Jacksonville Fl- If you build it, they will come was the famous line from 1989 baseball film “Field of Dreams” starring Kevin Costner. Well, Friday night the crowd came and packed the stands for the home opener for Englewood, unveiling their new turf football field. Duval County Athletic Director Tammie Talley was on hand, as well as DCPS interim superintendent Dr. Dana Kriznar, and Adriel Rocha of Jaguars Prep to celebrate the new field. Head Football Coach Kevin Johnson Jr, athletic director Cynthia Bateh, and principal Marleny Chirino were just some of many who did the honors of cutting the ceremonial ribbon.
The Rams hosted the Ed White Commanders in their very first game on the shiny new turf. However, Ed White would come out with a sledge hammer on defense right away. Coach Eric Sampson’s defense forced a turnover on a strip sack by Janaurs Loyd and fumble return to the Englewood 5-yard line by linebacker Anthony Duncan.
However, Ed White would fail to punch it in on four straight tries thatnks to the Ram defense, as Englewood took over from it’s own 1-yard line. Players like senior defensive tackle Benjamin Preyer, and linebacker Malik Neely made plays all night for the black and gold.
On the next possession for Englewood, they would turn the ball over again, this time at the hands of Ed White’s Joshua Patterson, who intercepted a pass giving the Commanders great field position once again. Pressure from Troy Butler forced the errant throw. He and defensive back Julian Holt starred for a unit that applied pressure and tallied multiple sacks.
Yet once again the Commanders would fail to capitalize, this time turning the ball over themselves. Englewood’s Jaylen Scarver would intercept the Commander’s pass attempt and return it near midfield swinging momentum back their way once again.
A scoreless back and forth hard hitting contest continued into the second quarter unitl sophomore Tony Williams plunged into the endzone for the game’s first score givng Ed White an 8-0 lead going into halftime. Williams is a player to watch on both sides of the ball, but especially on defense.
The second half saw Ed White open up the air attack. Head Coach Lawrence Johnson gave up play calling duties in order to manage more overall dynamics of his team. Johnson hoped to get a new approach to the Commander’s passing attack with the coming of new offensive coordinator Travis McCall. The second half revealed the exact potential of that passing attack.
With 8:43 left in the third quarter McCall dialed up a deep ball from his quarterback Jaylen Pettway to wide receiver Nick Roberson for a beautiful pitch and catch touchdown. The two would hook up twice for scores in the second half.
Leading 16-6 in the third, Pettway would find another receiver in the end-zone, this time it was Joshua Patterson who pulled his best Travis Hunter impersonation by playing both ways.
Leading 22-6 Pettway would find yet another receiver on the night, this time it was Donald Hampton for a score. Hampton had a touchdown taken from him in the first half, as the referees called an apparent touchdown catch a trap instead. Yet, Hampton would not be denied the end-zone a second time.
Englewood came up short at home, but Coach Kevin Johnson has some talented pieces to a developing puzzle off University Blvd. Along with Scarver was senior Anthony Brown, who ignited the Ram’s offense once inserted at quarterback.
Brown would lead a touchdown drive late in the thrid quarter, as he took it himself into the endzone. He then would lead another scoring drive in the fourth quarter, tossing a touchdown pass to Israel Anglin. Englewood rotated quarterbacks between freshmn Ty Keister and Brown, however Brown seems to give the offense the better chance for success right now.
Ed White on the other hand is set at quarterback, as Jaylen Pettway tossed four touchdown passes on the night. The 6 foot 3 inch, 215 pound quarterback “has a big arm” says head coach Lawrence Johnson. He also has “very talented weapons at wide receiver”– Lawrence Johnson.
This young core of talented players turned a field of dreams into nightmares for Englewood (2-1), defeating the Rams 36-14, to improve to 2-1 on the season. Englewood has a bye next week before welcoming Stanton. Ed White has Terry Parker at home next week.
