Playoffs: Nease and Union County Fall In Third Round

Northeast Florida- What a run by both Nease and Union County football teams this year. Nease, a 7th seeded playoff team won two in a row to get into the playoffs and then won two playoff games against #2 seeded Spruce Creek 24-21, and then went to Niceville and defeated #3 seeded Eagles 24-19. Nease, who went 2-8 last year ended their season tonight at the #1 seeded Buchholz Bobcats falling 37-8.

Buchholz(12-1) is considered one of the best teams in the state of Florida, however Nease kept it close and competitive in the first half. After a nine play 75-yard drive that ended in a score by Buchholz’s EJ Gadson on a 1-yard touchdown run, Nease responded with their own drive. The Panthers went 10 plays and 71 yards scoring on a Dom Henry end around tying the game 7-7 with 3 minutes to play in the first quarter. Henry has been one of those breakout players for Nease, as he has had a monster season with 1435 yards receiving and 12 total touchdowns coming into the game.

Buchholz would add another first half score when quarterback Creed Whittemore raced through the Nease defense for a 25-yard touchdown run. to put the Bobcats up 13-7 in the first quarter. The Nease bend but don’t break defense would keep it close trailing 16-7 at halftime.

In the second half Buchholz would do as they have done all year and that’s pull away from teams. Jacarree Kelly and UCF commit Quan Lee would catch two touchdowns from Whittmore in the second half to advance Buchholz team to the state semifinals.

#3 Union County (12-1) fell to #1 Chiefland 29-27 in a valiant comeback that ended just short for the Fightin Tigers. Union County navigated an undefeated season, defeating #2 seeded Hilliard last week 52-14. In their Class 1A Regional Final contest against Cheifland quarterback AJ Cortese scored the first touchdown of the game to give Union County a 7-3 lead in the first quarter.

Chiefland would build a 23-7 lead late in the second quarter when quarterback Clint Thomas scored from 40-yards out. However, Union County would mount a comeback. A Cortese 11-yd pass to Daylyn Diston cut the lead to 8 points, 23-15.

Late in the third quarter Rayvon Durant would score on a 39-yard touchdown run for Union County, closing the gap to just 2-points. 23-21. A crucial play would seal the fate of Union County. It came in the form of a blocked punt that was recovered for a touchdown by Chiefland, putting them up 29-21 with six minutes to go in the fourth quarter.

Union County had a chance to tie the game with just over a minute in the contest. Yet their 2-point conversion was unsuccessful after scoring a touchdown, virtually ending their comeback hopes 29-27 in Chiefland.