Bulldogs survive Sandalwood in double OT thriller

Dennis Shorter blocked a 20-yard field goal to keep FPC alive in the first overtime.

  • By Ray Boone
  • | 3:40 p.m. September 28, 2018
  • Palm Coast Observer
  • Sports
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Travis Roland has confidence — a lot of it.

It’s the kind of confidence that can compel a second-year head coach to start the season against his biggest rival with an onside kick (twice) or to go for it on fourth down inside his own 20.

So when the Bulldogs fell behind 13-0 early in the second quarter to unbeaten Sandalwood, highlighted by a 70-yard touchdown run by Kyjuan Herndon, there was no panic.

Not when the Saints scored from 41 yards out and were successful on a 2-point conversion attempt to wipe away Flagler Palm Coast’s 21-13 lead with 48.5 seconds left in regulation.

Not when the Bulldogs started the first overtime the worst way possible: with a holding penalty, two runs for no gains, capped off by junior quarterback Donovan Montoyo throwing an interception in the back of the end zone.

And especially not when the Saints lined up for a 20-yard field goal that, if good, would hand the Bulldogs their second loss of the season.

“Until somebody tells me the game is over,” Roland said. “I expect to win.”

Dennis Shorter timed the snap perfectly. The senior defensive back sped into the backfield untouched and blocked the chip-shot field goal to keep FPC’s hopes alive.

“I called it,” said Shorter, who blocked the extra point on Sandalwood’s opening touchdown in the first quarter. “I told my teammates to just scoot over because I knew I was going to block it.”

Sandalwood scored to start the second overtime. Lacking faith in their kicker, the Saints went for 2 again — and were stopped short.

Montoyo redeemed his earlier turnover by shedding two tacklers and strolling untouched into the end zone to tie the game.

Sophomore place kicker Stephen Usina, a goalie on FPC’s soccer team his freshman year, drilled the PAT to preserve the 28-27 upset win for the Bulldogs (5-1, 1-0 District 1-8A) on the night of Friday, Sept. 28, at Sal Campanella Memorial Stadium.

The Bulldogs went scoreless the first 20 minutes of the game, until Seabreeze transfer Deshaun Hugee broke free for a 17-yard touchdown run with 1:58 to play in the first half. It was the first of two touchdowns for Hugee, who also scored from 6 yards early in the third quarter.

The Bulldogs took their first lead of the night after the Saints fumbled within their own 10 with less than a minute to play in the first half.

Junior running back Ty Jenkins was tackled into the end zone on fourth-and-1.

However, an unsportsmanlike penalty pushed the PAT back 15 yards. Usina missed the attempt — but was run into by a Saints defender. The penalty gave the Bulldogs another shot, and backup kicker K.J. McCabe, who temporarily filled in for a hurt Usina, split the uprights.

“We started off a little slow, but we found our rhythm,” Shorter said. “We started playing together and believing in each other.”

With the win, FPC moved into a first-place tie in the district standings.

“I’m ready to kiss my wife and my kids,” said Roland, holding back tears. “I’m so proud of these kids. This was a season-defining win.”

 

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