ST. AUGUSTINE – It’s no secret what Murray is going to do on offense give the ball to its main playmaker Sean Harvey; just no team has been able to stop him.
Harvey accounted for unofficially 183 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns along with a key interception on defense to help Murray lock up the No. 1 seed in the SJMSAA playoffs with a 20-6 win over Gamble Rogers Wednesday night at St. Augustine High.
One way to slow Murray down is to keep the offense off the field, which is what Gamble was able to do early on. The Stingrays mixed it up offensively with quarterback Noah Lawless and tailback Tomas Jones helping the offense surprisingly control the clock chewing up the entire first quarter off the opening drive.
Lawless 1 yard sneak gave Gamble a 6-0 lead seconds into the second quarter sending the Stingrays sideline into eruption as the Stingrays took the lead.
It didn’t last long, on the second play from scrimmage, Harvey took a handoff and raced 55 yards untouched for a score tying the game at 6-6 minutes into the second quarter.
Murray ties it up just a minute later on a 55 yard touchdown run, 6-6 with 6:54 left till half. @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/UuDHxoT1sG
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) October 3, 2018
The Bulldogs defense began to settle down after that long and lengthy opening drive and began to shut down the Stingrays offense but not before the Stingrays nearly struck again.
Lawless drove the Stingrays inside the ten just before half as the Stingrays appeared likely to be heading into the half with some sort of lead, however the Bulldogs defense made two game changing plays to keep the Stingrays off the scoreboard.
Jones took a sweep to the left side of the field and appeared in for a touchdown but officials ruled he was pushed out of bounds at around the 5-yard line.
Turns out this ended up being a game saving tackle for Murray as the Bulldogs held the Stingrays out of the end zone few plays later. pic.twitter.com/t81cLw6ASO
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) October 4, 2018
A play later, Lawless rolled to his left and tried to find a receiver in the end zone but Harvey picked him off in the end zone to keep the Stingrays from taking the lead with 30 seconds left in the first half.
Sean Harvey comes up with the biggest play of the game an interception in the end zone just before half. pic.twitter.com/k325dRJFZN
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) October 4, 2018
Murray took over from inside their own 10 yard line and ran a couple plays before both teams went into the locker room with a 6-6 tie.
Murray on the move just before half pic.twitter.com/89E5j9maPj
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) October 3, 2018
Half
Gamble Rogers 6
Murray 6@DuvalSports— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) October 3, 2018
During the halftime break, Murray made the necessary adjustments and began to put pressure on Lawless and was able to take the Stingrays offense out their game plan, while the offense continued to do what they do best mixing it up and taking control of the game.
As the third quarter started, Murray went right back to its playmaker Harvey as Harvey hauled in a nice catch from quarterback Damon Thorton to put the Bulldogs inside the 20-yard line.
Murray ran three plays on offense in first half. Sean Harvey hauls in 31 yard pass from Damon Horton puts Bulldogs inside 20. @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/T2qRpnOydO
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) October 3, 2018
Harvey capped the quick drive with his second touchdown of the game a 19 yard run giving Murray the lead for the first time at 12-6 just two minutes into the third quarter.
Sean Harvey gets his second touchdown of game to give Murray a 12-6 lead over Gamble Rogers with 6:05 left in third. 3 carries for 78 yards on the day for him. Also has INT in end zone. @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/MnQdYOC2PQ
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) October 3, 2018
Gamble Rogers finally had something going with a nice kickoff return near midfield but it was short lived as brothers Shamar and JaKwame Moore, who were consistently in the backfield all day, forced another punt.
Shamar (21) and JaKwame Moore (26) lived in the backfield today. Part I @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/J14sTaa2uT
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) October 4, 2018
Part II with brothers Shamar (21) and JaKwame Moore (26)@DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/7T9QpJ9Xu4
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) October 4, 2018
Harvey’s 44 yard punt return set up another score for the Bulldogs as Thorton snuck in from a yard out and Thorton found Jensen Meachem for the two point conversion to increase the lead to 20-6 early in the fourth quarter.
Damon Thornton 1 yard sneak makes it 20-6 with 6:31 left in game. Thornton pass to Jensen Meachem for two points. @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/32P165g9oo
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) October 3, 2018
Down two scores now, the Stingrays still had plenty of time to get back in the game but a fumble on the ensuing kickoff gave the Bulldogs the ball back and allowed them to chew up several minutes of clock off.
Tomas Jones fumbled ensuing kickoff and Elijah Kordon picks it up and then fumbles it going out of bounds. Murray ball at 14 with 6 min to go.
