Ridgeview gets early playoff boost
ORANGE PARK – The Ridgeview Panthers, led by senior quarterback Tyler Huff, got a huge 30-27 early season win over playoff regular Nature Coast Friday night at Ridgeview High School to put themselves in great early position in the FHSAA playoff points system.
“I didnt even win a game here until my junior year; to see where we are now and where we hope to go it’s really awesome,” said Huff, who finished with 190 passing yards and two scores. “The atmosphere in the school is fantastic with our classmates high fiving us in the halls and yelling our names; it’s really been a good time.”
The Panthers took the opening kickoff to the 45 yard line to give their offense a short field on their opening possession. Huff found sophomore Spencer Calise on a third down pass for a 20 yard gain to the Nature Coast Sharks 26 yard line. On the next play, wide receiver Brian Jackson ran 21 yards to the five yard line powering the pile the last ten yards of his run and bringing the crowd to their feet in appreciation of his efforts. Huff would find Isaac Chaffin two plays later on a five yard touchdown pass to give the Panthers a 7-0 lead.
The Ridgeview defensive line dominated early in the game against NCAA Division I running back prospect Mike Weston who is a large, bruising runner. Weston would convert a fourth and one run to give Nature Coast a first down at the Ridgeview 21 yard line but a fumble on the next play would be recovered by senior linebacker Mike Green.
Huff and Jackson would team up again on the next drive; one for a 20 yard gain and a second for a 26 yard gain down to the Nature Coast 14 yard line. However, the drive would stall and the Panthers were forced to kick a 23 yard field goal by Matt Koziolek to give Ridgeview a 10-0 lead with just under nine minutes until halftime.
After a punt by Nature Coast, the Panthers would turn to their own bruising running back Caleb Plyler who would break a 25 yard run to the Sharks four yard line. Two plays later Huff would call his own number and will his way into the endzone for a 17-0 lead and the Panthers were looking to blow Nature Coast off the field.
The Sharks were stunned and wounded but not extinct quite yet. Weston was a one man wrecking crew on the next possession bulldozing his way down the field including a 25 yard run on a critical fourth down and 10 to end a 70 yard drive with a touchdown closing the gap to 17-7 with just 28 seconds until halftime.
Turns out the Panthers only needed 24 seconds to score. Plyler would break a 32 yard run to the Sharks 28 yard line with just enough time for place kicker Matt Koziolek to boot a 45 yard field goal to give the Panthers a 20-7 halftime lead.
To start the third quarter, Nature Coast would drive to the Ridgeview 22 yard line including a fourth down conversion. However an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty later in the drive would stall the drive at the Panther 37 yard line and result in a punt that would land at the one inch line. Huff would convert a third down pass to the 12 yard line then later in the drive Huff would find Rolando Grey for a 35 yard gain to the Nature Coast 29 yard line. Huff would then throw a perfect 29 yard touchdown pass to Brian Jackson in the front corner of the endzone to cap off a 99 yard drive and what appeared to be a commanding 27-7 lead.
“That drive was huge. Our offensive line is experienced and they knew we needed it” said Ridgeview head coach Cameron Porch.
Huff had a confidence boost just before the drive began. “I thought it was a touchback but it was on the one inch line so my center told me ‘hey we are going 99 yards’ and I believed him” said Huff.
Again, Weston took the majority of runs either straight up the middle or slightly to the left side and powered his way through for large chunks of yards. He would convert a critical fourth down run for a touchdown late in the third quarter to cut the lead to 27-14. The Sharks would score again after a poor punt by the Panthers gave Nature Coast the ball at the Ridgeview 31 yard line. Weston would power to the 13 yard line and a helmet to helmet penalty on the Panthers gave Nature Coast the ball at the six yard line. Weston would score with 5:55 remaining in the game to close the gap to six points seizing momentum late in the game.
“The kid (Weston) is a great running back and once he got a taste of success after his first touchdown they really started pushing the tempo and got us on our heels a little bit” said Porch.
Ridgeview had their back against the wall and needed a solid scoring (Or at least time consuming) drive to close out the game. They answered the call with a 51 yard drive to the Sharks 22 yard line that resulted in a 43 yard field goal by Koziolek to give them a two possession lead. Most importantly the drive took over five minutes off the game clock.
“That last drive is something we can use for the rest of the season and my kicker Matt Koziolek had an awesome night. I can’t say enough good things about him” said Porch.
Howver Nature Coast would not stop fighting. quarterback Fabian Burnett would complete his only pass of the game for 40 yards to the Panther 10 with :25 seconds left. Weston would score on the next play and cut the lead to three at 30-27 with :21 seconds left. Oddly enough the Sharks went for the two point conversion instead of the extra point for an unknown reason. It wouldn’t matter as the Panthers would recover the onside kick to go 1-0 on the season with a quality playoff opponent to impress the new playoff point system in Florida.
Ridgeview’s defense was led by senior defensive end Odijuan Whitfield who had 12 tackles, a quarterback hurry and caused two fumbles. Junior Glendon Miller had 15 tackles to lead the Panthers. Defensive backs Matthew Dye and Wes Morris both had one interception with Dye and linebacker Mike Green grabbing fumbles.
The Panthers travel to Creekside next week looking to go 2-0 for the second straight season.
– By Doug Deters

