Ponte Vedra Fl- It was a familiar matchup in the region 1 class 5A regional quarterfinals Friday night at Ponte Vedra faced Beachside. Both teams traveled very different roads to arrive for their contest. For Beachside, it was their first trip to the FHSAA playoffs in school history. For Ponte Vedra, it was their second straight trip under head coach Steve Price. The experience would show later in the contest.
However early on Beachside’s excitement would lift them to early scores. First, junior quarterback Edward Jordan IV would connect with 2026 classmate and wide receiver Maddox Hunstad for a long reception.
Maddox Hunstad from Edward Jordan big pass play!! Jordan looks real good tonight! Down to the 1yd line! @eddie_11k @MaddoxHunstad pic.twitter.com/AQiQgwcjKk
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) November 16, 2024
That put the ball at the 1-yard line where Jordan, would take it in himself for the first score of the game. The Barracudas would go up 7-0 early over Ponte Vedra in the first quarter.
QB Edward Jordan IV
— Andre' Ellis (@andreellis55) November 16, 2024
2 Pass TDs, 1 Rush TD vs Ponte Vedra! Helped lead Beachside from Independent to Class 5A making the FHSAA playoffs for the first time in school history! Watch out for @eddie_11k next year!
2,538 yds, 25 TDs in 2024
2,537yds , 35TDs in 2023 @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/eeUOXJFo3o
Ponte Vedra would struggle to get things going on offense early. Beachside’s Kru Casey caught an interception to end the first quarter with his team still up 7-0. Yet Beachside would give the ball right back to Ponte Vedra when Davis Latina nabbed the interception. Ponte Vedra took over from the Beachside 25yd line leading 7-0 in the 2nd quarter.
Kru Casey!! Interception!! Beachside stops the Ponte Vedra drive! Leading 7-0, end of the 1st @KruCasey1 pic.twitter.com/bsboXkpVy7
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) November 16, 2024
It wouldn’t take long for Ponte Vedra to capitalize. Quarterback Drew Price connected on his first of five touchdown passes in the game. This one to Davitt Doherty to tie the game at 7-7 in the second quarter.
Davitt Doherty from Drew Price!! Touchdown!! Ponte Vedra answers!!! 7-7 2nd pic.twitter.com/dV7C5iZ2de
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) November 16, 2024
Beachside would respond. Jordan looked very comfortable moving the pass happy offense down the field. He connected on a long throw to Hunstad, which set up a touchdown pass to Drew Watson for the score. The 5 foot 10 Watson and the 6 foot 5 Hunsted both had 10 touchdown catches coming into the playoff game.
Drew Watson takes it in for Beachside!! Touchdown!! They lead Ponte Vedra 14-7 , 10:15 2nd @eddie_11k has 2 you downs tonight one rushing and one passing! 🔥🔥🔥 @drew_watson24 pic.twitter.com/WsCJBo0rBL
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) November 16, 2024
Trailing 14-7, Ponte Vedra answered once again very quickly. They began to exploit the Beachside secondary which had trouble all night. Price passed his second touchdown of the game to Jack Berquist to tie the contest.
Wow!! Jack Berquist from Drew Price!!! The bomb ties the game at 14-14, 2nd, 5:00 @Price13Steve dials it up! We've got a game! @PVSharksFB pic.twitter.com/WarSBlVQAo
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) November 16, 2024
Ponte Vedra would end up taking a 17-14 lead into halftime after Noah Ash converted on a field goal to end the half. It was a slow start of the game, but the Sharks found themselves leading at halftime. The home team would explode in the second half completely overwhelming the Barracudas.
The second half would be all Ponte Vedra. Drew Price methodically moved his team down the field, culminating in a second score by Davitt Doherty. Price found him on a roll out to increase the lead to 10-points 24-14 in the third.
Drew Price drives Ponte Vedra down the field and ends with a touchdown pass to Davitt Doherty again! Their second connection of the night! Ponte Vedra 24 Beachside 14, 3rd . 9:00 @PVSharksFB pic.twitter.com/t6YreaoL7R
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) November 16, 2024
Ponte Vedra would apply more pressure, stopping Beachside and sacking Jordan several times. Robbie Grieco, Ryker Kemp, and Robert Gilvarry all registered sacks. Ponte Vedra applied pressure from different positions to Fluster Beachside’s offensive line.
This would lead to Drew Price’s fourth touchdown, this time to Cam Tietze, who acrobatically went up to snag the ball out of the air just out of the reach of the Beachside quarterback. Tietze would waltz into the endzone untouched. Price added another touchdown pass, this one to Talan Babin, and Brian Case would take off on a long run up the middle to put the game away.
From pick 6 to its 6 for Ponte Vedra's Cam Tietze Wow!! Touchdown! Sharks have increased their lead to 31-14, 3rd 4:00 pic.twitter.com/wwhiRDGUh6
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) November 16, 2024
Beachside would get another touchdown from Jordan to Hunstad, a valiant effort by the talented pair who have been instrumental in the team’s success this year. Head Coach Pete Duffy and staff have guided the team from playing independent last year, to moving up to Class 5A this year. Making the playoffs was a tremendous feat, but that wouldn’t be enough as Ponte Vedra never let their foot off the gas.
Ponte Vedra would go on to win the game 45-21, advancing to the regional semifinals. They will travel to Niceville ,Florida to face the 10-1 Eagles. Niceville defeated Middleburg 49-13 in the first round of the playoffs Friday night.
