Northeast Fl-In a Class 3M District 1 deciding showdown at the Shipyards, First Coast came ready to take the district title away from Fletcher. They billed this as a revenge game after losing last year, and they certainly played like it in the first half, and eventually in the final seconds of overtime. A thrilling comeback, fueled by two top quarterbacks, came down to a climactic conclusion orchestrated by two great coaches. All the way to the last second.
First Coast forced a punt on Fletcher’s first drive, and commenced to marching down the field. A big pass by Rodney Tisdale Jr to Jordan Anderson for 42 yards put the Buccaneers in business in the first quarter. The explosive play led to a short touchdown run by running back Auston Harris. Harris rumbled in from 3-yards out to give First Coast a 7-0 lead.
The game to this point was all First Coast, however Fletcher would attempt to respond. Quarterback Marcelis Tate (USF commit) would execute precise throws with a beautiful drive hitting receivers for first downs. Yet disaster would strike , as Fletcher looked to score from the First Coast 10-yard line they’d fumble and the Bucs would recover. First Coast took a 7-0 lead into halftime.
Fletcher is no stranger to comebacks. Down 7-0 to Sandalwood earlier in the season, the Senators responded with fifteen unanswered to win 15-7. Then against Ed White, Fletcher found themselves down 19-6 in the 4th quarter. They’d go on to defeat the Commanders 20-19. At the start of the third quarter Fletcher saw a seven point deficit balloon to 21-points.
Get your weight up up says Auston Harris! Wow 💪🏽 Touchdown! 14-0 First Coast leads Fletcher! @firstcoastbucs pic.twitter.com/cTyQfmfGos
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) October 27, 2023
First Coast received the second half kickoff and drove right down the field on the arms and legs of their star quarterback Rodney Tisdale Jr. The drive would end in the end-zone when Auston Harris bullied his way on an off tackle run over through defenders. First Coast led 14-0.
After a stop by the First Coast defense, their offense would get the ball back and it would only take one play for Le Shan Evans Jr to take off on a long touchdown run of 75-yards. Evans outraced everyone down the field with incredible speed to the endzone, as First Coast took a seemingly insurmountable lead 21-0 with 2:54 to play in the third quarter.
Le Shan Evans Jr shot out of a cannon! Wow! 💥 TOUCHDOWN!!! First Coast pouring it on in the 3rd! 21-0 leading Fletcher! @firstcoastbucs 2:54 to play pic.twitter.com/bfD8VhewPK
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) October 27, 2023
If the Senators are trailing then it turns into “Tate Time”, where Marcelis Tate takes over the game. He did just that. Tate would drive his team down the field in just over two minutes. He’d scramble for first downs and hit a pass to Troy Hillman Jr to move the chains even further.
"Tate Time" he's running now! Marcelis Tate driving Fletcher down the field, trailing First Coast 21-0 3rd pic.twitter.com/Q0EDQaC0M5
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) October 27, 2023
Fletcher would reach pay dirt when Trevor Bryan took the misdirection around the left side for a score, as the Senators closed the First Coast lead 21-7 heading into the 4th quarter. In the fourth, First Coast decreased the throttle on their offense significantly, deciding instead to run the ball, and chew up clock. This decision, however smart, was not effective.
TOUCHDOWN FLETCHER! with 2 seconds to play in the 3rd! They close the gap 21-7 Fletcher still leads but Senators score before the start of the 4th! pic.twitter.com/0HfvWxuQBm
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) October 27, 2023
After Fletcher would force a punt from First Coast, Tate would drive his team down the field again. He missed a potential long touchdown pass to wide receiver Brayden Weets that was dropped, after Weets got behind two defenders. However, the 3-star quarterback would go back to his speedy target. Tate hit Weets on an out pattern for a first down on the drive, culminating with a catch for a touchdown by Weets. The extra point was unsuccessful, but Fletcher was not just one score away, they’d need two scores with 3:41 to play.
Brayden Weets redemption! Touchdown!! Fletcher pulls to within 8 points of First Coast! PAT NO GOOD! But what a drive by Marcelis Tate @marcelistate @Braydenweets10 3:41 to play in the game! pic.twitter.com/rBxY8Nq6vS
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) October 27, 2023
On the ensuing drive, Fletcher would force First Coast into a 3rd down situation. First Coast chose to pass instead of running the clock with 2:50 to play and it proved disastrous. Tisdale’s pass was caught seemingly by the receiver, but ricocheted into the hands of Fletcher linebacker Ivan Delue. Delue would rumble back towards the end-zone and would eventually be tackled at the 5-yard line.
First Coast elects to put the ball in the air leading 21-13 with 2:50 to play in the game and then This happens! INTERCEPTION! Ivan Delue! Wow! Senators ball ,2:25 at the 5yard line! @FHSBeachrats pic.twitter.com/nacL4UEn4e
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) October 27, 2023
On fourth down and goal from the 1-yard line, Fletcher would pound in a short touchdown run to pull to within 2-points. The untimed down was next as suspense filled the air on Jacksonville’s Northside. The boys from the beach would dial up an old school quarterback bootleg to tie the game 21-21, with Tate running to the pylon.
Wow Marcelis Tate @marcelistate is in!!! 2-point conversion is GODD! And old school QB bootleg! We're tied! Fletcher was down 21-0 with 3 seconds to go in the 3rd! First Coast has collapsed pic.twitter.com/8OamUIv8b0
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) October 27, 2023
First Coast was unable to advance the ball with just 1-minute left in regulation and the game went into overtime. In the extra period, First Coast elected to defer as Fletcher would get the ball first. They’d use all four downs, but on the last one Talan Hundley would barrel into the middle of the pile, but would fumble. The ball was recovered by First Coast, however the referees gave the touchdown signal before the apparent fumble as Fletcher went up 27-21 after the missed extra point.
Is this a touchdown?? You make the call! It took the refs 40 seconds to signal…. pic.twitter.com/MP6aPxYkPu
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) October 27, 2023
First Coast would get the ball from the 10-yard line knowing what they needed to win. Their first play was a designed run by Tisdale down to the Fletcher 3-yard line. They’d entrust their running back Auston Harris who already had 2 scores to get into the end-zone for the score, as First Coast tied it up 27-27.
The extra point was next, as the pressure was on First Coast’s junior Lennoirs Linder. However, he wouldn’t flinch in the moment. Perfect all day, Linder would be perfect in the most crucial moment, booting the 19-yard kick through for the game winning point after. The team would rush the field, hoisting Linder in the air as First Coast secured the 28-27 victory over Fletcher.
With the thrilling victory, First Coast won it’s first district title in 9 years. Said head coach Marty Lee after the game “First Coast is back baby, a lot of people counted us out after we started the season 0-3, but we played some really good teams and we feel like it got us ready for this”. First Coast has won 5 out of the last 6 games. This was virtually a must-win game for them, and now at 5-4 they are solidified a playoff spot as district champs.
Lennoris Linder GAME! First Coast wins in OT ! 28-27! WILD SCENE AT THE SHIPYARDS! @ pic.twitter.com/Z5ktTdh4u4
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) October 27, 2023
First Coast will end their season next week at Jackson (3-6). Fletcher (6-3) will host Atlantic Coast (4-5), in hopes of securing a playoff spot in the FHSAA state power rankings. Currently they sit 6th in their region with a 7.196 rating and ranked 17th in Class 3M.
Featured Images by kkeysphotography
