WESTSIDE – The Backyard couldn’t generate enough magic for the Lee Generals to come back in the last minute as the Fleming Island Eagles played superb defense to pull the 31-26 upset win in the first round of the playoffs.
Just when you thought Lee would make a pull ahead score in the fourth quarter, Fleming Island took control of their mistakes and capitalized.
Overall, Lee had a great performance on offense and defense, but yet again having an elite defense proves that you can win championships.
Fleming Island proved tonight if you have a great running game, an efficient offense, elite defense and good special teams, you can win any game.
Workhorse back, Dewayne McBride, started the game for Fleming Island, but wasn’t able to finish due to an injury. In his place, was Chauncey Garrison, who along with quarterback Brian Brown, managed the game effectively. Brown didn’t complete many deep passes but did make the short passes and ran the ball to gain the yardage needed.
A McBride touchdown and a field goal gave Fleming Island an early 10-0 lead, however two minute later Taz Nicholson put Lee on the board with a touchdown run cutting the lead to 10-7 in the second quarter.
A big hit on special teams gave Lee the ball back and Derrick Jones found Jurial Caldwelll in the end zone for the go ahead score giving Lee its first lead of the game at 14-10 going into the half.
A scoreless third quarter set the tone for an exciting fourth quarter between the two teams as somebody was 12 minutes away from going to the second round.
Fleming Island defense was spectacular in the second half of the game especially in the fourth quarter scoring 14 points, including a fumble return which gave the Eagles a stunning 24-14 lead with less than four minutes left.
Jones found Teddy Ingram alone for a score cutting the lead to 24-20 just a minute later to seize back some of the momentum.
The Lee defense did their job by coming in and making sure the Fleming Island offense was pushed back off the field for a potential game winning drive.
However, Jones was picked off by Eugene Oglesby, who returned it all the way back for a score and a 31-20 Fleming Island lead with 1:20 left in the game.
Lee wouldn’t go away though as Jones scored on a keeper and a two point conversion to cut the lead to 31-26 in the final minute of the game.
This was a tough loss for the Generals (9-2) but a huge upset for the Eagles (9-2), who advance to the second round of the playoffs at Orlando Edgewater (9-2) next Friday.
