-St. Augustine Fl- In the FHSAA State playoffs Friday night, St. Augustine crossed a bridge of Lions to the other side of the Class 3S bracket. That bridge was built by running back Devonte Lyons who rushed for an amazing for touchdowns, leading the Yellow Jackets over Escambia 31-14.
Lyons first touchdown came on a 3-yard run with 9:46 to go in the first quarter, putting St. Augustine up 7-0 over Escambia. The talented senior came into the game with 18 touchdowns on the season including 3 against Middleburg last week.
Jackets score on the first drive of the game. 7-0. 🐝 @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/PRJbRGNZrn
— Christian Schultz (@schultzmedia_) November 18, 2023
The Gators would respond as Escambia’s Anthony Hall hit Cam Mayo on a wheel route for a 24-yard touchdown tying the game 7-7 with 1:41 to go in the first. The Gators came into the game 8-3 on the season.
However, Lyons would return to the end-zone, this time from 4-yards out rushing for a second quarter touchdown putting his team up 14-7. The score was set up a bit of trickeration when the Jackets faked a punt to keep their drive alive for the score.
St. Augustine retakes the lead! 14-7 🐝 pic.twitter.com/SQmw2tzTOs
— Christian Schultz (@schultzmedia_) November 18, 2023
After a 28-yard field goal from Logan_Wandzilak which gave St. Augustine 17 points, Escambia would return the score with a touchdown. A 4-yard run by Dorrion White brought them closer into halftime trailing 17-14.
St. Augustine adds to their lead. 17-7 🐝 @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/5prqKGBqZi
— Christian Schultz (@schultzmedia_) November 18, 2023
That would be all she wrote for Escambia, as St. Augustine’s defense shut the Gators down. The Jackets had 3 sacks on the night by Drake Lusk, Darius Rogers, and Ellis McNeal. Matteo Bernardi intercepted a pass in the second half setting up Lyons 4th touchdown of the evening.
Both his third and fourth touchdowns were from 2-yards out as the St. Augustine offensive line paved the way for the run game. Lyons finished with 112-yards rushing in the game. For Lyons, it’s his eight 100-yard rushing game this year and his fourth straight game rushing over 100-yards. Lyons has also rushed for multiple touchdowns the last six games in a row of his 22 touchdowns on the season.
The St. Augustine road map to playoff success involves crossing the “Bridge of Lyons” to the championship. Although they’ve enjoyed passing success from Wake Forest commit Locklan Hewlett and their explosive receiving core, coach Braddock has chosen the route of the running game..
St. Augustine faces Choctawhatchee at home next Friday in the regional finals. The Elite 8 matchup is between the #1 and #3 teams in region 1 of Class 3S. The winner of the game will advance to the state semifinals.
