NEPTUNE BEACH-A devastating first round overtime loss to Lincoln last year in the playoffs might have hurt at the time but little did they know that would be the spark for this year’s run.
Back in January, two months after the loss, the Lee Generals put up a list of goals for the 2016 season. The first being to win the school’s first district title in 20 years.
Mission accomplished as Lee had little trouble with host Fletcher in a 50-20 win at Jack Taylor Stadium last night to clinch the District 2-7A title.
As the clock wound down, Lee players and coaches were overcome with emotion on the sideline as head coach OJ Small was doused with Gatorade and players were doing backflips.
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) October 28, 2016
It’s hard to believe its been 20 years since the last district title and its hard to believe Lee would have been at this point when Small first got on campus.
“Since I have been here since 2008-2009, its been all about building a winning program and changing the culture here, “Small said. “It takes time but we had to change the kids attitudes and make them believe they can win. We also lost a lot of kids to transfers, so we had to get kids to stay too.”
The kids bought into Small’s system too and that shows on and off the field as well.
“This started back in January and we continued to build on it, “Small said. “We purposely scheduled tough teams in the spring and in the fall to get them ready for this.”
Despite its defense showing up 15 minutes before the game due to getting lost, which forced the game to be moved back 10 minutes, the Generals were ready to play.
Aided by two personal foul calls and an off sides call, Lee struck first on the fifth play of the game as Derrick Jones hit Jurial Caldwell on a 15-yard strike giving the Generals a quick 7-0 lead barely two minutes into the game.
Fletcher answered immediately going 80 yards in 16 plays capping the long drive with a Michael Young quarterback sneak on third and goal. The point after attempt was blocked and Lee lead 7-6 with 3:46 left in the first quarter.
Senior tailback Cameron Wakefield (who accounted for 124 rushing and 111 receiving yards) rumbled 17 yards up the middle to bring the Generals near midfield before being stripped of the ball. The turnover wasn’t costly though as Calvin Lewis was stopped well short of the first down on fourth down by Jacob Olds giving the Generals the ball back.
Jones connected with Wakefield for a 42 yard completion on the first play of the ensuing drive to move the Generals inside the 32-yard line. Jones scrambled for 19 yards a few plays later putting them inside the 2-yard line and capped the drive with a 1 yard run giving Lee a 14-6 lead three minutes into the second quarter.
That’s as close as Fletcher would get to Lee all night though as two possessions later, Jones found Isaiah Hopson wide open across the middle putting Lee up 21-6 less than two minutes till half.
From there it only got worse.
With Columbia up 28-0 over First Coast at the half, Lee coaches knew at the half their playoff predicament but as Small noted they didn’t worry about other teams.
“We knew at half Columbia was up 28-0 but I didn’t tell the team,” Small said. “Its not about anybody else, only us, we need to take care of us first.”
Knowing if they could hold onto the lead in the second half they would be district champions, the Generals came out fired up. As did Fletcher, who had to know the Columbia score and know if they didn’t come back and win they would be out of the playoffs.
Fletcher received the second half kickoff and looked to establish momentum and get back in the game, unfortunately it didn’t happen.
Young fumbled the exchange on the first play and Lee recovered. A play later Fletcher picked off Jones at the 1-yard line and the Senators took over. On the ensuing play, Calvin Lewis was tackled in the end zone resulting in a Lee safety and 23-6 lead just 30 seconds into the third quarter.
Two plays after the short pooch punt following the safety, Wakefield busted through for a 20-yard run putting the Generals inside the 6-yard line and followed on the next play with a 6 yard touchdown run increasing the lead to 30-6 with 10:53 left in the third.
Ronnie Stevens returned the ensuing kickoff 80 yards untouched down the Fletcher sideline cutting the lead to 30-13 seconds later.
Fletcher had some momentum finally and appeared potentially getting back in the game slowly but it was short lived though as Lewis was hit immediately by Keirston Johnson on a fourth and 3 play giving the Generals the ball back at midfield.
Five plays later, Jones cut outside and ran in from 5-yards increasing the lead to 37-13 midway through the third quarter.
As the fourth quarter began, Fletcher put together its best drive since the opening drive of the game as the Senators drove 74 yards in 8 plays culminating with Young to Anthony Evelyn 11 yard touchdown pass which cut the lead to 37-20 with 9:22 left in the game.
Following a short onside kick recovered at midfield by Lee, the Generals struck again with the dagger as Jones hit Caldwell on a nice 24-yard fade route in the left corner of the end zone for a 43-20 lead with 8:21 left in the game.
Lee picked off Young on the Senators next possession at the 2-yard line giving the Generals a chance to do something they haven’t been able to do under Small, score 50 points in a game.
Jones hit Wakefield for a 18 yard completion and Theodore Ingram and Hopson on short gains to move the chains again. Wakefield was left wide open across the middle and Jones hit him in stride for a 45-yard touchdown completion. As the point after attempt sailed through the uprights, and 50 went on the scoreboard for a 50-20 lead the Generals sideline went crazy.
“We have never scored 50 points since I have been here, so that was a huge deal to us,” Small said. “We have come close scoring 46 or 49 points, so we really wanted 50 when we had a chance.”
Jones, who finished 15 of 24 for 231 yards with four touchdowns passes and two rushing touchdowns, had another huge game for the Generals.
“We’ve been working on this since my freshman year, last year we made the playoffs and this year we won the district,” Jones said. “We just have to keep working hard and take it one game at a time, go hard and not get complacent.”
In one night Lee managed to break two records under Small scoring 50 points and winning their first district title in 20 years. Which goes back to how Small has changed things since taking over at Lee.
“When I first started I was 28 and never been a head coach before, so it was a learning experience for both of us,” Small said. “We all had to get a feel for the system, but we had to change their attitudes and the mentality of losing. Enjoy it and its a process and we will be successful and we need to enjoy this.”
Enjoy it they will as the Generals will now host a first round playoff game Nov. 11 against either Leon or Chiles and will have home field advantage in the playoffs as well. Which could also mean a rematch with Lincoln in the second round this time in the Backyard.
Before they host Chiles or Leon the Generals (6-1, 4-0) will host Baldwin next Friday on Senior Night in the regular season finale.
Lee celebrating first district title in 20 years @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/TziWzXlxKh
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) October 28, 2016
