly by the offensive line of Michael Cobb, Michael Curry, Aaron Huber, Jake Bubb and Brian Beck.  The extra point attempt failed and Oakwood settled for a 6 – 0 lead.  Carlisle took the kickoff to their 35.  The Indians were forced to punt after plays by Huber, JT Allen and Zach Meadows.  The kick put Oakwood in a hole on their 12.  The Carlisle defense forced a 3 and out.  The snap was off and the rush put Merritt on the run.  His punt went out of bounds on the Lumberjack 24.  Carlisle drove down and scored on a four yard pass play.  The extra point was 10 yards short, leaving the game tied at 6 – 6.  Mitch Jones returned the kick to the Jack 37.  Another 3 and out forced a punting situation.  Meritt, looking like a shortstop, fielded the rolling snap and hit a 41 yard punt to the Carlisle 25.  The teams exchanged 3 and outs, leaving little time in the half.  A long completion and a halfback pass moved the ball to the Oakwood 8 with 7 seconds left.  A quick pass for the TD gave the Indians a 12 - 6 lead.  A run attempt for the conversion failed and the teams went into the locker rooms to re-group.

The 3rd quarter was filled with lackluster offense and great defense.  Going into the 4th quarter, the Lumberjacks rallied.  Carlisle had control of the ball on the Jack 16 to begin the quarter.  Jeremy Reed forced and recovered a fumble.  The Jacks went 4 and out, but were winning the field position battle.  Plays by Meadows, Evan Murphy, Tony Lamb and Michael Shine forced a 4th and long.  Carlisle fumbled the punt snap and turned the ball over on downs.  The Jacks, with the ball on the Carlisle 18, found new life.  Jones hit Schubert for thirteen yards.  Hardy slammed the Indian’s line for 5 yards and the score.  Scott Casebere split the uprights for the go ahead point.  Oakwood had the lead with 1:41 left, 13 – 12.

Casebere, with the adrenalin high, boomed the kickoff and put Carlisle deep in their territory.  Josh Elliott, tested all night, broke up a long pass attempt.  The defense held and the Lumberjacks enjoyed another opportunity to ring the Victory Bell.  Jake Mays, A.J. Lewis, Alex Botello, Rasheed Ritter, Bob Holmes and Jaymie Snyder all made contributions in the win.

Oakwood hosts Brookville on this Friday in Mack Hummon Stadium at 7:30.  The Blue Devils come into the contest with a 1 – 2 record.  The Lumberjacks are 2 – 1.