St. Johns FL- It was September 14th, 2018 the last time Bartram Trail lost to a Northeast Florida high school football opponent. Nineteen straight wins going into Friday’s night contest against Sandalwood. Their 28-13 victory made it twenty straight victories, cementing area dominance unlike any other team in the area currently.
The Sandalwood game would’ve been one ideal for a let down resulting in a “trap game”. However the Bears were focused after their biggest win of the season versus Oakleaf the week prior. The player that led the to their seventh win of the season was senior A.J Jones III. Jones rushed for 163 yards and the longest touchdown of the night. Jones rocketed down the right side-line for a 66-yard touchdown run.
What has made Bartram one of the top producing offenses in the state averaging 347.2 yards per game and scoring 21 touchdowns coming into Friday’s contest, is there offensive weaponry. In the second quarter Quarterback Santino Marucci hit Tight End Eli Sutherland for a touchdown. Marucci’s tenth touchdown pass on the season and Sutherland’s fourth touchdown reception on the season.
Marucci has adjusted to the Bears offense during the regular season, as the quarterback moved to the area from Benjamin high school near Tampa. He scored on a short touchdown run to increase the Bears lead to 21-0.
The chemistry with the receivers is reaching optimal levels as well. The Wake Forest commit would showcase that chemistry hitting Aaron Zawacki in the game for a big gain in the second and a touchdown in the third quarter.
Sandalwood’s Chris Calhoun continued his impressive season rushing for a touchdown in the game. Nick Brown would also get into the end-zone with a touchdown for the Saints, however it was too little too late as Bartram Trail went on to win the game 28-13.
Bartram looks to get their eighth win on the season and twenty first win in a row against area opponents when they travel to Raines (3-5) next week. Sandalwood will end their regular season at home against Jackson Thursday November 5th.
