GREEN COVE SPRINGS-Despite his 6-2, 205 pound frame, Ponte Vedra senior quarterback Nick Tronti hasn’t really got a lot of attention from Division I schools.
How @nickyt616 is not getting Power 5 offers amazes me. Kid is a baller.
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) December 3, 2016
Doesn’t matter to Tronti, who is committed to Charlotte and has bigger things to worry about right now than recruiting.
Tronti is hoping his action on the field speaks for itself, so far it’s working. Last night Tronti accounted for 589 total yards (321 passing, 238 rushing) leading his team to a thrilling 52-42 state semi-final win over host Clay at CB Bowles Stadium.
The win puts the Sharks (14-0) one win away from the schools first state title, standing in the way is state power Plantation American Heritage Friday at 3 p.m. at Camping Ground Stadium (formerly Citrus Bowl).
Ahead 24-21 going into the fourth quarter, neither team could have imagined the wild fourth quarter that would transpire.
Every time Ponte Vedra would try to pull away, Clay would answer in a wild and crazy fourth quarter that saw 49 points scored, including 21 points in a 27 second span.
Tronti connected with Jarret Stepp in stride for a 49-yard touchdown completion on the first play of the fourth quarter to give the Sharks a 31-21 lead.
Again, Clay would answer as Colin Wilson, a Louisville commit, rumbled in for a 3 yard touchdown run cutting it to 31-28 with 7:10 left in the game.
This is when the fun really began.
Tronti broke free for a 26-yard touchdown run sending a lot of Clay fans to the gate giving the Sharks a 38-28 lead with 5:36 left in the game.
On the ensuing play, Caleb Eason hit Jaylan Jenkins in stride for a 74 yard strike cutting the lead to 38-35 just seconds later.
Again, Tronti answered rumbling 74 yards down the Clay sideline untouched to put the Sharks ahead 45-35 seconds later.
However, Clay (10-4) answered again four play later as Eason connected with Ajay Belanger for 30 yards cutting the lead to 45-42 with 4:42 left in the game.
That’s 28 points within a two and half minute span.
Again, Tronti answered finding a hole and rumbling 30 yards untouched for his fourth rushing touchdown of the night and more importantly putting the Sharks up 52-42 with 2:46 left in the game.
Clay tried to answer again as Eason connected with Jenkins for a 24 yard gain down to the 15 yard line with under two minutes remaining.
In a high scoring out poor, leave it to the game being decided by a defensive play of course.
Two plays later, Eason sailed a pass short of his receiver and into the hands of defensive back Andrew O’dare to seal the win.
“For me I will always remember the after that interception seeing the biggest smiles on the teams faces knowing that we are playing for a state title next weekend,” Ponte Vedra coach Matt Toblin said.
https://twitter.com/QCarr75/status/804867250067034112
The first half was opposite of the second half, with a more defensive game and a chess match with both teams countering their opponents next move. Neither team punted the entire game either as well.
Ponte Vedra received the opening kickoff and immediately went ahead scoring on its opening drive.
Hal Swan rumbled 34 yards down the right sideline untouched on the seventh play of the game giving the Sharks a 7-0 lead barely two minutes into the game.
Just like the second half, Clay found a way to answer as Wilson (31 carries for 141 yards and three touchdowns) rumbled in from 4 yards out on the Blue Devils first possession to tie the game at 7-7.
Tronti scrambled in from the 5 yard line flipping at the goal line to put the Sharks back ahead 14-7 early in the second quarter.
You know the game is in the bag when the QB is doin' Cirque du Soleil moves on the DB! #Savage 😂 2017 Nick Tronti 6'2" 210lbs @nickyt616 pic.twitter.com/IoUldt36WH
— bleechr (@bleechr) December 3, 2016
However, Clay nearly answered back as the Devils drove inside the 8 yard line but Wilson was stopped on a fourth and four play two yards short of the first down at the 6-yard line.
Swan, 14 carried for 95 yards, broke off a 29 yard run putting the Sharks near midfield. Tronti connected with Jake McGuire for a 12 yard strike putting the Sharks ahead 21-7.
Eason hit Belanger on an inside slant play from 13 yards cutting the lead to 21-14 with 1:35 left till half.
Ponte Vedra drove inside the 8 yard line but a holding penalty moved them back all the way to the 24 yard line. Chris Howard, who was 11 of 13 in fielg goals during the regular season, hooked a 42 yard field goal wide left keeping the game at 21-14 at the half.
For Clay, it was the three trips inside the 20 and no points that will haunt them for the rest of the year.
Eason over threw his receiver who was wide open and would have walked in the end zone on a fourth and 4 play from the 7, which resulted in the Sharks getting the ball back and no points for the Devils.
Ponte Vedra took advantage of the turnover on downs and drove down the field again taking a 10 point lead again on Howard’s 27 yard field putting the Sharks ahead 24-14 with 5:38 left in the third quarter.
Eason made up for the costly throw though on the ensuing drive connecting with Derek Smith and Belanger on completions to move back in the red zone.
Wilson capped the drive with a 4 yard run cutting the lead to 24-21 to set up the wild fourth quarter.
Neither coach was surprised by the score and the offensive out put by both teams.
“Everybody knew this was not going to be a defensive game at all,” Toblin said. “We have to score to win this game.”
Clay coach Josh Hoekstra echoed those comments as well.
“I told my team at half and lets tie it up in the third quarter and try to win it in the fourth,” Hoekstra said. “I’m not surprised at all by the score, they can throw it really well and they are tough to stop.”
Despite the huge win, the loss was really tough on Toblin who hired Hoekstra when he took over the program.
“I have mixed emotions right now, on one hand I am really excited for us but I feel for Josh (Hoekstra) and those kids, I understand what they are going through.”
“He and I were neighbors back when I was at St. Augustine and he was at Nease” Hoekstra said. “Him and (Ryan) Wolfe were roommates and I lived three doors down from him. e talked to me when he was coming to Clay and asked me to go with him.
“I’m proud of him and for his team, but I’m upset that we didn’t make enough plays and win. We’re really good friends but you still want to beat your friends.”
