Jacksonville Fl- Patience, that’s what the Bolles Bulldogs displayed Friday night in the Class 4A FHSAA state semifinal game. Trailing for most of the game and struggling on offense, patience was the virtue that paid off for Bolles. The tenacious defense of Gadsden County kept Bolles at bay for as long as they could, shutting the Bulldogs out for three quarters.
Yet three quarters wouldn’t be enough as Gunner Boree threw a touchdown pass to Davis Ellis on 4th & 3 to tie the game at 7-7 with 8:50 remaining in the 4th quarter.
Gadsden still had a shot to win the game in the fourth quarter, however a field goal attempt was just short of the crossbar. The game would go into overtime.
With Bolles’ defense playing lights out all night, the defense would continue to hold. Bolles gave up no points all night with the only score for Gadsden County coming from junior defensive back Zaire Riley’s interception return for a touchdown.
Holding firm with the game tied, Avery Epstein and Hayden Schwartz were huge all night with Epstein providing the only turnover for Bolles, while Schwartz blocked a potential game winning field goal of Gadsden County in overtime.
With Schwartz blocking the kick in overtime, Bolles would get the ball only needing a field goal to win. A field goal they would get as Parsa Pordeli sealed the deal for Bolles and sent the Bulldogs back to the FHSAA 4A state championship game.
Said senior wide receiver Davis Ellis after the game, ” we made a couple of big plays and set ourselves up, we got an overtime win and that was big”. A big win for Bolles who will return to the state championship game for the second consecutive year. Head Coach Matt Toblin has now gone to three state championship games in five years (Ponte Vedra 2016).
Bolles will face Cardinal Gibbons in the championship game. Cardinal Gibbons (7-1) defeated Cocoa (10-1) 45-14 in their state semifinal game.
Photos by Ray Grant
