OAKLAND CITY, IN – The Oakland City University Mighty Oaks opened their 2025 season in the Midwest Sprint Football League on Saturday afternoon at Wood Memorial High School Field, falling to Bellarmine University by a score of 43–0.
While the final margin was decisive, the overall numbers revealed a much closer contest. Oakland City University ran 55 offensive plays compared to Bellarmine University's 51 and finished with 12 first downs to the Knights' 16. The time of possession was nearly even, with the Mighty Oaks holding the ball for 30:09, compared to 29:51 for BU.
Defensively, Oakland City held Bellarmine scoreless in both the first and fourth quarters while recording a total of three sacks and seven tackles for loss. However, a pair of turnovers—one interception returned for a touchdown and a fumble returned for another score—as well as a touchdown with no time left on the clock at halftime, proved costly in the second and third quarters, when the Knights scored all 43 of their points.
Offensively, Robert Lamar paced the Oaks with 50 rushing yards and added 41 receiving yards on five catches. Quarterbacks Jake Miller and Braeden Ellis combined for 97 passing yards, including a 26-yard completion from Miller to Lamar to highlight the first quarter.
Oakland City had an opportunity to take an early lead, driving deep into Bellarmine territory, earning a second and goal opportunity from the three yard line in the opening period before a missed 22-yard field goal attempt kept the game scoreless. OCU never was able to get so close to the goal again, despite numerous promising drives.
With the loss, Oakland City moves to 0-1 on the season, while Bellarmine improves to 1-0. The Mighty Oaks will return to action on the road next Saturday, September 20, when they travel to Whiting, Indiana, to face Calumet College of St. Joseph (1-0). Bellarmine will host Midway University (0-1) in its home opener the same day.
