FLEMING ISLAND - With the air attack heavy Nease Panthers coming into The Rock and a playoff berth on the line, the Fleming Island Golden Eagles had to win their last two games of the season to at least have a chance for post season. The Golden Eagles were already handicapped coming into the game missing running back Sam Singleton after an injury last week sidelined him for this game. Although down early, 7-0 in the first, the gritty Golden Eagles didn’t back down, punching right back with Musthafa Marshall going 95 yards on the kickoff return, tying the game 7-7. On the night, Fleming Island out-performed Nease with 371 all-purpose yards to Nease’ 335, but still lost 35-14 to curtail Homecoming festivities.

“We lost that game throughout the week,” said Fleming Island Head Coach Damenyum Springs. “We had a rough week of practice.”

Numerous penalties tied with mounting injuries were just too much for Fleming Island to overcome and topped by a train derailment of a third quarter to end what could have been. In the end, Fleming Island would head back to the locker room iced up, bruised inside and out, and left wondering what could have been if just…

With Singleton not dressed out, Fleming was leaning heavily on their big gun, number one, Darion Domineck. After an amazing Caleb Jones 33 yard reception thanks to a tip pass from a Nease defender, it looked like it was showtime for Domineck. Picking up from last week with a Wildcat formation, Domineck pounded the rock to the five yard line for a first down and goal to go. Then it happened; Domineck went down with a game ending foot injury taking away the one weapon the Golden Eagles had to have. After a two yard loss and fourth and goal, quarterback Cibastian Broughton (7 of 23 for 138 yards, one interception) tossed a deep center ball that drifted high and turned the ball over on downs. When asked about his young quarterback, Springs likes what he is seeing.

“He’s always going to give you all that he has,” said Springs. “He made a few mistakes but bounced back. He doesn’t let it get to him. He’s showing major spurts of maturity and I’m hoping he’ll take a senior heavy team all the way to the promised land next year.”

Holding their own into the second quarter after swapping several punts, defensive back Dedric Walker picked off Nease quarterback Marcus Stokes at the Golden Eagle 40. Marshall took the ball several times, getting four and five yards at a time. Just as that train was building speed, the disastrous happens. Marshall went down with a tweaked ankle that he would come back from but was not quite the same. Fleming Island turned the ball over on downs, and Nease went full out from their own 16 yard line. Using a tempo offense to keep all the players on the field, Nease quickly worked an air attack to the Fleming Island 14 yard line and ran a statue of liberty play to score, 14-7.

The third quarter didn’t start bad as the deferred kickoff taken by Nease resulted in a wide field goal attempt. On the Golden Eagle counter, the wheels fell off. Six penalties, Marshall re-injuring his ankle, and a recovered pop-up Nease kick put 14 unanswered points on the board that Fleming Island could not fight back from.

Just when Fleming Island seemed out of bullets, enter Cartavion Valentine. After another penalty put the team at first down, and 15 yards to go, Valentine broke through the line, going 63 yards for the final Golden Eagle score. After another Nease score, on the final drive, the Golden Eagles would take a sack, and on the final play, toss an interception in the endzone as time expired. Asked how he puts together a plan for Oakleaf, Springs said “I have a lot of chess pieces I have to move around this week. A lot of pieces!” Fleming Island ended the night with 15 penalties, three of those for too many players/illegal substitution. “No excuses. Just no excuses. We have to do better as a coaching staff.”

Fleming Island can go out winners as they face off at home on senior night against their cross town rival, the Oakleaf Knights who are coming in with a chip on their shoulder after losing their last three games to Mandarin, Bartram Trail, and Creekside.