Jacksonville Fl- Fletcher opened the 2026 season with a strong offensive performance Friday night, defeating Sandalwood 49-21 in a Week 1 matchup that featured big plays on both sides of the football.
The Senators, now 1-0, established control early and never let Sandalwood’s offense dictate the game. Fletcher jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first quarter before the Saints answered to tie the game at 7-7 in the first half.
After that, Fletcher began to pull away, using a combination of an explosive running game and efficient passing to put the game out of reach.
Leading the way was Fletcher running back Jahmyri Jennings, who delivered one of the top individual performances of the night. Jennings rushed for 188 yards and two touchdowns, including a 31-yard touchdown run that showcased his ability to turn a small opening into a big play.
Jennings, affectionately known as “Grown Man,” was not finished making an impact on the ground.
He also made his presence felt as a receiver when he caught a screen pass and raced 47 yards for another Fletcher touchdown. His ability to make plays in multiple phases gave the Sandalwood defense problems throughout the night.
Quarterback Ty Keister (U Mary University commit)also played a major role in the Senators’ offensive explosion. Keister finished with 183 passing yards and three touchdowns, giving Fletcher another weapon to attack the Saints’ defense. Two were to his big play receiver Chase Durden who sliced through the Sandalwood secondary.
Melo Johnson also got in on the action with a touchdown run late in the game.
🤫Just The Beginning ‼️@Star_ReadyAth @Fletcher_Sports @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/ExsVkQtZyt
— Melo johnson (@Melojohnson1k) August 22, 2026
The combination of Keister’s arm and Jennings’ explosiveness allowed Fletcher to keep Sandalwood off balance. When the Saints attempted to slow down the run, the Senators could make plays through the air. When Sandalwood focused on the passing game, Jennings had the ability to break loose.
Sandalwood finished with 21 points, including a touchdown from quarterback Jarelle Sims to Amaury Brown but Fletcher’s offense continued to answer every challenge. The Saints had entered Week 1 with momentum after defeating KIPP Bold City in the Kickoff Classic, but Fletcher provided a much tougher test.
For Sandalwood, the loss drops the Saints to 0-1. However, the program remains in the early stages of its turnaround under head coach Malik Reaves. After going winless last season, Sandalwood has already shown progress, and the Week 1 matchup provided another opportunity to measure itself against quality competition.
Fletcher, meanwhile, leaves the night with confidence and plenty of momentum under Head Coach Ciatrick Fason. The Senators scored 49 points while getting a standout performance from Jennings and a three-touchdown night from Keister.
The Senators will look to carry that momentum into their next game when Plant City visits Fletcher on August 28.
Sandalwood will look to bounce back on the road when the Saints travel to face Terry Parker.
With Week 1 now in the books, Fletcher has made its intentions clear. The Senators have an explosive offense, a dynamic running back in Jennings and a quarterback in Keister who can make plays through the air.
