St. Augustine Fl- The matchup between the St. Augustine Yellow Jackets (3-0) and the Nease Panthers (3-0) was highly anticipated. Both teams were undefeated and coming off of 40-point performances in their previous games. The panthers have prowled with impressive wins over big time opponents like Fletcher, Creekside and Ponte Vedra. While the Jackets toughest opponent was a shoot-out with Riverside last week, and the question loomed, could St. Augustine’s defense stop the Nease offense, if they struggled against Riverside (2-2). Well that answer was a resounding yes early on, as St. Augustine capitalized on a very slow start for the Panthers.
A quick three and out would give St. Augustine good field position. The Yellow Jackets then marched down the field and with the drive ending in Trendell Anderson punching it in for the early rushing touchdown. St. Augustine led 7-0.
JACKETS STRIKE FIRST. Short rushing touchdown gives them the early lead after a Nease 3 and out 🐝@DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/0dMP0Toh9S
— Christian Schultz (@schultzmedia_) September 20, 2024
The Nease offense would continue to sputter, not showing much life. St. Augustine would take advantage of this. navigating down the field in the second quarter, and once again running back, Trendell Anderson found his way in the end-zone for a short rushing touchdown, as St. Augustine built a 14-0 first half lead.
Jackets with another short rushing touchdown!
— Christian Schultz (@schultzmedia_) September 20, 2024
St. Augustine 🐝 14
Nease 🐾 0@DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/4mJUS5a63o
Right before halftime, St. Augustine quarterback and USF commit, Locklan Hewlett, would execute a beautiful 2 minute drill, driving the Yellow Jackets down the field. Hewlett would then throw it up to four star Wide Receiver Somourian Wingo Jr, who went up over the defender for an incredible touchdown.
@_somourianwingo doing what he does best. Finding the end zone by going up and over the defender. 🐝
— Christian Schultz (@schultzmedia_) September 21, 2024
St. Augustine: 21
Nease: 0@DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/0hZ5qEaWZl
Amazingly, the score at halftime was St. Augustine 21, and Nease 0. Nease had never trailed in a game at halftime all season. Nease had never been shut-out at halftime all season. So this score came at a surprise to many. Yet, this is where the game would begin to change drastically.
On the first play of the second half, Locklan Hewlett would feel pressure from the Nease defense and attempt to throw it away, however, Nease defensive back, Elijah Luckett stepped in front of the pass for the interception, and returned it for a touchdown.
The play gave Nease their first points of the night, as well as a spark of momentum much needed for the team. In particular the Nease defense consisting of playmakers like Joe Miracle, Kyle Hurtado, Noah Hodge, and Shemar McNair began to stifle the high powered St. Augustine offense. This resulted in not much happening the rest of the third quarter as both defenses were holding strong and the quarter would end 21-7, in favor of St. Augustine.
At the start of the 4th quarter, Nease quarterback Nate Harry would drop back and find his reliable target, Maddox Spencer, for a short touchdown. The score finally ignited a Panther offense that had been idle for three quarters in the biggest game of their season so far.
@MaddoxSpencer14 finds the end zone, the panthers are slowly coming back.
— Christian Schultz (@schultzmedia_) September 21, 2024
St. Augustine 21
Nease 14@DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/x7prG3ts0q
It didn’t take long for the Yellow Jackets to respond though, as they matriculated the ball all the way down the field on a beautiful long drive. Once again, running back Trendell Anderson finished the drive for a short rushing touchdown, it was his third rushing touchdown on the night, to increase the Jacket’s lead to 28-14 in the fourth quarter.
St. Augustine running back #10 now has his 3 rd rushing TD of the night.
— Christian Schultz (@schultzmedia_) September 21, 2024
St. Augustine 28
Nease 14@DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/biGjRjPv90
Nease would respond with another touchdown of their own, this time, Harry would find receiver, Vernon Stephens for a short touchdown reception after navigating an exceptional offensive drive down the field. On the next kickoff, Nease would fool everyone, going for an onside kick and recovering. This was exactly the extra possession that the Nease offense needed.
Nease is closing the lead late with a Nate Harry passing TD.
— Christian Schultz (@schultzmedia_) September 21, 2024
St. Augustine 28
Nease 21@DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/BYasPPpTY7
Nate Harry with the hot hand, would lead the Panthers down the field and find Tyler Ghazanfari for the game tying score. Regulation would end, all knotted up at 28 and the game wen to overtime. A game that saw Nease down 21-0 at halftime, was now tied 28-28 to a shocked and stunned home crowd at Foots Brumley stadium.
NEASE HAS TIED IT UP AT 28!! @nateharry7 IS ON FIRE RIGHT NOW@DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/MKJy5bVP5g
— Christian Schultz (@schultzmedia_) September 21, 2024
Nease would be on offense first in overtime, as the Yellow Jackets’ head coach, Coach Braddock, would win the toss and elect to go on defense first. Nease would take advantage of the momentum they had, scoring quickly with another Maddox Spencer receiving touchdown, taking the lead for the first time of the ball game.
@MaddoxSpencer14 WITH A DIVING TOUCHDOWN IN OVERTIME!!!!@DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/3GNoRMNadH
— Christian Schultz (@schultzmedia_) September 21, 2024
St. Augustine would get the ball, their possession would consist of 3 run plays and another rushing touchdown by non other, than Trendell Anderson, who would end the night with a whopping, 4 touchdown performance. Coach Braddock and the Yellow Jackets would elect to go for the 2-point conversion and win the game.
Straight run plays for the jackets in OT. #10 with his 4th rushing TD of the game. St. Augustine goes for 2 and it’s NO GOOD. NEASE WINS!!!!
— Christian Schultz (@schultzmedia_) September 21, 2024
Nease 🐾 35
St. Augustine 🐝 34@DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/wIvCAlchqT
Hewlett would drop back to pass and decide to scramble and run for the touchdown. He would be tackled just inches short of the endzone, giving the Nease Panthers their first win over St. Augustine since 2018. Pandemonium ensured on the Nease sidelines and in the stands as the Panthers pulled off what seemed to be impossible. A 21 point comeback win on the road against the defending state runners-up.
Nate Harry @nateharry7 Nease QB after defeating St Augustine in OT interview via @schultzmedia_ pic.twitter.com/zi99wDH1nc
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) September 21, 2024
The win cemented what we already knew about Nease. They take your best player away on defense, and then surprise you with their well designed offense. This was their first test to try to take away several “best players” as St. Augustine was stacked on offense. Nease succeeded, holding St. Augustine’s Carl Jenkins Jr (USF commit), and Trenton Jones (14-D1 offers) out of the end-zone.
