- November 5, 2024
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In the final tune-up before heading into the offseason, both Flagler Palm Coast and Matanzas captured wins in their spring football games Friday night.
Teams don’t win championships in May, but winning teams are built during the spring. Both FPC and Matanzas have begun building winning foundations.
Defense was the theme for both spring games.
FPC 14, Bartram Trail 13
Bartram Trail missed a game-winning field goal from 22 yards as time expired Friday night, giving Flagler Palm Coast a 14-13 spring victory.
All of the Bulldogs’ 14 points came from its defense.
Bartram Trail took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter on a 10-yard touchdown pass by Bears quarterback J.P. Blazejowski.
After a few three-and-outs, Bartam lined up to punt another possession away. But FPC’s Jimmie Robinson catapulted off the edge and blocked the kick, scooped up the ball and then returned it for a touchdown. With 7:52 to go in the first half, FPC and Bartram Trail were tied 7-7.
Blazejowski threw his second TD pass of the game when he found Aubrey Thompson in the back of the end zone with 37 seconds to go in the first half, giving the Bears a 13-7 lead. The extra point attempt was missed, which proved costly for Bartram as the game went on.
About midway through the third quarter, Bartram took over possession. But FPC’s defense picked up in the second half right where it left off when defensive back Kyle Oliver returned an interception for a touchdown, giving FPC a 14-13 lead.
Bartram went on to drive the ball against FPC on the ensuing possession, but that drive ended with no points when FPC linebacker Jonathan Muniz crashed through the line and blocked a 23-yard field goal attempt.
Bartram had a chance to win the game at the end, but a 22-yard field goal attempt as time expired missed wide left.
After the game, FPC coach Caesar Campana said his team needs to get bigger over the summer, but he was happy with what he saw.
“We ran up-tempo offense tonight, and I think that’s not us,” Campana said. “We’re going to have to slow things down because our players are so young. And that’s what summers are for: to get better.”
Matanzas 35, Potter’s House/CCC 0
The Pirates’ defense combined for a shutout in Friday’s spring game, holding both Cedar Creek Christian and Potter’s House to zero points over 48 minutes of football.
Matanzas played two quarters against each team, winning the first half against Cedar Creek Christian, 14-0, and topping Potter’s House, 21-0, in the second half.
“We played with better effort and played better as a team,” coach Jeff Nettles said. “We have a long way to go in both categories, but it was better.”
Nettles said he wants to see more team unity and consistency in both the passing and running games.The win began the Nettles era at Matanzas.
“I loved every second of it,” he said. “There is no place I would rather be. I want to be on that sideline with our players and coaches.”
