Jacksonville Fl- In the final ten minutes of the class 4A state semifinal game, Bolles athletes stepped up in big ways to make big plays to defeat Cocoa 20-14. Trailing 7-6 in their biggest game of the year, the team was determined to keep their season alive, breathing life into an otherwise dead offense from the first half.
First there was junior wide receiver Gunner Boree, who leaped over two Cocoa defenders and came down with a jump ball touchdown in the corner of the end-zone. The play gave Bolles the lead with one second to play in the third quarter. A lead they had for the first time since early in the first quarter.
Leading 13-7, the play-makers for Bolles continued their display of athletic artistry. After a long run by running back Kade Frew set up Bolles in scoring position, Bolles quarterback Jeremiah Johnson would toss a beautiful spiral to the corner of the end-zone to his wide receiver Davis Ellis. Ellis would make an Odell Beckham like one-handed grab in the end-zone for the touchdown. Ellis, who was over thrown on two potential touchdowns, connected with his quarterback for what seemed to be the back breaking play of the night.
Cocoa would navigate a scoring drive quickly, as quarterback D.J Arroyo hit his big target wide receiver Isaiah Jones for a big slant. The two terrorized the Bulldog secondary in the first half. Arroyo would end the drive with a touchdown pass to O.J Ross to pull Cocoa to within 6 points with 2:03 left in the game.
Bolles would recover the on-sides kick, but still needed a first down to run out the clock. Cocoa’s defense would stop Bolles on three consecutive downs, using all of their timeouts. On fourth and 8, Coach Matt Toblin elected to go for it, calling a fake punt. It was executed flawlessly as Fordham hit tight end Simon Brackin for a long gain down to the Cocoa 2-yard line. Bolles would take a knee in victory formation as the celebration erupted at Skinner-Barco Stadium.
“Those guys made unbelievable plays down the stretch for us. Simon, Davis, and Gunner did an unbelievable job, just getting the ball out there and getting the opportunity to make a play against a really good football team, I couldn’t be more proud of them”. – Matt Toblin
Toblin switched it up in many ways for the second half. He began the game wearing a blue fleece, yet emerged from halftime without the fleece, dawning a shirt and tie. The switch seemed to help the offense. The offense was stagnant in the first half scoring only 3-points. The Bolles running game found it hard to get past the quick and aggressive Cocoa defense. Cocoa’s Cedrick Hawkins intercepted a pass early in the game and made crushing hits. Dajavon White registered a sack and clogged the interior.
However, Bolles found ways to make explosive plays in the absence of consistent drives. The first series of the game saw defensive back Patric Menk intercept a pass which set up a Bolles field goal by kicker Matthew Berry. Menk also led the team in solo tackles in the game.
Bolles took a 3-0 lead but Cocoa responded when DJ Arroyo ran a quarterback sneak to give the Tigers a 7-3 lead. Arroyo’s early score was the highlight for Cocoa’s offense in the first half as Bolles defense kept them in the game.
Defensive end David Adewale terrorized Cocoa to the tune of 3 sacks. Caden Fordham intercepted a pass and registered a sack in the contest. They were the catalyst to a defense that held Cocoa to their lowest point total of the year.
A second half of plays switched the momentum of the game, and is the reason the Bolles Bulldogs will be playing for their 12th state championship. (11-1) Bolles will face (12-2) Booker T Washington ( Miami), who defeated #1 seeded Lakewood 9-7. The game will take place Wednesday December 11th.
