Jacksonville Fl- On a brisk November night in Jacksonville, the #4 Ed White Commanders showed they were ready for big-time playoff football, defeating the #5 Pine Forest Eagles 42-20 in the first round of the FHSAA 4A playoffs.
Right from the jump, Ed White imposed its will. The Commanders came out with a big play attack as quarterback King Boylston went deep to wide receiver King Mercer for a touchdown. Mercer made a magnificent one-handed catch as Ed White showed why they have scored 40 points every game this year.
The Commanders consistently moved the chains, taking control of the game’s momentum early and never letting Pine Forest truly settle in. The Eagles, who came into the game with a 3-7 record, struggled to match the efficiency and physicality and played catch-up all night.
Ed White’s offense was not one-dimensional. They did damage both on the ground and through the air, keeping Pine Forest’s defense guessing. Boylston would find senior Tyon Tolliver streaking down the seam for another White score to go up 14-0.
Next it would be the running game of White, as they handed it off to Joseph Williams who broke several tackles on his way to the end zone, and before you could blink, the Commanders were up 20-0. The Commanders run game was unstoppable behind the offensive line and the many different style runners.
Boylston was locked in, leading his team on several scoring drives. He found his big play receiver Mercer again for a touchdown in the game. He’s been on a roll scoring multiple touchdowns a game all season with his legs and his arm.
On defense, Ed White proved just as dangerous. Their sideline energy translated into timely stops, forcing Pine Forest into turnovers. Davonte Mango tipped a pass, and Jacquari Parks came down with the interception.
— Jacquari Parks (@JacquariParks1) November 15, 2025
Mango would be rewarded with an interception of his own which sealed the win for the Commanders who limited Pine Forest to just 20 points. Ed White’s ability to out-execute on offense, and make key stops on defense is why when the final whistle blew, the scoreboard read Ed White 42, Pine Forest 20
The win clinched the Commanders’ passage to the next round of the state playoffs.The victory is a testament to their season-long work: a strong regular season that saw them set an FHSAA record for most points scored in a regular season (528 points). They followed the high scoring season with a dominant playoff performance. The Commanders demonstrated poise in a win-or-go-home environment, which could give them serious momentum moving deeper into the postseason.
White faces another high scoring opponent in St. Augustine in the next round. The Jackets defeated Arnold 70-21, so it’s looking like a high scoring affair in the Regional Semifinals.This is a rematch of a playoff contest last year.
