- November 5, 2024
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Standing just two yards away from the goal line, down one point with about three minutes left in the game, Flagler Palm Coast fumbled both the ball and their shot at victory.
The Bulldogs (4-4) fell in a close game for the second straight week, losing to Mandarin High School, 21-20, Friday night at FPC.
Mandarin took a one-point lead with just over seven minutes to go in the game, and then was able stop FPC’s late charge, recovering a fumble by Devonti Emanuel at the goal line to essentially seal the game.
“We’re missing two of our offensive linemen tonight, and it really showed,” coach Caesar Campana said after the game. “We couldn’t move the ball running tonight; we pulled everything out passing the ball. We had chances.”
FPC was on the board just seconds into the game when do-it-all playmaker Jimmie Robinson returned the opening kickoff 95 yards, putting the Bulldogs up 7-0.
Robinson put in another dominating performance for the Bulldogs, finishing with almost 200 yards of total offense, three touchdowns, and a few big plays on defense.
“He was phenomenal,” Campana said. “He’s always phenomenal. He does everything that we tell him to do. He’s just great.”
The Mustangs (5-4) were quick to counter, driving down the field to score on a 35-yard touchdown pass, tying the game at 7-7.
Robinson’s second touchdown of the night was a 25-yard score on a pass from quarterback Dalton Thomas. Thomas made his passes early, but he struggled as the game went on.
Mandarin tied the score before the end of the first half on a two-yard run by Khalaf Williams. The FPC defense, which has been solid all season, had a difficult time containing Williams for the entire game.
After Robinson’s third touchdown of the night, his second receiving score, the extra-point attempt was blocked, and it turned out to be the game-deciding point.
With no shot at making the playoffs, FPC sits at .500 with just one game remaining on the schedule, and finishing with a winning record is something that Campana is hoping for.
“We’ve got to end this season with a winning record,” he said. “We’ve got to get back to work Monday. That’s what we do: Work hard and get ready for Spruce Creek next week.”
The Bulldogs will finish up their season at home next Friday with a matchup against Spruce Creek on Senior Night.
