St Johns Fl- Ponte Vedra’s flag football squad continued its impressive season with a commanding 18-7 victory over Bartram Trail. The Sharks, led by quarterback Izzy Murray and a dominant defense, controlled the game from start to finish.
Murray had a solid performance under center, passing for 85 yards while also making plays on the ground. She rushed for 14 yards and scored a touchdown while also making an impact on defense with five tackles. Murray has been the heartbeat of the team all season, throwing for 628 yards with six touchdowns and six interceptions while adding two rushing scores. On defense, she leads the Sharks with 21 tackles and has snagged two interceptions.
Ponte Vedra’s passing attack was well-balanced, with five different players catching passes against Bartram. Peyton Gruver led the team with 23 receiving yards, pushing her season total to 240 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions on defense. Taylor Burke also contributed with 20 receiving yards, adding to her season stats, which include two interceptions.
Maddy McDermott made her presence felt on defense, registering a sack to bring her season total to four. Ponte Vedra’s defense has been a turnover machine, with Izzy Tuccillo, Julia Conroy, and Burke each tallying two interceptions this season. McDermott, Tuccillo, and Sarah Barrick have also chipped in with one pick each.
With the win, Ponte Vedra improved to 4-1 on the season. The Sharks have secured victories over Jackson (13-6), Sandalwood (19-7), and First Coast (26-0), with their only loss coming in a nail-biter against Stanton, 21-20. Stanton now sits at 3-2, while Jackson has fallen to 2-4. Sandalwood holds a 2-2 record.
Looking ahead, Ponte Vedra, under the leadership of Head Coach Scott Conroy, will face a tough test against an undefeated Wakulla team (2-0) on March 7th as well as a date with a playoff team from last year Fletcher afterwards. With their strong defense and a versatile offense, the Sharks are ready to keep their winning streak rolling.
Pictures by: Heather Isbell
