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12
Oct
2018

Block field goal return helps Cedar Creek clinch first playoff spot

October 12, 2018

WESTSIDE – Ahead just seven coming out of the half and seeing Bishop Snyder with all the momentum, Cedar Creek Christian head coach Jamie Gamel needed somebody to step up and make a play on defense.

Fortunately for him, that somebody was Kareem Mixson and teammate Darran Mathis.

Down 26-19 at the start of the third quarter, Snyder came out of the half like a rejuvenated team driving inside the 12 yard line on the opening drive of the quarter thanks to a Ijon Richardson 21 yard completion to Tre Williams.

After gaining just four yards on the next three plays, the Cardinals lined up for a 28 yard field goal from Kaleb Heth, Mixson came around the right end and easily blocked the kick and into the hands of Mathis.

Initially Mathis didn’t know what to do with it, but as his teammates and his coaches began yelling at him to run, he quickly ran down the sideline 90 yards for a score giving the Saints a 34-19 lead with 5:32 left in the third.

“He didn’t know what to do, our guys are yelling at him to run it back,” Gamel said, “No doubt that block and return was a game changer,”.

The single play changed the outcome of the game as Bishop Snyder had rallied from a 20-0 first quarter deficit cutting it to 20-13 with just over a minute left in the second quarter and was driving for the tying score at the start of the third quarter.

On the ensuing drive, the Cardinals drove down to the 4 yard line and appeared on their way to be getting back in the game. However, a low snap and a huge loss on a sack on Richardson put them back to the 19 and an offensive pass interference call moved them back to the 36 yard line.

Faced with fourth and goal from the 25, Richardson’s pass across the middle was picked off by Jonathan Brazle inside the ten to stop another scoring drive.

The Saints took advantage of the turnover and made the Cardinals pay for it as nine plays later Martuez Anderson raced 6 yards down the left sideline to increased the lead to 40-19 with 6:14 left in the game.

The Cardinals final drive of the game ended when a fourth and six play came up four yards short of the first down giving the Saints the ball back and the chance to run out the clock and the win the First Coast Division title.

Going into the game, Cedar Creek Christian knew only Bishop Snyder stood between them and their first divisional and/or district title in school history.

Early on it looked like the Saints would cruise to it jumping out 20-0 first quarter lead as Brazle took the opening drive of the game and capped it with a 4 yard run for a quick 8-0 lead two minutes into the game.

Mikell Dixon recovered a fumble on a completed pass from Richardson to Pedro Valez near midfield to give the Saints the ball back at midfield just two plays later.

Brazle rumbled 46 yards on the ensuing play before being tackled at the 1 yard line, he followed the two play drive with a 1 yard plunge and a 14-0 lead with 7:36 left in the first.

Three plays later, Brazle picked off Richardson near midfield to give the Saints the ball back at midfield.

Five plays later, Mixson capped the drive with a 4 yard run behind pulling guard Edward Berry to increase the lead to 20-0 with 3:52 left in the opening quarter.

Finally something went right for Bishop Snyder as Tre Williams returned the ensuing kickoff back to the 4 yard line getting caught by Mathis.

After stopping the Saints on a rare three and out, the Cardinals struck again.

Richardson found Valez on a 6 yard swing pass for a score cutting the lead to 20-13 barely a minute into the second quarter.

Cardinal coaches elected to go for it on fourth and short on its next possession but Richardson was stopped just short of the first down.

Brazle ran 19 yards out of the wildcat to move the Saints down to the 44 yard line. Mixson picked up 11 yards on third down to put them inside the 1 yard line and Mixson capped the drive with a 1 yard plunge putting the Saints up 26-19 with 1:38 left till halftime.

Snyder wouldn’t go away though as Richardson found Valez across the middle for a score cutting the lead to a one score game again with about a minute remaining in the first half.

Cedar Creek finished the game with 364 yards rushing on the night on 43 carries, led by Mixson (160 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries) and Brazle (144 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries).

The win locked up the first divisional title and/or district title for the Saints in the programs brief history. Cedar Creek (6-1, 2-0) clinched the First Coast Division title with the win and a likely home playoff game in two weeks. Bishop Snyder (0-7, 0-2) finishes third in the division behind Christ’s Church and will have to wait it out to see if it makes the playoffs for the second straight year.

“We knew this was going to be a tough game for us, ” Gamel said. “People look down at our conference but there are plenty of quality teams in the league especially Masters Academy and Windermere Prep. ”

Gamel, in his seventh year at Cedar Creek, knows it wasn’t a flawless game by any means and there are still things that need to be cleaned up before the playoffs start in two weeks.

“I’m glad for the win but now we want to take that next step and become the first team to bring home a ring,” Gamel said.

First things first though Cedar Creek travels to Florida Deaf next week to close out the season before the playoffs begin.

Cedar Creek (6-1) has outscored its opponents 219-96 so far, with only a season opening 41-12 loss to undefeated St. Joseph (8-0) the only blemish.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the author

The #1 Youth & Prep Sports Website in Jacksonville and Northeast Florida. Providing in-depth coverage of Youth, Middle School, and High School Sports in Duval and surrounding counties. Stories, Highlights, Photos, Scores, & More! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow us on Twitter and Instagram. Like us on Facebook, and join our Facebook group (Duval Sports Game Time) to post your sports scores, pics and updates directly to our website! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Story Author: Corey Davis is a lead writer and contributor with DuvalSports.com. A 20 year sportswriter who has worked in print, radio and television, Corey combines hard facts with insightful stats to make for compelling stories for the sports community.

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