- November 5, 2024
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Flagler Palm Coast’s defense stood strong through the first quarter Friday night, but Fletcher’s passing game proved too much through the final 36 minutes.
Fletcher quarterback Evan Orth finished the game with 244 passing yards, and Fletcher handled FPC, 41-3, in District 1-8A play. With the win, Fletcher has forced a four-way tie for first place in the district with two weeks to play.
“(Fletcher) is good, and we kept telling our guys we’ll find out where our program is,” FPC coach Caesar Campana said after the game. “Our special teams let us down, our offense let us down, and we just have to lick our wounds and come back because it doesn’t get any easier.”
The first quarter was back-and-forth between the two teams, but FPC was forced to punt to start the second quarter. After a some long passing plays, the Senators took a 7-0 lead when Orth hooked up with Kalib Woods on an 8-yard touchdown pass with 8:42 to go in the first half.
On the ensuing possession, Campana gambled and went for it on fourth-and-one from inside the Bulldogs half, but QB Dalton Thomas was stuffed for no gain.
Fletcher (6-1, 2-1 District 1-8A) responded by nailing a 44-yard field goal to take a 10-0 lead midway through the third quarter.
FPC (5-3, 2-1 District 1-8A) was able to get its offense going on its fourth drive, though. Thomas found Willie Gardner for 10 yards and then two passes to Dustin Bowens for two 22-yard passes. But the drive stalled, and FPC settled for a 38-yard field goal by Johnny Osorio.
Those three points were all FPC was going to score Friday night.
With about a minute left in the half, Fletcher drove about 70 yards via the passing game, which set up a 21-yard field goal to close out the first half.
At halftime, Fletcher led FPC, 13-3.
FPC started the second half with the ball, but another three-and-out gave Fletcher the ball back after just two minutes.
Fletcher went on to score 14 points each in the third and fourth quarters to get back in the win column. Two weeks ago, Fletcher lost to DeLand, 30-28. After a bye week, Fletcher was dropped from No. 9 to No. 34 in Florida's Class 8A football rankings, according to MaxPreps.com.
Although FPC couldn’t get much going offensively Friday night, Campana said turnovers definitely didn’t help.
The Bulldogs had four turnovers (three fumbles and an interception) — two fumbles came on kickoffs.
“Field position is a (big) thing, and we made them drive, except for a couple of plays,” Campana said. “You can’t beat a team like that (with turnovers), and we have a lot to get better at to play at this level.”
The one positive for FPC was the play of its freshman quarterback. Thomas finished 10-for-20 for 133 yards and an interception.
“He’s done a great job, he’s a tough kid,” Campana said after the game, although he was struggling to find positives. “He’s a good quarterback and that’s a real positive for us. We just need to figure out how to help out with other things, too.”
Fletcher was able to shut down FPC’s rushing attack, though. Jimmie Robinson (seven carries, 13 yards) and Devonti Emanuel (seven carries, eight yards) combined for 21 yards on 14 carries.
Tight end Dustin Bowens had three catches for 45 yards and Willie Gardner had five catches for 39 yards.
Still, with two games to play, there are still plenty of possible outcomes in the district.
FPC will host Sandalwood 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 26, for senior night. Then, FPC hits the road to close out its regular season 7 p.m. Nov. 2, at DeLand.
Two wins to finish the regular season could put FPC in the state playoffs. But Campana will continue to take it week by week.
“It’s disappointing,” Campana said, of the loss to Fletcher. “We had a good week of practice, and I don’t know what happened with our kids. ... We have to figure out how to fix it, and that’s what it’s all about.”
