Northeast Fl- It was the return of Bartram’s Riley Trujillo ( UCF commit) but not St. Augustine’s Locklan Hewlett (Wake Forest commit), two of the best quarterbacks in Northeast Florida. St. Augustine welcomed their rival Bartram Trail to Foots Brumley stadium. Bartram boasted a 2-1 record after a bye week, and not to mention with much needed rest. Trujillo was sidelined with an injury the last three weeks.
St. Augustine did not get a rest but Hewlett did, missing last week’s game against Menendez. Hewlett was a healthy scratch for the game this week however, as coach Brian Braddock chose to keep him sidelined to recover from an injury. It would be senior Dylan Cook who’d get just his second start ever, the first was last week. As both he and Trujillo prepared to sling the football around.
It began very slow and melodic as both teams looked to feel each other out. Although there was no scoring, St. Augustine chose to move at a furious pace in the first quarter. Never huddling and running a play within 30 seconds of the next. The pace would work at the end of the quarter as Cook found Trenton Jones for the games first score, and Jones first score of the year.
Dylan Cook to Trenton Jones TOUCHDOWN ST Augustine! 7-0 ,1:51 1st! Wow! Without starting QB Locklan Hewlett, cook is cooking! pic.twitter.com/f005EBBgC9
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) September 22, 2023
In the second quarter, Riley would find his rhythem and really get into a groove. He marched Bartram doen the field thanks to a long pass reception by De’Andre Caldwell.
Trujillo would then connect with tight end Landon Tippie for a touchdown on the drive. This knotted the score at 7-7 all. A long pass by Cook to Myles Simmons set up a field goal by Logan Wandzilak, giving the Jackets a 10-7 halftime lead.
Bartram's Landon Tippie from Riley Trujillo @rileytrujillo4 @LandonTippie23 TOUCHDOWN! We're tied! 7-7, 2nd, 10:53 vs St Augustine! pic.twitter.com/XqJ6KdZgUS
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) September 22, 2023
An uncharacteristically low scoring first half made way for another back and forth scoring affair in the second. Something this series is used to. The first play of their first possession for Bartram Trail resulted in a beautiful touchdown throw by Trujillo to Connor Winn for a go ahead score 14-10.
Connor Winn from Riley Trujillo TOUCHDOWN!! First play for Bartram's offense after halftime goes for 6! Just how Coach Cory John's drew it up! 14-10 Bartram leads St Augustine , 3rd ,11:01 @bt_athletics @BTHS_Football pic.twitter.com/7WB6LNnjhg
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) September 23, 2023
The third quarter saw several lead changes, and several dance moves. First St. Augustine’s 3-star running back Devonte Lyons, would break through on a sweep left, cut off the beautiful block of Tashaun Whitfield and his pulling guard for a 35-yard touchdown.
Devonte Lyons finds daylight!!! TOUCHDOWN ST AUGUSTINE!! Do ya dance Devonte! You've put the Jackets up 17-14, over Bartram 3rd ,6:59 pic.twitter.com/5D0vLZeoyz
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) September 23, 2023
Liam Padron would tie the game with a field goal for Bartram makign the score 17-17, just for St. Augustine’s 3-star wide receiver Carl Jenkins Jr to catch a 5-yard hitch and hopped on his high horse, hitching his wagon all the way to the end-zone for a 34-yard score.
Carl Jenkins Jr!!!! @thecarljenkins Makes the play from a 1st player perspective! Like your playing Madden 24' Just watch ! Wow! TOUCHDOWN!! St Augustine leads 24-17 over Bartram , 1:00, 3rd pic.twitter.com/Pj7yirqiV4
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) September 23, 2023
The score was 24-17 heading to the fourth quarter when bothteams would tense up. Bartram would have a field goal blocked. St. Augustine would return the favor with a fumble at mind field. However, Bartram would settle down by giving the ball to Laython Biddle and he did the rest. Biddle would bulldoze his way for a fourth quarter touchdown to tie the game at 24-24.
Look at this ANGRY RUN BY LAYTHON BIDDLE!!! Wow!!! TOUCHDOWN BARTRAM PAT GOOD! 24-24 , 4th @LaythonB @bt_athletics @BTHS_Football pic.twitter.com/Z3YRFLUiqt
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) September 23, 2023
The lead wouldnt last long however, as Cook, kept cooking the Bears defense. He would find Myles Simmons again, this time for a touchdown ona beautoful route by Simmons that left the defender turned around. Cook would toss 3 touchdowns in the game as St. Augustine reclaimed the lead 31-24.
Dylan Cook to Myles Simmons Touchdown!!! @FiveStar904 St Augustine leads 31-24 over Bartram,4th 4:00 pic.twitter.com/tStCnXar2n
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) September 23, 2023
This now was Riley Trujillo and Laython Biddle time. The two seniors had never lost to St. Augustine, and was determined to keep tha tstrak going before they departed for college. First, Trujillo would keep the ball on designed runs, pushing the pile and moving the chains closer to the St. Augustine endzone.
Riley Trujillo is willing his team to the end zone!! Wow what a run! @rileytrujillo4 pic.twitter.com/uv8Q1cxkr3
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) September 23, 2023
Biddle would finish off the drive pushing the pile into the enzone thanks to the help of his offensive line as the score would changed again 31-31 with less than 2-minutes to go.
Laython Biddle muscles it in the end zone TOUCHDOWN BARTRAM we are TIED AGAIN!! 31-31, 4th vs St Augustine pic.twitter.com/IcUSyT6tFX
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) September 23, 2023
St. Augustine would put the game on the shoulders of Devonte Lyons who carried the ball several times gaining two crucial first downs into Bartram territory. Coah Braddock would then trot out Wandzilak, who nailed a 38-yard field goal, giving the Jackets a 34-31 lead with only 33.7 seconds remaining on the clock.
It's OVER!! Bartram's 5-game winning streak over St Augustine with it as The Jackets defeat the Bears 34-31! Wow what a game! pic.twitter.com/dZTP3fIQhE
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) September 23, 2023
In the end a winning streak of 5 games by Bartram was over, when a hook and ladder was unsuccessful and the players rejoiced from St. Augustine. In a series that saw St. Augustine dominate for nearly two decades by winning every game, the Jackets would regain bragging rights once again.
