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Fleming Island QB Hyams chucks two 80-yarders

By Ray DiMonda
Posted 5/23/18

FLEMING ISLAND - Prior to the first spring football game played on their home turf, Fleming Island Golden Eagle Football Head Coach Damenyum Springs had many questions.

“The positive; I love …

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Fleming Island QB Hyams chucks two 80-yarders


Posted

FLEMING ISLAND - Prior to the first spring football game played on their home turf, Fleming Island Golden Eagle Football Head Coach Damenyum Springs had many questions.

“The positive; I love the fight in our kids,” said Springs, who got a 33-27 full game loss with junior varsity players in the second half against Flagler Palm Coast, 10-0 in their 2017 season, with a first round playoff loss. “They fought. It’s a scrappy little bunch. I like what I see.”

With only two returning starters from last year’s defense, would the new crew be up to the challenge? Would the loss of the offensive backfield cripple the ground attack? The answers were laid out when Fleming Island, through the air, the Golden Eagles attack hit quickly and put seven points on the board in 28 seconds. On their initial offensive series with running back Dewayne McBride carrying for a quick yard, on second and nine to go, quarterback Dean Hyams hit Max Michaels in stride and it was off to the races. Michaels’ sprint of 79 yards would be the single longest play on the night and put Fleming Island up 7-0.

“I like the play calling how we started out early, took what they gave us, and hit them in their weak spots” said Springs. Hyams finished with 215 passing yards, but three sacks.

On defense, Flagler punted on their first three possessions after going three and out.

After a Bulldog three and out, it became the Dewayne McBride show. McBride would go on to carry 16 times for 55 yards, one touchdown and one turnover/fumble. On the second drive, McBride would take the ball from 20 yards out, juke, and find a seam that ended only after he crossed the goal line putting the Golden Eagles up 14-0. Also in the backfield, Darnell Deas Jr. carried four times for 21 yards on the evening. Palm Coast would finally answer on their fourth possession when they found a run of their own going into the end zone, putting the score at 14-7. Just before the quarter’s end, Fleming Island would run and then have the curse of the over-the-head snap come back from last week and offer Hyams nothing more than to recover the ball and take the sack.

Opening the second quarter, Fleming Island took their lumps from the previous broken play, and turned it into gold as Hyams drew back, and found a sprinting Sam Snyder, now 6’-6” at tight end, down the left sideline. Hyams put the ball up where only Snyder could come down with it, or the ball would fall out of bounds. As Snyder caught the ball, he performed his best tight-rope walk to stay inbounds, then turned on the jets for 75 yards to put the Golden Eagles up 21-7.

“Dean (Hyams) was looking sharp early, and the O-line were looking sharp,” said Springs. “They were struggling all spring, and they looked sharp the first quarter.”

After the kickoff, the defense was getting tired of the offense making all the headlines and showed some magic of their own. “Last week I was concerned about replacing the three we had in Smenda, Surgeoner, and Jackson Bull. I think those guys did pretty well tonight.”

Fleming Island would collect several delay of game calls as they get used to their new offense scheme, a la Clay Blue Devils, where the players set at the line, stand, look for the call from the offensive coordinator, then run the play.

“The bad stuff tonight was the fatigue set in and we got sloppy. The offsides, holding, fumbles; we just have to be able to put it all together and play four full quarters,” said Springs.

With the ball a stone’s throw from the end zone, three minutes later Palm Coast was on the board 21-14. After a Fleming four and out, Palm Coast took over on downs and went back to run. This time, Fleming Island defensive end Jake Libretto was the star as he racked up an 8-yard sack on first down, then again came up with an amazing stop when Flagler went for it on fourth down, stuffing the run and putting Fleming Island back on offense. On the last volley of the half, Palm Coast was pinned back with the punter in the end zone. Off the punt, Aaron Ramirez showed his mettle, taking the punt, and driving the ball down the right sideline to the Bulldog 3-yard line. With only :02 seconds until half, Fleming Island attempted a field goal from the right hashmark that was blocked. 21-14 half.

The final on the night was 33-27- Flagler Palm Coast, but the starters game was 21-20 Fleming Island. “We only went 17 days, so the conditioning will come in the fall,” said Springs. “You can’t get it all in one time, it will come throughout the year. They have to get back in the weight room, continue our speed training and get better.”