FLEMING ISLAND – They couldn’t agree with the final score; but they could both agree they both got what they wanted out of it.
Both Palm Coast and Fleming Island came into spring with different questions and both left with different answers after Fleming Island held off Palm Coast 21-20.
Fleming Island (11-3) lost about 90% of its defense and about 75% of its offense from last season, so the Eagles were looking for a lot of answers.
Who would step up and fill the shoes of linebackers Ryan Smenda, Jackson Bull and Jack Surgeoner, and end Jalyn Robinson on defense ? Who is going to step up and fill the roles of tailbacks Chauncey Garrison and Anfernee McCaskill as well as the entire offensive line ?
While Palm Coast Palm Coast (10-1) returns most of its offense and defense from last season and was just looking to fill some holes here and there.
It didn’t take long for either to get answers.
Rising junior quarterback Dean Hyams found rising senior fullback Max Micheals wide open across the middle on a play action pass and Micheals out ran four Bulldog defenders for a 79 yard touchdown and 7-0 lead for the Eagles a minute into the game.
Rising senior fullback Max Micheals took a pass across the middle and turned on the jets for a long score on the second play of the game. @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/6dHoIuBxB1
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) May 19, 2018
After a quick three and out, the Eagles quickly struck again.
Taking over at midfield, rising junior Eugene McBride who shared duties with both Garrison and McCaskill, showed why he he’s ready to take over. McBride carried the ball all 5 plays of the drive, capping off the 51 yard drive with a 21 yard scamper to give the Eagles a 14-0 lead with 7:55 left in the first quarter.
It didn’t take long to figure out who is going to fill some of the void at linebacker as rising junior Zachary Payne lived up to his name and also made his presence known. Payne made back-to-back tackles on the ensuing drive including a jarring hit on quarterback Donovan Montoyo, knocking his helmet off and temporarily sending him out of the game.
Palm Coast finally got on the scoreboard with a minute left in the first quarter as a Denis Shorter 23 yard punt return set up the Bulldogs inside the 30-yard line and Ty Jenkins 15 yard run cut the lead to 14-7 with 1:01 left in the fist.
However, the momentum was short lived as Hyams hit converted tight end Sam Snyder along the sideline, Snyder had to go up and get it in the air and then tight rope the side line to avoid a tackle before racing down the sideline untouched for a 75 yard touchdown and 21-7 lead seconds into the second quarter.
A bad snap on punt set up the Bulldogs again in the red zone at the 18-yard line and Palm Coast took advantage of it as Jenkins plowed in from 2 yards cutting the lead to 21-14 with 6:29 left till half.
Aaron Ramirez returned a punt 30 yards back to the 5-yard line before being pushed out of bounds with two seconds left allowing the Eagles to attempt a chip shot field goal before half. However, a low snap and a pass rush from Shorter nullified the field goal attempt sending the Eagles into the locker room with a 21-14 lead.
This is when things got confusing, Fleming Island coach Damenyum Springs claims he and Palm Coast coach Travis Roland agreed to play a half of starters and then play the backups in the second half.
“I sent him a text saying we would play our starters a half and then our backups and JV the second half, ” Springs said. “He tells me today he saw my text and didn’t respond back so therefore there was no agreement.”
Roland sent his starters back in the game in the third quarter and dialed up a trick play on the first play as Jenkins took a pitch from Montoyo, pulled up and threw a half back pass to a wide open Tyshawn Blount for a 70 yard score cutting the lead to 21-20 seconds into the second half. The Bulldogs muffed the point after attempt preventing the game from being tied.
After seeing Roland insert his starters back in, Springs elected to put his starters back in and Hyams connected with Snyder for a 57 yard completion down to the 8-yard line. However, a play later the Eagles fumbled it away giving the Bulldogs possession of the ball again.
“He kept trying to put his starters back in there, but I took them (ours) out to not have any injuries,” Springs added.
Back came out the Palm Coast starters again and the Bulldogs offense looked unstoppable picking apart the Eagles backup defense as Montoyo hit Shorter for a 40 yard strike and 27-21 lead with less than six minutes left in the third quarter.
A drive later, Montoyo hit Damien Irven for a 17 strike increasing their lead to 33-21 with less than three minutes left in the third quarter.
Fleming Island tacked on a late score in the closing minutes to cut the lead to 33-27 with under two minutes left in the game.
“It’s hard to replace guys like (Jackson) Bull, (Ryan) Smenda and (Jack) Surgeoner,” Springs stated. “I was concerned about that but we return (Eugene) Oakley and (Jake) Libretto, but I feel good about our defense they played scrappy and it was good to see guys like (Zachary) Payne and (Jaelin) Blount step up.”
One guy who played well and looks to be a leader on the defense is Payne and Springs was excited about his potential.
“He’s a great kid off the JV last year and he got to hang out with Bull, Smenda and Surgeoner and those guys took him in like a little brother, lifting weights together and coaching him,” Springs said.
Rising senior Sam Snyder moved to tight end and made an unbelievable catch tonight @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/ypgiIigZfY
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) May 19, 2018
Offensively, Springs had to like what he saw from Hyams, McBride, newcomer tailback Darnell Deas Jr., Snyder, Micheals as well as a young offensive line featuring rising junior Thomas Waters, junior Bennett Corey, junior Cody Carmen, sophomore Evan Sheets and sophomore Frank Rooney.
“I’m really excited about the offense, we have a ton of skill guys and our o-line is young and has to play well,” Springs said. “Snyder played on the o-line last year and we moved him to tight end and he can stay on his block really well yet can run a 4.6 too.
Rising junior quarterback Dean Hyams ran the offense with precision. @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/HiR9x4XyJN
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) May 19, 2018
“McBride goes hard and will be our go to guy and Hyams started part of last season and has been on varsity since his freshman season, he looked really good early on.”
The good thing about spring is it gives you 20 days and a game to watch film and see what you need to work on in the summer and into the fall.
“We have to clean up the delay of games and missed tackles,” Springs added. “But I was pleased with the fight in our kids, such a scrappy bunch. We will watch film and correct the mistakes and stay mentally tough and healthy.”
