- November 8, 2024
-
-
Loading
Loading
In a game that featured over 1,000 yards of offense and 17 touchdowns, it took a defensive play to end the madness and secure a piece of the District 2-7A football championship for Flagler Palm Coast.
The spectators at Sal Campanella Memorial Stadium, many of whom came for FPC's Senior Night, witnessed a thrilling offensive showcase that ended three hours after the opening kickoff with FPC outlasting DeLand 62-57 on Thursday, Nov. 7.
Braylyn "Juice" Simmons scored the winning touchdown with 1:07 left on perhaps the most bizarre play of the game. On paper, Simmons caught a 31-yard touchdown pass, but the ball was knocked out of his hands just short of the goal line and he recovered the fumble in the end zone.
The feeling on both sides of the field was that whichever team had the ball last would win. One minute left in regulation for DeLand to score again seemed like an eternity in a game that had nine lead changes and 10 touchdowns that were 45 yards or longer.
But with 59 seconds left, FPC sophomore Lucas Sirhaj leaped high in the air to intercept a pass by DeLand's Gardner Nordman and secure the victory for the FPC Bulldogs.
FPC improved to 9-1 on the season and will be in the playoffs next week. With University losing Spruce Creek, those three teams tied for first place in the district with 2-1 records. The team with the highest ranking will be awarded the title and a guaranteed home game in the first round of the playoffs. The final rankings and playoff pairings will be announced at 6 p.m. today.
The 5-foot-6 Sirhaj intercepted his seventh pass of the year to lead all Class 7A players.
"I saw that ball in the air, and I just said, 'I got to go get that ball. We got to win this game,' because I hear on the speaker that Spruce Creek had beaten University, so I was like, 'I want to win that district championship,'" he said.
FPC coach Daniel Fish said Sirhaj is always in the right position. Sirhaj said he owes his success in picking off passes to his position coach, and also to his size.
"I think it's just because I'm undersized, and they just want to get it over my head, but it's not going to happen," he said, "because I work with my coach, Coach Chris Parks, and he helped me through everything and I wouldn't be anything without him."
DeLand freshman Taihj Moore rushed for 227 yards and scored five touchdowns, according to WNZF statistics. FPC running back Marcus Mitchell also ran for 227 yards and scored two touchdowns.
FPC quarterback Hayden Hayes accounted for six touchdowns, rushing for three scores, including a 56-yard scoring run, and throwing for three more scores.
Mikhail Zysek caught two touchdown passes for FPC. Corinthians Watson scored on a 79-yard pick-six with 2.8 seconds left in the first half on a DeLand fourth-down pass. The touchdown tied the score at 28-28 at the half.
This story will be updated.
To watch a replay of the game, go to https://www.youtube.com/@flaglerbroadcasting.