Knights open fast
to defeat Raiders
OAKLEAF – A high-flying passing game and a returned onsides kick for a touchdown led the Oakleaf High Knights to a 45-14 non-district win over visiting Orange Park High in the season opener for both teams.
Led by sophomore quarterback Walter Simmons, who threw for two touchdowns off 247 yards in the air, the Knights went air more than ground against the Raiders with all state running back Keshawn King limited to just 42 yards rushing on eight carries.
Oakleaf, 2-8 last years, gets to 1-0 in their climb to resurrecting a winning season record while Orange Park, 1-9 in 2017, looks to find the formula for success under coach Tom Macpherson.
In the Friday clash, Oakleaf blocked a field goal attempt on the Raiders first offensive drive that came from a 37 yard pass play that put the ball at the Oakleaf five yard line. Oakleaf immediately went to offense with running back Keshawn King finishing off the scoring from two yards out.
Still in the first quarter, Oakleaf quarterback Walter Simmons found wideout Terrance Anthony twice for scores with the first pass deemed out of bounds. Simmons went right back to Anthony for a second shot in the end zone that put Oakleaf up 14-0. Anthony would finish with four catches for 105 yards.
Oakleaf’s next score came off a 40 yard pass play from Simmons to Sean Washington that set King up for a second touchdown. Washington would finish with four catches for 63 yards.
Again, Simmons went to the air with a 25 yard pass play to Antonio Marshall that led to a Braden Ammon field goal and a 24-0 lead. Ammon was perfect on six point after kicks for Oakleaf.
Orange Park ended the half with wideout Terrence Johnson snagging a 30 yard pass, but the Raiders could not finish the drive as the half ended.
Trying an onsides kick to start the second half, Orange Park got surprised when Oakleaf linebacker Dexter Moore scooped up the loose ball and returned it for a touchdown to start the half.
Marshall would score in the third period off a 28 yard scoring pass.
The game ended with Orange Park getting two touchdowns; one a four yard pass to Deantwaan Holton and the second a four yard run from Isiah Blair.
Oakleaf got a final touchdown from running back Darrius Allen who punched in from three yards out.
Oakleaf travels south to Miami to take on Glades Central while Orange Park hosts Nease High School on Fri., Aug. 30.
– By Don A. Long

Broncos corraled by Menendez run game
ST. AUGUSTINE - A fourth quarter lightning delay was enough defense to keep the Pedro Menendez High offense from reaching 50 points a second week in a row as the Falcons beat visiting Middleburg 42-7 in the weather-shortened non-district opener for both teams Friday night in St. Augustine.
Menendez running back Kenny Logan punched in for 219 yards on the Broncos defense with four touchdowns as Menendez got to a 34-7 lead before halftime.
Menendez got scoring plays of 72 yards on one play and an 80 yard pass play.
Broncos junior quarterback Joe Justino scored the Broncos’ lone touchdown on a two yard run.
The Broncos got 129 rushing yards from Tyler Bryant and Anthony Havens on 22 carries total.
– By Randy Lefko

Spartans pound
for seven scores
ORANGE PARK – With an offense utliziing six ball carries that accrued 268 yards rushing, the St. Johns Country Day School football team opened the new season under coach Derek Chipoletti with a resounding 49-0 win over Merritt Island Christian Friday night at the St. Johns campus in Orange Park. With quarterback Max Monroe at the controls, the Spartan offense got strong running from Eli Morton, Monroe and Brady Walden, all three just above 70 yards rushing apiece to keep the Merritt Island defense on its heels.
Monroe and Morton both scored twice on the ground with Monroe, seven of 12 in the air, getting a third score in the air to Morton off a 38 yard pass play.
The other three ball carriers for Chipoletti were Max Arnold, 25 yards on four carries; Marcus Coleman, 24 yards on three carries and Nate Rowen, two yards on three carries. In the air, Matthew Kelley snared three passes for 35 yards with Tanner Walker getting two passes for 17 yards. Morton and Walden both caught one apiece with Morton getting his 38 yarder in the end zone. On defense, Morton led the Spartans with 10 tackles; two for loss. John Nowicki had two sacks. Monroe, at safety, also snagged two interceptions.
St. Johns has a home match against Trinity Christian Academy of Deltona on Friday.
– By Randy Lefko

Indians ground game grinds for 360 yards
FERNANDINA BEACH – Led by a 165 yard rushing effort from junior Nick Channell, the Keystone Heights High School Indians’ football team won their season opener with a 24-15 non-district win over 4A-Fernandina Beach High Friday night in season openers for both teams.
“Our offensive line did their job,” said Keystone Heights coach Chuck Dickinson. “We had some mistakes on special teams more than anything else. They got a big one on the kickoff, but the defense was able to bend but not break.”
Channell, with two touchdowns on the night, was joined in the Indians ground game that put up 359 total rush yards by junior Ty Friedlin who added another 132 yards with two more touchdowns. Keystone Heights is still without tailback Kaleb Vojnovski, who injured a hand over the summer.
Keystone Heights coach Chuck Dickinson had mentioned that his offensive line for 2018 was as big as he has ever had with senior Dan Dodd leading the crew which includes junior Joey Baxter and senior Josh Hughes.
Sophomore Gage Stevens was quarterback for the Indians with just three completions of five throws with Friedlin catching two and senior Colton Crane snagging a 29-yarder.
Channell’s first score was a five yarder behind Hughes. Channell had a handful of runs of more than 20 yards. Channell’s second touchdown had Dodd line up as a right side tight end and lead blocker Tyler Cumbus from the left guard position creating a gaping hole for the touchdown.
“We put all the power on the right side and overload the attack point with TC (Cumbus) coming over from the left side,” said Dickinson. “It’s tough to defend all those big guys coming at the defense.”
Keystone Heights heads to P.K. Yonge for a key region game on Friday. P.K. Yonge beat Wildwood 25-6 in their opener.
– By Randy Lefko