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Fleming Island High rolls Westside 54-0

By Ray DiMonda
Posted 8/22/18

FLEMING ISLAND – Coming into tonight’s pre-season annual matchup between the Fleming Island Golden Eagles and the Westside Wolverines, Fleming Island Head Coach Damenyum Springs had many …

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Fleming Island High rolls Westside 54-0


Posted

FLEMING ISLAND – Coming into tonight’s pre-season annual matchup between the Fleming Island Golden Eagles and the Westside Wolverines, Fleming Island Head Coach Damenyum Springs had many questions.

Would the loss of so many of his go-to Offensive weapons be replaced well enough? Would his young defense have the intensity and toughness last year’s corps had? If the final score of 54-0 is any barometer, then the answer has to be, well at least a little soothing. Springs didn’t want to get all excited about the victory as next week’s regular season opener against Clay would be a real test.

“That’s a pre-season game right there (Westside). We’re both just working on different plays to see what works and getting our kids into game shape” said Springs. But after a little prodding, Springs did admit he liked what many of his team brought to the fight tonight. “I was happy but there is a lot of stuff we need to do better.”

Fleming Island won the toss and deferred. After a three and out from Westside, and a punt that yielded zero yards, Fleming Island took over inside the Wolverine 30 and went on a steady diet of tailback Timothy Thomas, a recent Middleburg High transfer with breakout speed. Thomas read the defense on several attacks and finally found the gap he needed between his center and left guard, went over the pile and punched in the first touchdown on the evening.

After a Westside three downs and out punt, Fleming Island quarterback Dean Hyams misfired on his first two passes of the series, but then found slot back Max Michaels streaking down the sideline to score the game 14-0.

A defensive safety upped the game to 16-0 on the next Westside possession.

Off the free kick, Springs would unleash another new weapon in running back/linebacker Bryan Maddox who opened with a run of 25 yards, backed up with an 11 yarder on the next play. After an incomplete pass, Maddox took the ball inside the 10 yard line to set up a Hyams to Jared Ashe touchdown pass to put Fleming Island up 23-0 with 1:12 still left in the first quarter.

“The kids know the new system and things went smoothly today,” said Springs. referring to new coaches Ryan Wolfe and Justin Reagan on offense.

The second quarter saw no fewer issues from Westside as they went three and out, and on the punt attempt, again a terrible snap and as the punter went to reach for the ball, his knee was on the ground, handing Fleming Island great field position once again. After another Thomas 22 yard gain, Hyams tucked the ball twice to punch the ball over the goal line

“He’s been working on it, working on his craft, working on staying with it mentally the whole game,” said Springs. “He still has a few things to work on with his roll-out passes, but he’s really been working hard. The difference is he’s playing with confidence.”

Now up 30-0 with 10:25 until the half, Fleming Island added another Maddox touchdown to go up 37-0 at the half.

On the second half kickoff, Brody Domenico sprinted 86 yards to paydirt to add to the Fleming Island lead, but a penalty flag, delayed the inevitable as Domenico, in a quarterback, would later score in the fourth quarter as the Golden Eagles got up 47-0.

“ I have to see the team up against our district opponents for me to really say, okay our defense might be the real deal,” said Springs. “I have to wait. They haven’t really been battle tested yet. Tested; but not battle tested, so we’ll see. We’ll know next week what they’re made of.”

Friday is the annual season opening showdown between the Clay Blue Devils and Fleming Island.