JULINGTON CREEK – To be the man, you have to beat the man, they say.
That’s just what No. 2 Fruit Cove did stunning No 1 Gamble Rogers 18-0 last night at Plantation Park.
Behind a tenacious and physical defense and a lethal passing game, the Flyers unleashed an all hands on attack on the Stingrays in all phases thanks to Garrett Stewart and Vincent Approbato.
Stewart, who was sidelined last week with an illness, returned and threw three touchdowns including two in the first half, to lead the Flyers to the upset win.
Approbato finished with unofficially four sacks and also was on the receiving end of a 28 yard touchdown reception from Stewart late in the game to seal the win.
From the get go, the defense set the tone early with physical play harassing quarterback King Benford on the opening possession of the game.
The tenacious play took tailback Aaron Wynn out of the game so to speak as the dangerous play maker wasn’t a factor in the game at all.
Faced with fourth and five on the opening possession, Benford connected with Wynn for a short pass and was hit immediately by a host of Flyers and put on his back.
The play was a sign of things to come as the Flyers defense was ready to play and their physical play set the tone immediately.
Four plays after the turnover on downs, the Flyers quickly established the lead as Stewart connected with Paul Wood for a 22 yard touchdown reception giving the Flyers a 6-0 lead.
A possession later, the Stingrays gambled again on fourth and eight and Approbato made them pay bringing Benford down for a loss.
Three plays later, Stewart was hit and sailed a pass, which was picked off by Benford at midfield and returned all the way back to the 10-yard line thanks to a saving tackle from Preston Strope.
However, despite being in the red zone the Stingrays were unable to take advantage of the turnover as Benford was brought down for another sack on fourth and goal nullifying the potential tying or go ahead score.
A fair catch interference call on the Flyers on a punt return by Wynn gave the Stingrays some momentum at midfield.
Gamble Rogers gambled again calling a fake punt and Benford got to the corner and raced 7 yards before coming up short of the first down.
Fruit Cove made them pay for the call as Stewart found Approbato alone on second and 17 for a 56 yard completion on an inside slant play setting up the Flyers at the 14-yard line.
Two plays later, Stewart found Mana Wilheim wide open for a 21 yard touchdown reception and 12-0 lead late in the second quarter.
The Flyers exposed the Stingrays corners, who were unable to cover the Flyers receivers and were caught several times out of coverage throughout the game.
As the first half ended both coaches hoped to make necessary adjustments to get back in the game or take advantage of the other.
The Stingrays got some momentum early in the third quarter as Jordan Dunkin blocked a punt and the Stingrays took over at the 35-yard line; however two plays later Benford was picked off by Walter Stovall at the 25-yard line killing the drive.
On fourth and 15, Stewart found Carter McEachean for a 27 yard gain down to the 13-yard line, which set up Stewart 23 yard touchdown pass a few plays later to Approbato for a 18-0 lead on the final play of the third quarter.
Mammoth lineman Maddox Korean came into the game in the fourth quarter lining up in the backfield and began rumbling up the middle carrying defenders on every play to kill the clock and preserve the win.
The win might have served as a statement to the rest of the league, don’t forget about us. As last year, the Flyers were undefeated in the regular season before getting upset in the semifinals.
Perhaps the No. 2 ranking in our weekly poll also served as motivation as well as for weeks fans have been telling me the Flyers deserved to be ranked No. 1 in the poll.
Fruit Cove (6-0) host Liberty Pines next Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Plantation Park for its homecoming game, while Gamble Rogers (6-1) travels to Pacetti Bay next Wednesday at 5 p.m.
