Neptune Beach-Sandalwood’s wide receiver Jhaylin Embry tossed a touchdown and caught two more, leading his team to a 34-10 victory over rival Fletcher. It was a special game for Embry, but for both team’s also as the two programs have not faced each other on the gridiron since 2015. These current seniors were in the 8th grade. The game was moved from Friday to Saturday, and then from Saturday to Thursday at 5:30. However both teams seemed to be unaffected by the early start.
Fletcher would get on the board first with a 32- yard field goal by James Hawkes as the Senators led 3-0. The drive was all offensive line and running back Myles Montgomery powering through the saints defense. Montgomery, running behind offensive linemen Bradley Ashmore (Vanderbilt commit), Tyler Matson and company would pound the rock the entire first half. He tallied 100 yards on 18 carries.
However Fletcher still trailed at halftime 14-3, that’s because Sandalwood’s offense woke up. Last week against Terry Parker, the Saints struggled to move the ball consistently. This week, not so much. First Jeremiah Huntley rumbled 30 yards for a touchdown breaking tackles and keeping his balance all the way to the endzone. Sandalwood led 7-3 after one quarter.
Then after a stop by the Saints defense, the Saints offense led by Florida State commit Jeff Sims went to work in the second quarter. Sims rattled off first downs showing his running ability. Then, the Saints threw a bit of trickery into their drive when Embry took a speed sweep to the right, but pulled up and tossed a 65-yard touchdown pass to a wide open Javonte Kinsey. The touchdown put the Saints in command of the game to which the Senators would never be able to reassert themselves.
Sandalwood’s bend but don’t break defense made key stops on fourth downs. After Montgomery would break a first down run, the Saints would adjust forcing the Senators to pass. The secondary, led by Derek Bermudez and Jaquez Robinson completely shut down the passing game of Fletcher, allowing the Saints to load the box and make the point saving plays.
This put the ball back in the hands of Jeff Sims who made them pay. Sims tossed a beautiful 30-yard pass to a leaping Embry who came down with a receiving touchdown to go with his passing touchdown. The score put the Saints up 21-3 in the third quarter.
Not finished, Sims added a 14-yard strike to Embry for the touchdown. Sims then added a rushing touchdown to his magnificent rushing day that saw the senior run for 175 yards and a touchdown on the day. In the air he finished with 105 yards and two touchdown passes.
Sandalwood’s Jeremiah Huntley rushed for 125 yards and a touchdown. Myles Montgomery rushed for another touchdown in the second half, bursting a 64 yarder up the middle. He would end with over 200 yards rushing and a touchdown on the night.
Sandalwood Coach Adam Geis said after the game, ” we have a lot of confidence and we are improving from game to game”. He said of his quarterback Sims, “when you’re a Florida State commit, that’s how you have to play; you have to put your team on your shoulders and carry them to victory and that’s what he did tonight”.
Sandalwood (2-0) will host Vanguard (Ocala) next week, while Fletcher(1-1) will prepare to face Terry Parker(0-1) next Friday.
