- April 26, 2024
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The Matanzas Pirates football team sent its 18 seniors out in style, beating Palatka, 16-14, Nov. 4, on Senior Night.
It was chilly and windy Friday, Nov. 4, but the weather didn’t matter at Matanzas High School.
The Pirates (4-5, 1-4) rallied from an early deficit to beat district foe Palatka, 16-14, on Senior Night, to avoid going winless in the district this season.
The Matanzas Pirates have 18 seniors on the football team.
And though it was the final time the Pirates seniors would play under the lights at Pirate Field, perhaps it was sophomore QB Al’Kwazi Spencer who shined the brightest.
Spencer completed 14 of 25 passes for 219 yards and one touchdown. He also had four carries for 37 yards and a touchdown.
The Pirates fell behind early, but with 1 minute, 20 seconds remaining, Spencer through a screen pass to Marquese Jones, who took the ball 34 yards for a touchdown.
Then, with the score 7-6 late in the second quarter, Spencer avoided a sack and scrambled 22 yards for a touchdown. Senior Nikko Bembry tossed a two-point conversion to Shawn White to give the Pirates a 14-7 lead.
The Pirates defense stood strong late in the fourth quarter, forcing Palatka into a three-and-out. The punt snap went through the back of the end zone for a safety, giving Matanzas a 16-7 lead, and sealing the victory.
Senior wide receiver Dorian Stanard got injured in the game against Nease, but he had no intentions of missing Senior Night.
“It would have killed me not to have that chance to play with my team at home for the last time,” said Stanard, who leads the Pirates in receiving this year with 44 catches for 808 yards and five TDs. “I wanted to do my best for my teammates.”
The Pirates finish the season 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11, at Atlantic High School.
ON TO THE NEXT ONE
The Matanzas Pirates senior are as follows:
Les Allen
Nikko Bembry
Tyler Cotner
Jason Cowles
Kurt Grimes
Taylor Haire
Chris Hall
Chase Leake
Joel Manning
Brad Marsi
Randall Navanugraha
Robert Owen
Mark Pugh
John Read
Ryan Sanchez
Matt Shafer
Dorian Stanard
Shawn White
