St Johns Fl- In a wild second half that saw Creekside and Fleming Island trade a combined 10 touchdowns between each other, Creekside was able to outrace Fleming Island to victory 49-48. The game would come down to the final seconds. This frenzied back and forth affair saw terrific touchdowns, and torturous turnovers.
Fleming Island desperately needed a win after dropping five straight games. They’ve played some of the best teams in the state, and they came right out of the gate making plays like a hungry team. Quarterback Cibastian Broughton was cooking, he tossed a beautiful fade to the corner of the endzone where Devaen Boykin would go up and get it for a score putting Fleming Island up 7-0. The two would hook up again for a score on a similar play before halftime.
Cibastian Broughton @cibastianb11 to Devaen Boykin! @Devbenjiz TOUCHDOWN Fleming Island! @FIHSFOOTBALL They lead Creekside 7-0 , 4:47 1st pic.twitter.com/4nrBZ1Cfmq
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) October 20, 2023
Creekside would respond to both scores themselves in very similar fashion. Quarterback Sean Ashenfelder found wide receiver Kaleb Taylor-Burch across the middle as Burch raced 49-yards for their first touchdown.
Sean Ashenfelder @AshenfelderSean to Kaleb Taylor-Burch! @KoreenBurch TOUCHDOWN!!! Creekside ties the game 7-7 vs Fleming Island 9:30, 2nd pic.twitter.com/NnZgO7ZsDd
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) October 20, 2023
Creekside would score in less than sixty seconds right before the half when Harrison Garrido burst a long run deep into the redzone of Fleming Island. He finished off the drive with a short touchdown run to tie the game 14-14 going into halftime.
Creekside scores in less than 60 seconds! Wow! Harrison Garrido with two big runs on the drive! Knights tie it 14-14 3:00 to play 2nd pic.twitter.com/MrAhkrSF7B
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) October 20, 2023
The second half was a complete firework show with so many scores it was hard to keep up. The most spectacular feat of the night would come by the feet of Cibastian Broughton. The 3-star quarterback dropped back to pass, stepped up in the pocket, and weaved his way right around rushers to take off for a 75-yard touchdown run. The sensationaly sweet play, was soured however, as the extra point was no good. This would come back to bite Fleming Island.
Cibastian Broughton takes off for a 75-yard TOUCHDOWN! WOW! His third score of the game!! BALLER! @cibastianb11 Fleming Island retakes the lead over Creekside 20-14! 11:09, 3rd @FIHSFOOTBALL pic.twitter.com/aj8a6n4PVk
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) October 21, 2023
Creekside would respond as Garrido would follow the blocks of his offensive line, hitting big runs down the field. The Knights would go hurry up on theses scoring drives to catch Fleming Island off guard and it worked. This time running back Nate Black would score from short yardage to give Creekside a 21-20 lead.
Creekside increased their lead very quickly. After forcing Fleming Island to punt, Ashenfelder would find Kaleb-Taylor Burch again, this time for a 55-yard touchdown to which Burch took a slant the distance. Burch finished with 10 catches for 237 yards two touchdowns on the night.
Trailing 28-20 it was once again the Broughton and Boykin law-firm on the case. Cibastian Broughton dropped back and saw his talented wide receiver Devaen Boykin streaking down the right sideline. He trusted him with another fade, and Boykin came down with another score with a defender all over him.
Cibastian Broughton and Devaen Boykin are on fire tonight! Another touchdown! For Fleming Island! They pull to within 2 points 28-26, 3rd @cibastianb11 @Devbenjiz @FIHSFOOTBALL pic.twitter.com/h5yEKZ3C3N
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) October 21, 2023
The touchdown made it 28-26 when Tyler Beverly bull-dozed his way into the endzone for the 2-point conversion as Fleming Island tied the game 28-28 in the third quarter.