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) October 3, 2018
The Stingrays defense held the Bulldogs out of the end zone and forced a turnover on downs to get the ball back inside their own ten yard line.
However, a fourth down desperation pass from Lawless fell incomplete giving the Bulldogs the ball back at the 10 yard line.
Murray nearly scored in the closing minutes but the Stingrays defense stepped up and held them out of the end zone as the Bulldogs left Foots Brumley Stadium with the 20-6 win and more importantly the No. 1 overall seed.
Harvey finished the game with 95 yards on six carries and two touchdowns as well as a 31 yard reception to go along with a 44 yard punt return and 10 yard interception return to cap the night with unofficially 183 all-purpose yards.
Sean Harvey is clearly the best middle school player in St Johns County. Harvey is lethal at tailback, safety and special teams. @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/j6Q2lsRkGV
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) October 4, 2018
Sean Harvey talks about the big win and next opponent Valley Ridge. @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/WlkFQJmj7V
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) October 4, 2018
Sebastian 36, Valley Ridge 31
JULINGTON CREEK – Sebastian got all they could handle and more from winless Valley Ridge Wednesday night at Plantation Park in a 36-31 win over the Hawks.
Ahead 14-7 at the half, Valley came out of the half fired up and took the lead back as Alex Weemhoff 2 yard run and two point conversion run gave Valley a 15-14 leaf minutes into the third quarter.
The lead didn’t last long, as Deon Smith raced 45 yards down the field breaking several tackles on the play to put Sebastian back in the lead. Bryant Vlicky two point conversion run gave Sebastian a 22-15 lead just seconds later.
Again the lead didn’t last long, as Evan Alounevong took the ensuing kickoff back 80 yards for a score untouched to put Valley back in the lead 23-22 late in the third quarter.
Evan Alounevong takes the ensuing kickoff 80 yards back for touchdown. Alex Weemhoff runs in 2 pt try Valley leads 23-22 late third. @DuvalSports
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) October 4, 2018
As the teams traded sides to start the fourth, the game continued with its high scoring second half pace as Sebastian retook the lead minutes later.
Deon Smith raced 64 yards untouched to put Sebastian back in front 30-23 with seven minutes left in the game.
4th (7 min)
Sebastian 30
Valley Ridge 23 @DuvalSports— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) October 4, 2018
Not taking any chances, Sebastian successfully executed an onside kick and took over at midfield to keep their offense on the field and try to control the clock.
Devontz Davis rumbled in from 10 yards to give Sebastian some much needed breathing room extending the lead to 36-23 late in the fourth.
However, Valley wouldn’t go away as Weemhoff answered the score with another score and two point conversion cutting the lead to 36-31 with seconds left in the game.
Sebastian recovered the onside kick and was able to run out the clock to hold on to the win and keep their playoff hopes alive.
While Sebastian celebrated, Valley players, coaches and fans looked on as one of their players was critically injured in the closing seconds of the game. The fire department arrived at the field and put the young man on a stretcher and to a local hospital.
Everybody say a prayer for the young man from Valley Ridge, who was transported to a local hospital with a possible concussion. Young man appeared to be unconscious.
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) October 4, 2018
Fran Delaney who is a Valley Ridge coach but had to miss the game updated us on the condition of the young man later that night.
Young man is fine. It’s a concussion all other tests came back negative
— Fran Delaney (@fxd5122) October 4, 2018
Week 7 Scores (Oct. 3-4)
Murray 20, Gamble Rogers 6
Sebastian 36, Valley Ridge 31
Pacetti Bay 14, Swiss Point 7
Landrum 34, Liberty Pines 0
Fruit Cove 14, Patriot Oaks 12
Week 8, Oct. 10
Swiss Point vs Landrum (Cornerstone), 5
Valley Ridge vs Murray (Pomar), 5
Pacetti Bay at Gamble Rogers, 5
Sebastian vs Patriot Oaks (Plantation), 5
Liberty Pines vs Fruit Cove (Plantation), 7
Standings
Murray 7-0
Landrum 6-1
Gamble Rogers 5-2
Fruit Cove 4-3
Swiss Point 3-4
Liberty Pines 3-4
Sebastian 3-4
Patriot Oaks 2-5
Pacetti Bay 2-5
Valley Ridge 0-7
Playoffs
1 seed: Murray (7-0)
2 seed: Winner of Landrum/Gamble Rogers game Oct 17
3 seed: Loser of Landrum/Gamble Rogers game Oct 17
4 seed: TBA
5 seed: TBA
6 seed: TBA
In: Murray, Landrum, Gamble Rogers
Eliminated: Valley Ridge
