- April 22, 2024
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FPC quarterback Donovan Montoyo carries several Yellow Jackets defenders on his way to a first down. Photo by Ray Boone
Defensive end Nelson Paul lunges at St. Augustine's quarterback. Photo by Ray Boone
FPC's Donovan Montoyo sheds a tackle as he makes his way toward a first down. Photo by Ray Boone
Quarterback Donovan Montoyo throws a touchdown pass to receiver Jordan Belle in the first quarter. Photo by Ray Boone
Receiver Jordan Belle leaps to haul in a touchdown pass against the Yellow Jackets. Photo by Ray Boone
Running back Ty Jenkins carries a tackler near the sideline. Photo by Ray Boone
FPC's Ty Jenkins attempts to avoid a tackler against St. Augustine. Photo by Ray Boone
Return specialist Jarien Ramos returns a punt against the Yellow Jackets. Photo by Ray Boone
Linebacker Tallin Coates tackles a St. Augustine player. Photo by Ray Boone
FPC's Ja'Corey Benjamin returns a fumble for a 40-yard touchdown. Photo by Ray Boone
Defensive back Dennis Shorter tackles St. Augustine's running back. Photo by Ray Boone
FPC's Donovan Montoyo carries several defenders on his way to a first down. Photo by Ray Boone
FPC's Anthony Buchanan brings down St. Augustine's running back. Photo by Ray Boone
Running back Marc Genis avoids a tackler as he rushes down the field. Photo by Ray Boone
Nick Redding tries to shed a tackler in the third quarter against St. Augustine. Photo by Ray Boone
FPC's Preston Roberts rolls out of the pocket against St. Augustine. Photo by Ray Boone
A pair of FPC defenders attempt to bring down the Yellow Jackets' quarterback. Photo by Ray Boone
FPC's Woody Dezius celebrates after stopping the Yellow Jackets on third down. Photo by Ray Boone
Following Flagler Palm Coast’s defeat at the hands of Sanford Seminole on Friday, Sept. 7 — the first regular season loss under second-year head coach Travis Roland — the Bulldogs went into practice the following Monday expecting radical change.
The Bulldogs failed to score in the 21-point loss — despite getting inside the red zone eight times and rushing for 190 yards.
Instead, the Bulldogs prepared the same way they always do.
“We’re not going to change anything,” Roland. “What for? We know what our mistakes were . . . We had to leave that behind.”
The Bulldogs (3-1) bounced back from their Week 3 disappointment with a dominant 47-14 win against St. Augustine on Friday, Sept. 14, at FPC High School.
The Yellow Jackets went 12-1 in 2017 and were one game away from the Class 6A State Championship before bowing out to Armwood in the semifinal. And although the Yellow Jackets are depleted and in the midst of a three-game losing streak this season, Roland said the respect for traditionally great programs is warranted.
“Got to have respect for St. Augustine,” he said. “Those kids are going to fight because of what they’re trying to live up to.”
After going scoreless for 48 minutes against the Seminoles, it took the Bulldogs fewer than two minutes to score Friday night. The Bulldogs' defense forced a 3-and-out on the opening drive, and on fourth down, the snap went over the Yellow Jackets’ punter’s head and through the back of the end zone for a safety.
Receiver Jordan Belle hauled in a high pass from quarterback Donovan Montoyo on the following drive, dragging a toe inbounds at the back of the end zone for the first offensive score of the game.
Belle’s touchdown was the beginning of what was a heavy passing attack for the Bulldogs. Montoyo threw for 2 touchdowns and completed 9-of-11 passes against the Yellow Jackets.
“I just want to thank my offensive line,” he said. “They give me the time to progress through my reads, and my receivers do an awesome job route running and getting open.”
Freshman backup QB Preston Roberts also saw significant playing time, starting the entire second half after the Bulldogs went up 33-8 at halftime. Roberts threw 2 touchdowns, including a 47-yarder to receiver J.T. Dahlberg just over a minute into the third quarter.
The Bulldogs kept throwing the ball well into the fourth quarter despite the high score, but Roland said it was to give the reserves experience.
“If Donovan goes down and Preston comes in, we’re not going to stop running our offense,” he said. “We’re trying to make sure if Preston has to play, he can run the offense . . . And it keeps Donovan on his toes because there’s a kid who’s a freshman and wants to play, and he’s nipping at the bud.”
With the abilities of running backs Ty Jenkins, Marc Genis and Deshaun Hugee — who had a rushing touchdown against the Yellow Jackets — Roland believes the development of the passing game is the next step toward transforming the Bulldogs into a truly elite team.
“Once we can throw the ball, it’s going to be hard to beat us,” he said.
