Tallahassee Fl– It’s the Christmas season, and everyone is looking for that perfect gift to give someone. Well, for Mainland high school there was no better gift to receive than a championship ring. After falling behind 13-0 in the game, Dennis Murray Jr gave his team the perfect gift in the second half of the Class 3S State Championship game. But it didn’t come easy.
It didn’t take long for St. Augustine to get it started in the title game. On the opening kickoff, Trenton Jones took the run back 96-yards for the game’s first touchdown! The wide receiver set the tone early for the Jackets as they dominated the first half of the championship game.
WOW OPENING KICKOFF BY TRENTON JONES @trentonjones168 To the HOUSE!! Touchdown St Augustine 7 Mainland 0 pic.twitter.com/9dyda1hW9g
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) December 7, 2023
St. Augustine would get another score from Marquice King when the senior scooped up a blocked field goal by Ja’ki Singleton to return it 69-yards for a touchdown. The PAT would be no good after a penalty took the extra points off the board as St. Augustine still lead 13-0 headed into halftime.
Marquice King!! Scoop and score! St Augustine blocks the field goal attempt! Wow! 2 special teams scores for the Jackets! @SAHSJacketTrack leads 14-0 over Mainland 13-0 pic.twitter.com/iN9issfOv4
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) December 7, 2023
However, Mainland would respond in the second half. On the Buccaneer’s first drive, quarterback Dennis Murray Jr drove his team down field. He’d find Clarence McCloud in the back of the end-zone for a touchdown making the score 13-6 after a missed PAT. After an abysmal first half where nothing seemed to go right for the Bucs, they had a resurgence of energy in the second half. One reason for the energy was their band, who completely took over halftime and the second half as well.
Touchdown Dennis Murray Jr @DMurrayJr06 to Clarence McCloud! @ClarenceMcCl0d_ PAT no good! St Augustine 13 Mainland 6, 3rd ,8:06 pic.twitter.com/CFHTD8fCLj
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) December 7, 2023
St. Augustine would drive down the field as quarterback Locklan Hewlett hit his receivers and Devonte Lyons ran hard to get the ball to the Mainland 15-yard line. However, St. Augustine would miss a field goal keeping the score 13-6, and giving Mainland momentum.
Murray would drive his team down the field in the third quarter, hitting receivers and bursting designed runs. He would hand it off to Rodney Hill Jr up the middle for a bruising score as Mainland made incredible plays in the second half. The conversion was no good however, as St. Augustine held on to a 13-12 lead.
Touchdown!!! Rodney Hill Jr! We have a ball game!! @RodneyHill2024 13-12 St Augustine leads! Mainland has scored 12 unanswered to tie St Augustine! 3rd,:31 pic.twitter.com/3H5nQd3u2N
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) December 7, 2023
Mainland would get another big play , this time on defense when Bubba Westbrook intercepted a pass giving the Bucs the ball back. As the game went to the fourth quarter, Murray switched sides of the field and switched it into another gear scoring a long touchdown to put his team ahead for the first time in the game 18-13.
Wow! Dennis Murray Jr @DMurrayJr06 takes it the distance ! Mainland with all the momentum!! Bucs lead 18-13, 4th! pic.twitter.com/R2K5100N4D
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) December 7, 2023
However, St. Augustine would respond. They were accustomed to coming back all year. They came back against Bolles, they came back against Bartram, and they came back against Choctawhatchee. Now, Wake Forest commit Locklan Hewlett would find his big play wide receiver Carl Jenkins Jr for a 52-yard amazing touchdown. St. Augustine retook the lead 19-18 after a missed 2-point conversion.
Carl Jenkins Jr!!!! You see why he got that Arkansas offer last week!! Boom! Locklan Hewlett went to his big play wideout! @thecarljenkins 19-18 ,52 yards! Wow! pic.twitter.com/thYhppoxqG
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) December 7, 2023
With only 2 minutes remaining in the game, it wasn’t “Miller Time”, it was “Murray Time”. Dennis Murray Jr. hit Marquis McCants for a first down on 4th and 3. Murray would then take off using his legs to get even closer to the goal-line. However, trailing 19-18, the Bucs only needed a field goal.
First down Mainland! Wow what a catch by Marquis McCants! Murray takes off! Trialing 19-8 we have :2 remaining in the game from the 5yd line! Trailing 19-18 !! pic.twitter.com/UQEI8DYoYc
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) December 7, 2023
St. Augustine’s defense would hold them on consecutive down settling up a final down from the 5-yard line with 2-secodn to play, head coach Travis Roland would elect to go for a field goal instead of the touchdown. From the left hash mark, kicker Jacob Gettman would line it up and strike it down the middle with plenty of distance through the uprights as time expired.
Amazing ending !! Just watch ! WOW! pic.twitter.com/6uJ2gVMw6i
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) December 7, 2023
Mainland would win it’s second championship in school history defeatign St. Augustine 21-19. They ended the season 14-1, and state champions after being state runners-up the year before. It will be a “Merry Christmas” thanks in part to Dennis Murray Jr who played an incredible game. Murray avoided sacks, made plays with his legs and his arm when called upon.
St. Augustine ends their incredible undefeated season at 13-1, in head coach Brian Braddock’s first trip to the championship as a head coach. They return starting quarterback Locklan Hewlett, starting wide receivers Carl Jenkins Jr, and Trenton Jones who were apart of a passing game that combined for 37 receiving touchdowns on the year.
Mainland leads the all-time series against St. Augustine 18-5-1. The two schools first played in 1925. SAHS won that first meeting 13-6. They then lost the next 15 games against Mainland — a streak that was ended in 1960. The last meeting before the championship was in 1996. St. Augustine won 13-10.
