- April 19, 2024
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Devin Mathews holds the ball carrier to a short gain. Photos by Jeff Dawsey
Jacob Miley reels in a first-down catch from Mackenzy Wagner.
Matanzas has gone 15-5 over the last two seasons.
Wagner throws a perfect pass to Miley for a third-quarter first down.
Mackenzy Wagner tries to get a first down with a quarterback keeper.
The Matanzas Pirates (7-3) capped off their most successful season to date despite a 10-0 loss against Sebastian River in their first-round playoff game Friday, Nov. 11, at Sebastian River.
A year after winning its first district game in three seasons, beating crosstown rival Flagler Palm Coast for the first time, topping its conference and finishing with a winning record, Matanzas encored its performance by repeating those feats and adding a first-time playoff berth. Head coach Robert Ripley deemed this season as a succcess.
"We (players and coaches) spoke about this early in the season, about checking off that final box — making the playoffs," he said. "Now with that accomplished, a new set of goals have arrived: win a district championship, host and win a playoff game."
Senior running back Philip Moultrie set school records with 1,383 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. He, along with seniors like Mackenzy Wagner and Nick Kubiet, leave the program in its best state ever, and Moultrie believes the Pirates have to make more progress by getting to the promise land.
"We seniors did what we set out to do, which was to make it to the the playoffs," he said. "Now it's time for the Pirates football program to shoot for something more than just the playoffs — the championship."
The Pirates will lose a lot of key players to graduation, but they will also retain many of their current starters.
On his roster going forward, Ripley says, "We played a lot of sophomores and juniors. We will need to sure up some areas and have a great offseason. But it's also time to have people step up and become leaders. We have a great group coming back."
Top 3 returners and losses: (returners) Cory and Trenton Steward, Devin Mathews; (losses) Seniors Philip Moultrie, Nick Kubiet and George Pardiny
Say that again: "Now it's time for the Pirates football program to shoot for something more than just the playoffs — the championship."
