Fair, 55°
Weather sponsored by:

Griffin second “Pick-Six” leads Blue Devils’ win

By Randy Lefko
Posted 5/9/18

JACKSONVILLE – Clay High flag football defender Kimber Griffin snagged her second interception touchdown in two games to push the Lady Blue Devils to a 21-0 win over Terry Parker High in their …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Don't have an ID?


Print subscribers

If you're a print subscriber, but do not yet have an online account, click here to create one.

Non-subscribers

Click here to see your options for subscribing.

Single day pass

You also have the option of purchasing 24 hours of access, for $1.00. Click here to purchase a single day pass.

Griffin second “Pick-Six” leads Blue Devils’ win


Posted

JACKSONVILLE – Clay High flag football defender Kimber Griffin snagged her second interception touchdown in two games to push the Lady Blue Devils to a 21-0 win over Terry Parker High in their Class 1A region semifinal on Thursday in Jacksonville.

Clay returns to Green Cove Springs to host Choctawhatchee in the region final at 7 p.m. In state wide rankings, Choctawhatchee (11-0) is ranked second to 2A-Tampa Alonso (13-0) while Clay (8-0) is ranked 10th. In Class 1A, Choctawhatchee is top ranked with Clay fifth with Tampa Robinson, Miami Edison and Glades Central in between.

In 2017, Choctwhatchee beat Clay then lost to eventually champion Tampa Robinson. Robinson defeated Miami Edison in the state final.

Against Parker, Griffin, who stole a pass for a score against Baldwin in the district 2-1A semifinal Clay win, snatched an out pass near the Parker 30 yard line and sprinted untouched to paydirt to put Clay up 6-0 on the first play of the second quarter. Clay quarterback Ciara Zino punched in the PAT for a 7-0 lead.

In the first quarter, though, the normally volatile Clay passing game was was stymied by dropped passes on the Blue Devils’ initial series. From there, Terry Parker orchestrated a 13-play drive behind quick outs and quarterback options that seemed to be a step ahead of the Clay defense.

With the Braves sitting a yard from the Clay end zone, it was two sacks; one from Jenna Hill, the other from Hannah Agee that pushed the Terry Parker offense back.

On the fourth down for Terry Parker, tight pass coverage from Lea Planted kept an end zone pass from being caught as Clay held off the Braves’ initiative.

Clay hit two Zino to Brooke Gerush to move swiftly downfield, but a sack ended the Clay drive to force a punt.

Constant defensive pass pressure from Agee and Lynette Quinones kept the Braves pocket uneasy and forced Griffin’s interception as the second quarter started. Both teams failed to move the ball on their next series with Zino being inches over the outstretched hands of receiver Abby Hawkins as the half ended at 7-0.

On the first play of the third period, Zino found wideout Alexis Stilianou for a 30 yard play to open a flurry of pass plays as Clay looked to open a wider lead against the athletic Braves.

A sack and near interceptions stopped the Blue Devils near midfield, but Terry Parker, forced to throw over the duo-linebacker package of Quinones and Agee on the rush, almost got stung by interception drops from Plante and Hill.

Clay moved quickly on the ensuing drive with Zino finding Hawkins for a 25 yard gain before hitting Plante with a quick-out touchdown at 1:46 left in the period. The PAT to Hawkins pped the score to 14-0.

Plante struck again with an interception deep in Parker territory on the next drive that she lateraled to Zino on the way down to set up a first down at the Brave four yard line.

On the first play, Zino would sweep right to score the game 20-0.