- April 18, 2024
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Wilson’s 3 TDs leads Pirates past Fernandina Beach
If there was a game for Matanzas sophomore quarterback Jeremiah Wilson to break out, it was Friday night. And he did.
Wilson led the Pirates to a 35-25 win over Fernandina Beach, snapping a two-game losing streak.
Matanzas (2-4, 0-2 District 4-5A) took an early 14-0 lead in the first quarter thanks in part to a 54-yard swing pass from Wilson to Marquese Jones.
But Fernandina Beach converted on a field goal with about five minutes left in the half to cut the deficit to 14-3.
However, on the ensuing kickoff, Pirates running back Rahim Booker ripped off a 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, giving Matanzas a 21-3 lead with about 4:50 to go in the first half.
But Fernandina Beach wasn’t done. They scored less than two minutes later to make it 21-10. Matanzas then fumbled at its own 30-yard line and Fernandina Beach took advantage of the short field, punching the ball in with 27 seconds to go in the half. A two-point conversion cut Matanzas’ lead to 21-18.
After Matanzas went three-and-out to start the second half, Fernandina took its first lead of the game, 25-21, with 5:17 left in the third quarter.
But less than two minutes later, Wilson found Jones on another swing pass and Jones did the rest of the work, taking the ball 68 yards for the score. With 3:21 left in the third, Matanzas led, 28-25.
Then, with about seven minutes left in the game, Wilson threw his third touchdown pass — a 20-yarder to Stefan Tucker.
Wilson finished the game 6-for-12 for 181 yards and three TDs. Jones had three catches for 126 yards and two TDs. Tucker had 18 carries for 89 yards and one TD to go with his two catches for 33 yards and one receiving TD.
Matanzas coach Keith Lagocki said the screen passes are a large part of the spread offense, noting both Jones’ touchdowns came on swing passes.
“Being able to run screens is huge for us, and we were able to get our screens going because we were running the ball so effectively,” Lagocki said. “Everybody on all of our screens did a real good job carrying out their fakes and doing their blocking assignments.”
Matanzas resumes District 4-5A play 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, when they host Creekside (3-3, 2-0 District 4-5A) for its Homecoming game.
Friday’s game is a must-win for the Pirates, Lagocki said.
“This is probably, by far, the most important game of our season now,” he said. “We’ve put ourselves in a predicament where if we want to have any chance f making the postseason, we have to win out, and it starts with Creekside. “We have a lot to prove.”
Split-city in bowling: FPC girls win, boys lose
The Flagler Palm Coast girls bowling team knocked off Seabreeze, 7-0, Oct. 11. But the boys team fell to the Sandcrabs, 5-2.
The Lady Bulldogs (7-6) were led by Chelsea Blaha’s 223-point Game 3. Bianca Aviles bowed a 205 in Game 2. FPC won the overall match in pins, 1,913-1,621.
The boys team (3-10) was led by D’John James, who bowled a 249 in Game 1 and a 665 series. But that wasn’t enough to match Seabreeze’s Hunter Schuchman, who bowled a 718 series, including a match-high 279 in Game 2. Seabreeze won the match in overall pins, 2,406-2,262.
Hooked: Flagler Beach hosts first pier fishing tourney
Fifty intrepid anglers braved a strong onshore win Saturday, Oct. 13, as they hunted for redfish, whiting, black drum and blue fish in the first annual Flagler Beach Pier Fishing Tournament put on by the city of Flagler Beach and the Flagler Sportfishing Club.
The largest in each species netted $150 prize.
Rough surf made for challenging fishing, but a good amount of fish were landed except for a black drum. The winning anglers were Gene Van Dorpe, who caught a 5.6-pound redfish; Darron Meekins, who caught a 2.3-pound bluefish; and Joe Fontaine, who caught a .9-pound whiting.
