- November 5, 2024
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On the night a king and queen were crowned for Flagler Palm Coast’s Homecoming weekend, Bulldogs do-it-all player Jimmie Robinson stole the show, and he likely deserved a crown himself after he willed his team to a 21-20 comeback win over New Smyrna Beach.
Trailing 20-14 with time winding down late in the fourth quarter, FPC’s offense went to work, starting at its own 20-yard line. Quarterback Dalton Thomas orchestrated an effective drive by going to a short passing game.
With about 1:23 to go, Thomas found Robinson on a swing pass and from there, it was all speed. Robinson took it 50 yards to the house, giving FPC a 21-20 lead after Drew Jones converted the extra point. Pandemonium ensued.
“Coach said from the beginning that it was going to come down to the wire,” Robinson said after the game. We had to play every play, and so we did.”
Robinson was the hero for FPC (2-2) Friday night, adding two interceptions (including one he returned for a touchdown), a blocked extra point that was the difference-maker, and scoring the game-winning touchdown.
He closed the game out by intercepting New Smyrna Beach quarterback Marcus Johnson on a fourth-down play with about 40 seconds to go.
It was a fitting end to the game for the junior.
"We wanted to let everyone know that we're back on track, that we're not losing any more games like coach said last week,” Robinson said.
Robinson was referring to FPC coach Caesar Campana’s comments after last week’s district loss to Sandalwood, when he promised his team wouldn’t lose again this season.
So far, he’s right.
“I told them at halftime that we’re going to tie this up and win at the end,” an emotional Campana said after the game.
Campana credited Robinson and other young players for stepping up, too.
“We were missing so many starters tonight, and I told Jimmie and I told (Queshaun) Byrd, ‘You guys gotta suck it up tonight ... and play hard,’” Campana said. “And they did. They played real hard. We had a couple of hiccups there, but golly, I’m so proud of our kids. They kept fighting away.”
FPC took a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter when Thomas scored on a 17-yard keeper.
Moments later, Robinson jumped a route and intercepted Johnson, returning it 25 yards for the score, giving FPC a 14-0 lead with 3:50 to go in the first quarter.
New Smyrna Beach responded quickly, though, when Johnson found Terrill Jefferson on a 50-yard touchdown pass.
Johnson scored a 6-yard run with about eight minutes to go in the third quarter to make it 14-13, but Robinson blocked what would be the game-deciding extra point. Johnson scored his second rushing touchdown with 2:11 to go in the third quarter.
FPC’s game-winning drive began with about 2:57 to go in the game. Robinson also converted a key first down on fourth-and-5. He beasted a defender off his shoulders to pick up six yards and keep the driving going. A few plays later, he scored.
“I think they developed a lot of character tonight,” Campana said of his team. “And I hope they continue to learn from it. We got better tonight in a lot of aspects.”
Follow @aobrien7 on Twitter.
