- November 26, 2024
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+ Matanzas tops Warner Christian in spring game
Despite falling behind twice in the first half, the Matanzas Pirates football team knocked off Warner Christian Thursday night, 34-22, to win its spring game.
Matanzas trailed early with two offensive mistakes. A fumble recovery for a touchdown and a safety on the next series put the Pirates in an early 9-0 hole.
But then the offense got to work, led by freshman quarterback Jeremiah Wilson. Early in the second quarter, Wilson found Marquese Jones on a 40-yard touchdown pass, making the score 9-7.
On the next series, the Pirates defense forced a Warner Christian fumble. Ian Hubbs nailed a field goal to give the Pirates their first lead, 10-9.
With about 2 minutes, 30 seconds remaining in the first half, Warner scored its only touchdown against the Matanzas starting defense. Warner led 16-10 at halftime.
Warner opened the second half with an eight-minute drive but ultimately had to punt the ball away. Five plays later, the Pirates scored when Wilson found Marcous Cooper on a 13-yard touchdown pass.
With the 17-16 lead, the Pirates wouldn’t trail again. A 44-yard field goal by Hubbs and then touchdown runs by Stefan Tucker and Rahim Booker sealed the win.
Wilson was efficient, going 10-for-16 for 154 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. Jones had four catches for 124 yards and one TD. In the backfield, junior Brandon Fagen carried the ball 14 times for 61 yards. Matanzas coach Keith Lagocki said Fagen also did an exceptional job blocking as the RB.
On defense, the Pirates forced five turnovers — three fumbles and two interceptions.
Overall, Lagoacki was pleased with his team’s resiliency.
“In past years, when we were down 9-0, our players would’ve gotten down on themselves,” Lagocki said. “It would’ve been hard for us to come back from that.”
Lagocki believes the bond his team has will help them in the fall.
“We’ve had more talented teams, but I don’t know if we’ve ever had — this early — as close knit a team as this group,” he said.
+ Flagler Palm Coast takes second in 5-Star
With 208 cumulative points, Flagler Palm Coast High School finished second in the 5-Star Conference standings for the 2011-2012 school year. Spruce Creek (224) finished in first place out of 11 schools.
FPC won conference titles in girls soccer, flag football and softball; it took second in boys cross country, wrestling and boys and girls track-and-field.
FPC Athletics Director Steve DeAugustino acknowledged the hard work of the coaches and student-athletes on and off the playing fields.
“The obvious goal is to win the conference,” he said. “The difference between first and second is maybe one more great practice a week, a little extra work over the summer or one more ‘A’ on a report card.”
+ Matanzas baseball honors three players at banquet
At its end-of-season banquet May 19, the Matanzas baseball program honored three players.
Tyler Stuart was presented with the Cy Young Award. Stuart excelled as a starting pitcher. Tony Mendez, the team’s starting catcher, was presented with the coach’s award. Tyler Walls was named the team’s Most Valuable Player after leading the team in stolen bases (14) and batting average (.351).
