- November 25, 2024
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Flagler Palm Coast struggled through the second and third quarters Friday night, and Ponte Vedra used its rushing attack to wear down the Bulldogs en route to a 28-17 win in a nondistrict matchup at Sal Campanella Memorial Stadium.
FPC fell to 3-2 this season, although the Bulldogs’ 1-0 District 1-8A record remains intact.
“The good news is this wasn’t a district game, but the bad news is we had a chance to be 4-1, and we blew it,” a dejected FPC coach Caesar Campana said after the game.
The Bulldogs trailed 21-10 after three quarters, but on the first play of the fourth quarter, running back Devonti Emanuel squirted through the line, scampered 37 yards and dove into the end zone to bring the Bulldogs within four points.
On Ponte Vedra’s ensuing possession, the Bulldogs defense forced a three-and-out. After taking over at Ponte Vedra’s 40-yard line with 9:07 to go, FPC quarterback Colton Boyd couldn’t connect with wide receiver Willie Gardner on a deep pass down the right side.
After a punt, Ponte Vedra decided to grind the ball out with star running back Cole Mazza.
Mazza amassed about 75 yards as the Sharks marched 80 yards and scored with about 2:04 left in the game, giving Ponte Vedra a 28-17 lead, and essentially sealing a victory.
But early on, it looked as if things would go differently for FPC.
The Bulldogs got off to a hot start in the first quarter when Boyd completed six of his first seven passes — all to Gardner.
Ponte Vedra didn’t use much safety help early on, and most of the passes to Gardner were when he was matched up in man-to-man single coverage.
It was exactly the start Campana wanted to see from his junior quarterback.
But after the first quarter, Boyd completed just one of his next 14 passes.
Campana said he will be able to see on tape what went wrong with Boyd and the passing game after the first quarter.
“(Colton) had a couple of situations, and (he) knows we’re competitive with his position,” Campana said. “He had a good week of practice, but for some reason, it just didn’t come together when we needed it to.”
The Bulldogs took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter when Boyd hit Gardner in the end zone on a 15-yard pass.
But after stopping Ponte Vedra on its first drive, Mazza scored on a 1-yard run with 8:31 to go in the first quarter. The PAT was missed, and the Bulldogs led, 7-6.
FPC didn’t convert on a third-and-five on the next possession, and Ponte Vedra blocked Johnny Osorio’s punt to give them the ball at FPC’s 38-yard line. Mazza then busted through FPC’s defensive line on a fourth down to keep Ponte Vedra’s drive alive. A few minutes later, Ponte Vedra quarterback Matt Deegan found Corey Love in the end zone from 15 yards out. The two-point conversion was good, and Ponte Vedra led 14-7.
After a Boyd interception on the next drive, Ponte Vedra marched down the field and looked destined to increase its lead, but FPC sophomore Marcel Williams intercepted Deegan in the end zone and returned the ball 61 yards to give FPC some momentum.
But the Bulldogs couldn’t find the end zone and settled for a 22-yard field goal by Osorio.
At the half, Ponte Vedra led 14-10.
About five minutes into the third quarter, Ponte Vedra faced a third-and-long situation, but Deegan scrambled around on a broken play for a 26-yard touchdown run.
Trailing 21-10, FPC couldn’t establish its passing game it had in the first quarter, and Ponte Vedra continued to hand the ball off to Mazza to run the clock and grind out rushing yards.
FPC didn't score again.
Despite the loss, FPC will have to have a short memory because it's next game is less than one week away.
The Bulldogs continue their district schedule next week when they travel south to take on Spruce Creek 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 4. It will be the second of five district games.
“We have to win Thursday to stay in the hunt,” Campana said. “That’s the name of the game: win or lose, you have to get ready for next week, and we’ll get them ready.”
