St. Augustine- Tyrek Russ made the play of the day for the St. Augustine Yellow Jackets (10-1) Friday Night. With under 2 minutes remaining and trailing 35-28, Niceville(8-3) had one opportunity to tie the game with a last minute drive from midfield. Eagles Quarterback 6’4 200 pound Jeff Toney, scrambled to avoid pressure and heaved a desperation ball down the left sideline intended for his 6’4 200 pound Wide Receiver Trey Diggs. But the Yellow Jacket defense suffocated Diggs and a deflected ball by #4 CB Jarien Ramos who leaped with Diggs wound up in the arms of the 6’1 175 pound Russ who came up with the interception. The play sealed the first round victory at home over Niceville in the class 1-6A playoff game.
Niceville's Toney looks for Diggs Deep but it's INTERCEPTED by St Augustine's DB Tyrek Russ! He ends the game! 35-28! Final Jackets win! pic.twitter.com/ih2qCOm3mR
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) November 12, 2016
#22 with the interception!! pic.twitter.com/oullVxeRwD
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) November 12, 2016
In the game, St. Augustine showed that they could play sound football regardless of the in game situation. Early on when Niceville led 7-0 after a Jeff Toney read option touchdown run, the Jackets responded just one minute later with a score of their own. Quarterback Cole Northrup hit Emerson Kabus for an 80 yard touchdown pass to tie the game 7-7. Said Cole after the game, “we knew Niceville would try to stop the run early so we hit them over the top”. Hit them they did. They relied on Cole to make plays with his athleticism and arm to take the pressure off runningback Jahquise Russell. Yet it didn’t take long for Russell to get in on the action as he scored his first touchdown at the end of the first quarter on a one yard touchdown run putting St. Augustine up 14-7. Northrup and Russell would not end there.
In the second half Northrup connected with Cedrin Daniel for a short touchdown pass and Russell bust a run up the gut 75 yards to put St. Augustine up 28-7. Everything seemed to be clicking for the home team, until the Eagles of Niceville woke up. They began to play with desperation, so that meant going to their best player Trey Diggs. Toney hit Diggs on a short touchdown pass to bring the game closer 28-14 at the end of the third quarter. Toney would go back to Diggs midway through the fourth quarter on a 10 yard touchdown pass to pull to within a touchdown 28-21.
#14 Jeff Toney to #9 Trey Diggs combination has Nicevillle looking to come back pulled within a TD 28-21 pic.twitter.com/uvkZflZj29
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) November 12, 2016
St. Augutine and first year Head Coach Brian Braddock would do a great job of refocusing on the Eagles weaknesses on defense. They had trouble covering the speedy receivers from St. Augustine and Northrup exploited that on a short four yard touchdown to Kabus in the fourth quarter. Kabus did a great job of getting separation from the defenders all night, and Cole connected with his top receiver all night.
Jeff Tony touchdown pass to #4. 35-28 St Augustine pic.twitter.com/tgHbBfFOcC
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) November 12, 2016
Niceville would claw to a 35-28 deficit after Toney connected with #4 Deonte Sheffield on a short crossing pattern to which Sheffield turned it up and scored. Hope resonated when a partially blocked punt by Niceville’s Braijon Carr set up the Eagle offense in prime real estate with just 2 minutes remaining in the game.
Carr with the partial block punt! Niceville in business down 35-28. 2 min 4th pic.twitter.com/USYE5nDPro
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) November 12, 2016
Yet on the very next play from scrimmage, St. Augustine would gain the Russ interception, and Jaquise Russell would gain a critical first down to close the book on the first chapter of the Yellow Jackets quest for a championship. They start chapter two next week when Crestview comes to town in round two for the playoffs.
[ABTM id=23843]
