Jacksonville Fl- Creekside has never beaten Bolles in their fifteen year history. That is until Friday night when the Knights shocked the Bulldogs in overtime 31-24. The win not only sent shock waves around Northeast Florida, but the entire state as the consensus number one team in the area fell to a team not on anyone’s radar except for Duval Sports.
Creekside made our weekly Duval Sports Power Rankings last week, cracking the top 10 at number ten. No other publication had them in their top 10, making their win against Bolles an upset by many people’s opinions. However, Creekside never believed they weren’t as good as Bolles or that they couldn’t beat the current Class 4A runners-up, and it showed Friday night.
“Every kid came to our school to change our program and they sure has heck have.” – Sean McIntyre
Creekside would jump out on Bolles early scoring on a rushing touchdown by Preston Strope (former Duval Sports Top 50) to give Creekside a 7-0 advantage in the first quarter. Strope would score his second touchdown in the second quarter to give Creekside a 14-7 lead at halftime.
It was an uncharacteristically poor performance on offense for the Bolles Bulldogs up to that point in the game. One of the top rushing offenses in the state was held in check by the Creekside defense. However, Bolles defense would keep them in the game scoring on a fumble recovery by linebacker Lovan Mayo who scooped and scored for an 18-yard touchdown before the half. They would score again on defense when defensive back Spencer Surface intercepted a Creekside pass and took it 43-yards for another Bulldog score to tie the game in the third quarter 14-14.
After a Creekside field goal put them ahead 17-14, Bolles offense finally woke up as they responded with a touchdown from quarterback Gunner Boree to wide receiver Davis Ellis for a 55-yard score puttign Bolles up 21-17 in the third. However, quarterback Daniel Plummer III (former Duval Sports Top 50) would respond for Creekside when he hit Jack Goodrich for a touchdown pass and catch to regain the lead 24-21 in the third.
Bolles would convert a field goal to tie the game in the fourth quarter 24-24 and the teams would play into overtime hoping to catch the other in a mistake. Creekside would be the one to catch Bolles in a mistake as Daniel Plummer hit tight end Jacob Ritchie for the go ahead score. Bolles had a chance to tie the game but a reverse pass failed on fourth down giving Coach Sean McIntyre and the Knights the win.
A win like this means more attention for Creekside (2-1) and deservingly so. One poll has them ranked in the Top 25 in the state after the win. With players like Daniel Plummer III, Jack Goodrich, Preston Strope, Vince Approbato and others (all former Duval Sports Top 50 athletes), this is a team with the talent to make a statement like they did Friday night. They’ll look to keep their same intensity this week as they face an undefeated Fleming Island (3-0) team. It’s sure to be a battle in the trenches with two of the best rushing teams in our area going at it.
Bolles is home for Palatka (0-4) a good game to rebound to their winning ways.
Featured Image from R. Walter Stovall Twitter
