- April 28, 2024
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Defensive lineman Jaxon Saterfield (60) gives Cole Hash a hug in the closing minutes of the Pirates' 33-0 win against Winter Springs. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Matanzas students Sam Peters, Lacey Varela, Karolina Jaronis and Delaney Larkin dress according to the game's theme — Red, White and Boom — in honor of Veterans Day. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Matanzas quarterback Dakwon Evans scrambles out of trouble. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Matanzas linebacker Braden Russell (15) pressures Winter Springs quarterback Makiye Ellis. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Pirates Ivan Gaines Jr. (18) and Kennith Robinson (24) combine on a tackle. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Vincent Johnson (11) covers Pirates senior Jordan Mills in the end zone. Pass interference was not called on this play, but Mills got the call on another pass play later on. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Winter Springs' Vincent Johnson (11) covers Jordan Mills in the end zone on a play that the Pirates thought was pass interference. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Matanzas Band of Pirates drum major Cleona Demesmin. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Matanzas lineman Peyton Ellis (50) trots off the field. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Dakwon Evans (3) threw three touchdown passes, including a forward toss to Jordan Mills in the backfield, to give the senior quarterback 14 TD passes for the season. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Landon Grover kicked two field goals and three extra points in the Pirates' 33-0 victory on Nov. 3. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Cole Hash had an impact on offense and defense on senior night. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Linemen Peyton Ellis (50) and Jaylor Owens (71) hoist defensive end Zach O'Wynn (16) after the Pirates' win against the Winter Springs Bears. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Matanzas lineman Ahmad Louis-Charles (52) congratulates fellow senior Cole Hash after Hash scored on a 9-yard run in the fourth quarter. Photo by Brent Woronoff
The Pirates' senior Zach attack — Zach O'Gwynn and Zach Furey — celebrate the victory. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Landon Grover kicked two field goals in the game for Matanzas. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Cole Hash (4) sacks Winter Springs quarterback Makiye Ellis (9). Photo by Brent Woronoff
Cole Hash celebrates his touchdown run that put the Pirates up 33-0. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Matanzas coach Matt Forrest congratulates senior quarterback Dakwon Evans as he leaves the Pirates' home field possibly for the last time. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Pirates quarterback Dakwon Evans throws a pass. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Matanzas students Isa Doshier, Samantha Reid, Sam Peters, Teddy Vanderbilt, Lacey Varela, Delaney Larkin and Lexi Hixon dress patriotically on for Red, White and Boom night. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Cole Hash (4) and Zach O'Gwynn (16) tackle a Winter Springs player. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Matanzas senior running back Zach Furey turns the corner against Winter Springs. Photo by Brent Woronoff
The Matanzas seniors raised the Jolly Roger after the victory on Nov. 3. Photo by Brent Woronoff
With his team ahead 33-0 against Winter Springs on Friday, Nov. 3, Matanzas football coach Matt Forrest took his seniors out of the game one by one. Each senior received an ovation as he walked to the sideline and hugged his teammates and coaches.
The Pirates defeated the Bears 33-0 on senior night to improve to 7-3. They received the seventh seed in the Class 3S, Region 1 playoffs and will travel to No. 2 Tallahassee Lincoln (8-2) on Friday, Nov. 10 for a 7:30 p.m. game.
If Matanzas wins, it will again be on the road in the second round on Nov. 17 against either No. 3 seed Fort Walton Beach Chotawhatchee or No. 6 Lake City Columbia.
The Pirates' regular-season finale on Nov. 3 was likely the 13 seniors’ final game on their home field.
Jordan Mills, who ran 19 yards for a touchdown on a forward flip pass, said the end-of-the-line feeling hit him when the Pirates called timeout and Forrest hugged the seniors as they trotted off.
“It was like, this is it. It’s time for these younger guys to show that they can ball too,” Mills said. “These guys that I've been with for four years, the relationships that have grown, it's just a very bittersweet mix of emotions. I'm very happy, but, man, I’m going to miss it.”
The night started with the seniors involved on game days — members of the band and flag corps, cheer squad members, athletic trainer aides, Junior ROTC cadets, the football team and the Pirate mascot — honored with their parents before the game.
Perhaps because of the pregame activities, the first half of the game lacked energy as the Pirates took a 13-0 lead against the winless Bears (0-10).
