ORLANDO-With just 3:06 to play and trailing by nine points, quarterback Nick Tronti scored from 2 yards out to pull Ponte Vedra to within two points of heavy favorite American Heritage 35-33.
The Sharks clawed back into the game after being down the entire second half. They trailed 21-20 in the entire third quarter but caught fire in the fourth. After American Heritage’s quarterback Jason Brown scored to put his team up 28-20, Tronti marched his team down the field and scored on a touchdown run to pull them within two 28-26. Ponte Vedra would miss the extra point.
American Heritage responded with a long kickoff return by Anthony Schwartz to set the Patriots up in great position for a score. Brown would score another touchdown to put his team up 35-26.
Ponte Vedra could’ve given up or stopped playing with just four minutes remaining in the game, but instead they did what they had done all year make plays. Tronti hit his wide receiver JD Pirris on several passing plays that ultimately led to the Tronti score.
Ponte Vedra’s defense would force American Heritage to punt, but time expired on the clock as the ball bounced on the ground in front of the return man without an attempt to return the ball or a call for a fair catch. The game ended without Nick Tronti getting a chance to touch the ball again.
Without question, American Heritage did not want the ball to go back into the hands of the talented senior. He passed for 265 yards, and scored 5 touchdowns against a Patriot defense that had only given up more than three touchdowns one time this year (Northwestern 32 points).
American Heritage was heavy favorites coming into the contest at 11-0, due t their lightning speed and athletic ability. Yet it was Ponte Vedra that began the game fast and furious.
On just the second pay of the game Ponte Vedra scored on a 76 yard catch and run by Marshall Few that put Ponte Vedra up 6-0 after the failed two point conversion.
On the ensuing kickoff, Ponte Vedra would attempt an onside kick and recover it, putting Ponte Vedra is business near midfield. Tronti would hit Few again for a very long gain using crossing patters to exploit the zone defense. Tronti would end the drive with a swing pass to Hal Swan who took it into the end zone as Ponte Vedra led 13-0.
American Heritage responded quickly. A reverse to speedster Miles Jones gained 32 yards on their very first play from scrimmage. They would score two touchdowns in less than three minutes by quarterback Jason Brown and wide receiver Miles Jones to quickly supplant Ponte Vedra’s early and only lead 14-13.
After stopping Ponte Vedra again, American Heritage’s Jordan Johnson burst a 54 yard run up the middle. That set up a Brown touchdown pass to Dontavious Butler putting the score to 21-13.
With their offense sputtering, Coach Matt Toblin made a gutsy call. Ponte Vedra would fake the punt and pass to for a first down on 4th down. The gamble would pay off as five plays later Tronti hit Few for a 15 yard touchdown pass to pull within one point 21-20. Few finished with 6 receptions for 154 yards and 2 touchdowns.
The game was filled with prime time players and stats and surpassed almost everyone’s expectations. Ponte Vedra and American Heritage not only scored points on offense but they got after it on defense too.
D.Van Kouteren and Andrew O’Dare both recorded 16 tackles in the game for the hard hitting Ponte Vedra defense. While the Patriot’s defensive end Andrew Chatfield completely reeked havoc against the Sharks recording 2 sacks, and 4 tackles for loss.
It was an excellent display of skill, talent, heart, and coaching, unfortunately only one team could be crowned victor and that was head Coach Pat Surtain and the American Heritage Patriots.
