- November 25, 2024
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BOX: WEEK 4
Flagler Palm Coast hosts Mandarin 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 21.
Matanzas hosts Pedro Menendez 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 21.
Flagler Palm Coast opens districts against Mandarin
Looking to be undefeated as district play begins this week, Flagler Palm Coast was upended Sept. 14, suffering a 21-7 road loss to New Smyrna Beach.
The Bulldogs (2-1) didn't execute the basics, coach Caesar Campana said.
“All the fundamental things we take a lot of pride doing, we didn’t do well,” he said, noting the poor tackling, blocking, passing and running. “We didn’t play well, and we didn’t play with any kind of emotion. We had a great week of practice, but we didn’t show up on Friday.”
Campana felt his team was still “patting itself on the back” for its Week 2 win against Seabreeze.
But it’s a new week, and Campana needs to refocus his team and coaching staff on the task at hand: a district matchup Friday night against Mandarin.
Last season, Mandarin was the last win FPC picked up before struggling to a 3-7 finish.
Campana said Mandarin will run a similar offense and defense this year. “They are very good at the skill positions,” he said. “They are strong and big in the trenches.”
But starting off district play with a win is crucial.
“It’s a huge thing,” Campana said. “I think that with the exception of Fletcher, (the district) is wide open.”
According to Campana, Fletcher is ranked in the Class 8A Top 10.
In practice this week, Campana said the focus will be on "throwing and catching (outside the numbers), and on defense ... stopping the outside run as well as the passes."
Flagler Palm Coast hosts Mandarin 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 21.
Matanzas hosts Pedro Menendez
Fresh off a win over Florida Air Academy, Matanzas couldn’t keep things going Sept. 14, losing 38-29 on the road to University Christian.
Last week’s game went back and forth, and Matanzas had a chance to tie the game late in the third quarter, but the offense failed to convert a two-point conversion.
Heading into the fourth quarter, University Christian led 32-22, but Matanzas scored to narrow the gap to 32-29. With the University Christian defense tired, Matanzas coach Keith Lagocki opted to go for an onside kick.
“We just didn’t execute the onside kick very well, and they got the ball back and they converted some third downs and later scored,” Lagocki said.
Despite the loss, Lagocki said there’s a lot to look forward to in the district showdown with Pedro Menendez.
A concussion kept De’Undre Lumpkins out of the Florida Air game Sept, 7, but he returned to competition Sept. 14 against University Christian and carried the ball 18 times for 120 yards and three TDs. Lumpkins did have three fumbles (two lost) Friday night.
Junior Al’Kwazi Spencer missed a practice, and so he didn’t start at quarterback. Sophomore Jeremiah Wilson got the start and played most of the game. He finished 5-for-20 for 43 yards and a costly interception that was returned for a touchdown.
Because of injuries on the defense, Lagocki expects to keep Spencer on defense for Friday’s game, which means Wilson should see the bulk of the snaps at quarterback.
“Our kids have to feel good going into their first district game,” Lagocki said.
Pedro Menendez comes into Friday’s game with an 0-2 record, but Lagocki wants to keep his team focused. Last season, the Pirates lost to Pedro Menendez and then had a bye week before playing a second district game against Ponte Vedra — a game that Lagocki said could be the toughest on this year’s schedule.
This year, Lagocki hopes to head into the bye week 1-0 in District 4-5A play.
“Football is tough because if you win, you’re happy,” he said. “But then on Monday, you’re back to work and that’s it. But when you lose, it’s like you have that feeling in your mouth until the following week — and it’s hard to shake.”
The Pirates (1-2) begin district play 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 21, when they host Pedro Menendez.
