Atlantic Coast High School- Every football player must have it to be successful, and every football team must play with it to win. Passion isn’t something that your season record determines, passion is propelled from the heart. Both the Sandalwood Saints (5-5) and the Atlantic Coast Sting Rays (2-8) came into the last game of the season with nothing to play for but pride. Both were eliminated from playoff contention, but both still had a lot to play for. Sandalwood looked to complete an overall winning record, while Atlantic Coast looked to end the year at home with a win for first year head coach Jimmy Hill. It would take heart for both teams to achieve these goals, yet from the very beginning of the contest one team’s heart was seemingly ripped out of their chest.
On the first play of the game, Sandalwood attempted an onsides kick. The kick bounced off the ground and as both teams scurried for the bouncing pig skin, Atlantic Coast Guard Joey Stuart remained on the ground writhing in pain. Suffering an apparent leg injury, Stuart had to be transported by ambulance to a medical center. Both teams kneeled in near silence for nearly fifteen minutes as trainers tended to the injured Stuart and EMT responders arrived. Sandalwood and Atlantic Coast would both show tremendous support for the injured senior, playing his last game on his home field.
A great showing of support from both Atlantic Coast and Sandalwood for Stingray LG Joey Stuart who suffered a serious injury. pic.twitter.com/WhDxQQ5haO
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) November 3, 2017
“Win for Joey” now became the battle cry for Atlantic Coast, yet the emotions of seeing a fallen player at the onset of the game may have been too much for them. Especially with a hungry Sandalwood team standing across on the opposing sideline. On the first drive of the game, Atlantic Coast Quarterback Tannor Watson moved the ball well through the air. They drove the ball to the Saints 27 yard line, but was forced to punt. Sandalwood began their drive at their own 20 yard line, and put together promising plays in the beginning as well. Yet they too would fall victim to a turnover as Stingray defensive back Travon Wallace intercepted the Sandalwood pass. The score remained 0-0.
Travon Wallace #8 gets the interception for Atlantic Coast pic.twitter.com/4ThaQRioMX
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) November 3, 2017
Atlantic Coast had another opportunity to strike first in the south side battle, but disaster would strike again for them, when Saints defensive tackle Jordan Miller penetrated the line and forced a fumble with the quarterback and running back exchange. The fumble was recovered by linebacker Malik “ATL” Griffiths and Sandalwood was in business again on offense.
Jordan Miller with the penetration on the forced fumble! pic.twitter.com/eSK43niTqV
— Duval Sports ™️ (@DuvalSports) November 3, 2017
Malik "ATL "Griffis with the fumble recovery for Sandalwood! pic.twitter.com/n0ICnCftUG
— Duval Sports ™️ (@DuvalSports) November 3, 2017
Sandalwood showed great improvement on the offensive side of the ball in their final regular season game. Saints sophomore quarterback Jeffery Sims found his big tall senior receiver Edwin Carter on several big plays down the field. Including a nice 42 yard pass which put Sandalwood deep in the Atlantic Coast red zone. Sims would cap the drive with a touchdown pass to wide receiver RZ McCorker in the corner of the left end zone, putting Sandalwood up 7-0 in the first quarter.
#1 Rz McCorker on the recieving end of the #10 Jeffrey Simms TD pass Sandalwood 7 Atlantic Coast 0 pic.twitter.com/D6ndNfnrpP
— Duval Sports ™️ (@DuvalSports) November 3, 2017
Atlantic Coast would have a chance to respond and once again moved the ball well between the twenties. This time getting all the way down to the Saints 25 yard line, Coast would be victimized again by an interception this time by Saints defensive back Adam Burns. Burns would have two interceptions on the night. It stalled another opportunity for Coast, yet started another opportunity for the Wood. Another big pass from Sims to Carter set up Sandalwood in great field position on the Atlantic Coast 10 yard line. Running back Antonio Clary would advance the ball to the three yard line to end the first quarter at 7-0 Sandalwood. The beginning of the second quarter saw Clary punch it in for six to give the Saints a 14-0 lead.
With their backs up against the wall, Atlantic Coast was placed in do or die mode, and Jamari Broussard decided to do something about that. The talented senior running back wasn’t used very often in the contest, but on this drive he grinded out chunks of yards for first downs. He would put his team on the board with a toss to the left out racing the Saints defenders to the pylon for the touchdown. 14-7 was the score midway through the second.
Jamari Broussard with the TD run for Atlantic Coast! The close the gap trailing Sandalwood 14-7. 2nd qtr. 6:40 pic.twitter.com/cFcwS2pScu
— Duval Sports ™️ (@DuvalSports) November 4, 2017
Atlantic Coast experienced a resurgent second quarter, yet Sandalwood made sure not to let up from their offensive onslaught. Head Coach Adam Geis would turn to his senior running back David Vaughns III to keep the pedal to the metal, and Vaughns did that and more. Vaughns shot onto the scene like a rocket, taking a big play 69 yards to the Atlantic Coast five yard line. Vaughns would then pound the rock up the gut for the touchdown to increase the Sandalwood lead to 21-7.
#7 David Vaughns takes the pass 69 yards to the Coast 5 yard line then punches it in for the TD on the Gut next play. 21-7 2nd pic.twitter.com/50lTrrU8Ra
— Duval Sports ™️ (@DuvalSports) November 4, 2017
After a big play by Sandalwood Atlantic Coast responded by driving down to the Sandalwood 20 yard line. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty placed the ball at the Sandalwood five yard line, but the Saints defense would hold them on three downs. Kicker Zachery Benwick would hit a field goal to end the first half as Atlantic Coast trailed Sandalwood 21-10. The second half was all Sandalwood, as their passion intensified through their play. David Vaughns once again made his presence known with a 40 yard touchdown run in the third quarter to make the score 28-10. Fittingly, quarterback Jeffrey Sims would connect with wide receiver Edwin Carter for a touchdown late in the contest to add a score to their big night through the air. The score ballooned the lead to 36-10, and Sandalwood would tack on another score while coast would as another to end the game.
Final Score: Sandalwood 42 Atlantic Coast 16
It wasn’t the year many of the seniors on both sides expected, but to play the game of football is to expect the unexpected. How you respond to it on the field should be an invaluable lesson to show how you respond to changes in life. Congratulations to all the seniors, some who will be playing their last game of football. May passion propel you through life’s ever changing seasons, achieving greatness as you did simply by stepping on the gridiron.
