Knights bounce back against Cougars
Published 2:34 pm Thursday, October 8, 2026
After being held to just six points in their previous game, the Oakland-Craig Knights found their offensive rhythm again Friday night, defeating the Lyons-Decatur Northeast Cougars 32-20.
Freshman Trey Sluyter led the charge for the Knights, contributing in nearly every phase of the game. Sluyter completed 10 of 16 passes for 160 yards and a touchdown while adding 122 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 41 carries. His four touchdowns accounted for every Oakland-Craig score.
The Knights also found success through the air, with Jaidan Tolliver leading Oakland-Craig’s receiving corps with four catches for 97 yards.
LDNE continued to battle throughout the night. Brogan Burback completed three of 10 passes for 75 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for 60 yards on eight carries. Kwyntin Kampa led the Cougars on the ground with 125 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries.
Sluyter’s impact extended to the defensive side of the ball as well. He contributed 11 tackles, nine of which were solo and two assisted, along with a sack and two tackles for loss. Brian Burton added five solo tackles and one tackle for loss, while Tolliver also recorded five solo tackles.
The victory gives Oakland-Craig a much-needed response after its previous loss and moves the Knights to 3-3 overall and 1-1 in Class D2 District 2. LDNE falls to 1-5 overall and 0-2 in district play.
Oakland-Craig will look to build on the win when it hosts Laurel-Concord-Coleridge at 7 p.m. Friday. LDNE will travel to Bancroft-Rosalie for a 7 p.m. matchup with the Panthers.