Creekside looked as if they were going to put the game away when Harrison Garrido rushed off tackle to his left for a touchdown. The 2025 running back was behind another great runner in senior Nick Williams, but was thrusted into the starting position after just one game due to injuries. All he’s done since is rush for over 1,000 yards in 8 games. Against Fleming Island, he rushed for 171 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Touchdown Creekside! They retake the lead over Fleming Island 35-28!! wow back and forth they go! End of 3rd! Harrison Garrido scores for @Creekside_fb pic.twitter.com/lgAUvHAPye
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) October 21, 2023
Fleming Island never gave up however, and it’s a testament to the hard working players from “ The Rock”. After a short Creekside touchdown by quarterback Sean Ashenfelder made the score 42-28. Broughton would lead his team down the field for another score. Avoiding the rush he flicked a pass over the middle high to Trace Burney for a score.
With a flick of the wrist and Broughton has tossed ANOTHER TOUCHDOWN!! Fleming Island is within 7 points trailing Creekside 42-35! 4th 7:44 @cibastianb11 to Trace Burney @Trace_Burn4 pic.twitter.com/Mbgw6613SU
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) October 21, 2023
With a deficit still looking Fleming Island needed their defense to step up and they did. On the ensuing drive Jarius Rodgers would get around the right end and strip sack Ashenfelder, recovering his own forced fumble at the Creekside 25-yard line.
Amazing! Jairus Rodgers with the strip sack AND RECOVERY for Fleming Island! First down Golden Eagles in business trailing Creekside 42-35, 4th 7:00 @FIHSFOOTBALL @JariusRodgers pic.twitter.com/qn3XfXA42u
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) October 21, 2023
It didn’t take long for Broughton to make them pay. He once again used his legs, this time eluding a pass rusher to race to the left pylon untouched for an amazing score to tie the game. Even more astonishing, is that Broughton would have yet another game changing play in his bag when he found receiver Demhir Jackson over the middle for a 75-yard touchdown to give the Golden Eagles the lead 48-42 with just 3:16 to play in the game.
Cibastian Broughton looks back at em! You can't touch me! TOUCHDOWN
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) October 21, 2023
Fleming Island! The game is tied 42-42, 5:00, 4th @cibastianb11 @FIHSFOOTBALL pic.twitter.com/ORUK2LU20J
Broughton finished with five passing touchdowns, two rushing touchdowns, and amassed over 400-yards of total offense on his way to an awe-inspiring seven touchdown night. It seemed like the Golden Eagle defense would secure their quarterback the victory, when Tacori Allen intercepted a Creekside pass with just 1:53 to play in the game.
INTERCEPTION!! Fleming Island has the ball with 1:53 to play!! Tacori Allen @TacoriAllen pic.twitter.com/nbKHfE0wrw
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) October 21, 2023
Yet, disaster would strike on the very next play, when junior linebacker Luke Millinor filled the gap and laid a hat directly to the chest of the Fleming Island running back dislodging the football which was recovered by Creekside’s Clayton Long.
FUMBLE!!!!! Big hit by Creekside! Knights recover!! They trail Fleming Island by 6! What an ending! 48-42! pic.twitter.com/6dPtGDhto3
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) October 21, 2023
The play gave life to the Knights, and four plays later Ashenfelder would find Eros Taufer for a touchdown, to give Creekside the lead 49-48 lead with just 50-seconds remaining in the game. Ashenfelder finished with three touchdown passes and a touchdown on the ground on the night.
Eros Taufer Touchdown!!! Creekside!! They lead 49-48 leads than a minute to play…. pic.twitter.com/qPvJTOmaFz
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) October 21, 2023
Still, Fleming Island had one more chance to pull it out. Kaylib Singleton took the ensuing kickoff to mid-field. Broughton would eventually find Tracy Burney on a pass to the Creekside 25-yard line, however on an attempted quarterback draw, Broughton was sacked pushing the ball back near the 30-yard line.
This set up a potential game winning field goal by Fleming Island, but the kick which had the distance would sail wide, as Creekside ran onto the field in celebration of the 49-48 victory.
The game winning kick is…….. pic.twitter.com/eI0vhuBEUc
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) October 21, 2023
Creekside (4-4) has Atlantic Coast(4-4) next week on the road, while Fleming Island (2-6) will 8-0 Buchholz.