“I knew we could play better,” said Cole Hash, a four-year starter and standout on both sides of the ball. “I came (into the locker room) and I just told them, we have worked hard, us seniors, to build this foundation — four years of literally blood, sweat and tears — and we’re not going out unless we have a big win. I told those guys, ‘I love every one of you. It’s not over yet; we have a playoff run to make. But let’s go out there and let’s demolish.’ Everybody was excited to get back out there and just play some good football.”
The Pirates scored on three straight possessions in the second half. Mills scored his touchdown, followed by quarterback Dakwon Evans hitting Ladarian Baker with a 7-yard touchdown pass and Hash scoring on a 9-yard run.
“That was one of the things I really wanted,” Hash said. “I really wanted that (touchdown).”
Evans threw three touchdown passes, including the forward flip to Mills and a 4-yard toss to senior Andre Andrews. Landon Grover kicked two field goals of 45 and 31 yards. But what impressed Forrest most about his senior kicker in the game was a punt.
“The punt he had at the end of the game into the wind that went 40 yards was unbelievable,” Forrest said.
Grover kicked a school-record 54-yard field goal at Tocoi Creek on Sept. 1 and had a chance to break that record with a 55-yarder in the fourth quarter against Winter Springs, but he never got the chance after the snap was bobbled and picked up.
“We had all the confidence in the world to put him out there at 55 yards and let him kick,” Forrest said. “Those guys come up big in big games. He's been doing it ever since he's been here. He was big in the win against Gainesville last year (three field goals, two from 42 yards), and he was big in the win against Tocoi Creek this year.”
Sho’Marion Gaines and Mason Obama each intercepted a pass against the Bears, and Hash and defensive end Zach O’Gwynn wreaked havoc in the Bears’ backfield.
Forrest said the offense did a better job in this game of taking care of the ball and sustaining drives.
“I feel like on defense we eliminated the big play and made them drive, and to Winter Springs’ credit, they made us drive," Forrest said. "They made us take a lot of underneath throws and run the ball. We had to run our offense and execute. I think that was something that's been lacking over the last three, four weeks, just straight execution."
These guys that I've been with for four years, the relationships that have grown, it's just very bittersweet with mixed emotions. I'm very happy, but, man, I’m going to miss it.”
— JORDAN MILLS
The Pirates made the playoffs for the first time since the current seniors were freshmen in 2020. Matanzas' 7-3 record is its best since 2016. Forrest said the senior class deserves a lot of credit for turning the program around.
“Those guys have done a lot for our football program,” he said. “I think they got the ovation and the send-off that they needed from the home crowd. I'm very proud of those guys.”
Hash, Mills, Evans, Gaines and lineman Ahmad Louis-Charles have been stalwarts since they joined the program. Those five played 8-on-8 football together as eighth graders, Hash said.
“We were all 13 to14. That’s when we first started,” he said. “Ahmad, me and Jordan knew we were coming to Matanzas. We were trying to convince the other two not to become Bulldogs, and we did. ”
After suffering a 14-12 loss to Pedro Menendez on Oct. 27, Gaines said the players tightened their bond with each other.
“We came together,” he said. “Our brotherhood is really there now. That’s what we needed. It’s good to see that all the work we put in is paying off.”
Mills and Hash said the senior class has experienced a lot of ups and downs. After making the playoffs in 2020 and finishing with a 6-4 record, they went 3-7 as sophomores and finished 5-5 last year with the help of a forfeit.
“I’m just so grateful,” Mills said. “I went up to all the coaches and I thanked them all. They've been here with me, loved me and trusted me. It’s just crazy seeing it come to an end. High school goes by really fast and I'm just grateful that I had this time with my brothers that I've been here with for four years, staying until the end.”
It’s been super special for me to watch (Sho'Marion Gaines) grow these four years. Watching all of these guys grow, it’s been the ride of a lifetime.”
— COLE HASH
Gaines said what he’ll miss most is having his teammates by his side.
“All the seniors were always one call away,” he said. “No matter where I was, what I needed, they would always come get me. That's what I’ll really miss.”
Hash said watching Gaines grow into the man he is has been rewarding.
“It’s been super special for me to watch Sho grow these four years,” he said. “Watching all of these guys grow, it’s been the ride of a lifetime. We’ve been through thick and thin, back and forth with each other and at each other's throats. But it's just because we're all passionate. We love the game, we love each other and we know that we wouldn't accept anything less than excellence.”
