JACKSONVILLE BEACH - Fleming Island High head football coach Tom Macpherson conceded there was going to be a hole in his defensive secondary with Rutgers-bound safety Sebastian Cruz on a recruiting trip in New Jersey.

That allowed Fletcher High to have a field day to exploit the center of the Eagles defense in their spring game on Thursday, May 21.

"They didn't get many passes on the outside edges because we had Chase (Donaldson) and Tristan (Stevenson) out there," said Macpherson, after his Eagles overcame a quick three-touchdown first quarter barrage by Fletcher, which ran to a 20-7 halftime lead behind its varsity, and a 43-21 final by using its younger players in the second half.

"Brady Digman at safety did as good as we could have expected for a running back there, and Jack Kirby had some bright spots for an incoming freshman," Macpherson said. "We will be looking for some young players to be able give Tristan and Chase a break from going both ways all game."

In the first offensive series for Fleming Island, quarterback Greyson Critch got stomach-punched with an interception forced by the Fletcher defensive line to set up a touchdown plunge within the first minute of the game.

After the pick, Fletcher monster-sized running back Jah'myri Jennings, all of 230 pounds of him, pounded three times before scoring to put Fletcher up 6-0.

On the Fleming Island's ensuing series, a bobbled snap put Critch on the ground to short circuit a response with Fleming Island forced to punt.

Fletcher reacting quickly with their second touchdown with a series of center field pass receptions landing a 13-0 score. A second touchdown pass advanced the score to 20-0.

"Greyson Critch was rock solid despite the two early miscues and kept his cool throughout," Macpherson said. "Once we settled down, we were able to move the ball with drives of 10-12 plays with the offensive line starting to gain some ground."

Fleming Island's offensive line featured just one returner.

"The offensive line we had six or seven guys rotating in taking shots at their defense," Macpherson said. "Easton Isbell is the lone senior out there with rest; guys like Kaleb Thrasher, Joseph Wilkey, Noah Moreno and Gavin Holt all young. Easton Isbell is the lone upperclassman. Colton Otero is the sixth man in."

Critch started to make connections with his passes with Digman, Cedrick McNeil and Zion Longmire taking on the much bigger Fletcher defensive front with bounce moves to the sideline getting yardage.

Fleming Island got their first score on a second pass thrown toward Stephenson after a Fletcher end zone interception was ruled out of bound as Critch went right back to Stephenson for the score.

Fletcher again went big with a secondary miscommunication with a swing pass eluding tacklers to a 65-yard scoring scamper.

"That was my call," Macpherson said. "With new guys out there, I made a bad read on their play and our guys were out of position from the start. We will watch it on film and learn. We may have to find the best way to keep our safeties in better position."

Now down 27-7, Fleming Island marched right down the field for a 20-yard fingertip catch by Donaldson in the end zone for a 27-14 score and some momentum on the Eagle sideline.

On the defensive front, Macpherson called out Landon Williams in the middle of the defensive line as a force keeping Fletcher going wide while freshmen Kyree Beamon and Jon Cubero both stood out.

"Landon will be one of the best defensive linemen in the area and Kyree is athletic and very big," Macpherson said. "We get him coached up and he will be a good player next to Landon."

Fletcher got one more score before the half with a post pattern getting stretched into the end zone despite Kirby's tackle effort near the goal line.

Digman would score Fleming Island's final touchdown from five yards out.

McNeill also snagged an end zone interception to stop a late drive by Fletcher.