JULINGTON CREEK-Moments before taking the field, Bartram Trail had a clear message for St. Augustine , “Kiss your win streak good bye.”
Unfortunately for the Bears, St. Augustine senior tailback Jahquise Russell had other ideas.
Russell rushed for a career high 248 yards and 2 touchdowns on a career high 37 carries to lead visiting St. Augustine to a 26-14 win over host Bartram Trail.
“This was the best game I have ever had, its also my (19th) birthday today,” a jubilant Russell said after the game. “This win means a lot to me and my team, to keep the streak going. Cole (Northrup) is like my brother and I told him we started with a win and we are going out with a win.”
You can bet the Bartram Trail coaches are glad to see the duo leave. The tandem terrorized the Bears for four straight years and played roles in all four wins.
None greater than the finale for both as Russell and Northrup, who was 12 of 18 for 149 yards and one touchdown, combined for 397 total yards and all 3 touchdowns in the win.
Russell, who had received interest from Southern Miss and said he might commit there soon, looked as strong in the fourth quarter as he did in the first quarter.
But it became evident he was getting tired on the final drive but refused to come out despite carrying the ball 8 times on the final 11 plays of the game. None was more important then his 9-yard run with 2:01 left in the game which gave the Jackets a 26-14 lead.
Russell rumbled 37 yards on the third play of the drive putting the Jackets inside the Bears 35-yard line but more importantly picking up a huge first down to kill the clock. Russell stayed down on the ground following the run perhaps exhausted from the career night.
He went out for a couple plays and was replaced by senior receiver Emerson Kabus and sophomore back Brandon Johnson in the backfield. Three plays later though he was back out on the field. You had to wonder if St. Augustine head coach Brian Braddock thought about pulling Russell out of the game, Russell said no.
“We didn’t talk about it really, he just told me get some water and then I told him I was ready to go back in.” Russell said.
Braddock echoed that statement and didn’t think twice about taking him out.
“He was getting cramps late in the game, he still is not in mid season shape yet but he told me he was good and I was thinking his next carry might be the game winner so I told him Go ahead big dog lead us.” I would have given him 45 carries tonight if we needed it, I’m so proud of him.”
Braddock continued to praise Russell especially after battling an earlier injury in the season and over coming it.
“For him to come in and run the ball like that, I am extremely proud of him.” Braddock said. “He hasn’t been able to do it because of the injury suffered in the Baker County game and it’s been frustrating for him. Tonight he showed what he is capable of.”
Russell was needed late in the fourth quarter after seeing the Jackets blow a 20-7 lead thanks to a freak play by the Bears special teams.
Jackets kicker Elijah Ryan lined up for a potential game winning 44-yard field goal with eight minutes remaining only to see Rhett Barnett break free and block it. Kolby Abbey picked up the loose ball at the 2-yard line and returned it down the sideline all the way back to the Jackets 17-yard line thanks to a convoy of blockers.
One play later, Riley Smith found Chandler Harvin wide open for a 17-yard score cutting the lead to 20-14 with 7:30 remaining in the game.
That’s when Russell went to work again, picking up 5, 4, 37, 3, 2, 4 and 6 putting the Jackets inside the 9-yard line. Russell 2 yard run on fourth and short kept the drive alive with a little over 4 minutes remaining.
Early on it appeared Russell heroics wouldn’t be needed as the Jackets established an early lead and all the momentum. However, this is St. Augustine and Bartram Trail and anything can happen in this rivalry.
The Jackets dominated the first quarter running 22 plays to the Bears 3 total plays during the quarter, yet only lead 6-0 on a pair of Ryan field goals (44 and 26).
A 14-play, 85 yard drive by the Jackets gave them some breathing room and more importantly 13-0 lead on Russell’s 1-yard touchdown run with 3:35 left in the half.
The Bears put together their best drive of the half and set up for a Ethan Dudley 35-yard field goal but Dudley hooked it short keeping it 13-0 heading into the half.
Bartram Trail received the second half kickoff and again drove down the field with ease and no huddle offense but again came up short as Dudley’s 25-yard field goal was blocked Emmanuel Rivera.
After stopping the Jackets on a fourth and goal play, the Bears finally got on the scoreboard. As Jordan Smith found a leaping Joey Gatewood for a 24-yard completion in the back of the end zone cutting the lead to 13-7 with 3:38 left in the third.
It didn’t take St. Augustine long to respond though, in fact three plays is all it took.
Following a 34-yard run by Russell, Northrup connected with Kabus on a 41-yard post pattern play in stride putting the Jackets up 20-7 with 2:47 left in the third.
Braddock, who has been apart of the rivalry before having been an assistant coach for the Jackets from 2004-2012, is now 10-0 as a coach in the series.
“I treat this game like any other game, they are a really good team, well coached too, you have to earn everything and we had to execute on a really high level.” Braddock said. “The Baker County loss was tremendous for us, the guys didn’t think anybody could push us around like that, you never want to lose a game but that was a wakeup call for us, gave us more incentive to work harder.”
While Braddock and his team celebrated the win, it was the opposite feeling on the other sideline as now Darrell Sutherland dropped his 18th straight game to his rival and wondering what must his team do to end the streak.
“They’re a really good team, we just have to not make mistakes and play our best game,” Sutherland said. “It’s easy to hang your head down when your losing but our kids fought back.”
“We will watch film on Monday and learn from this and continue to get better and prepare and get to work on Creekside next week.” Sutherland said.
Bartram Trail (3-2) travels across the road to neighboring rival Creekside (0-5) next Friday in a key District 3-7A game, while St. Augustine (4-1) will host Englewood (0-5) in a key District 3-6A game also on Friday.
