Bulldogs survive 14-13 at St. Augustine

FPC scored two touchdowns in the second half for the comeback win.

By Ray Boone
| 9:46 p.m. October 4, 2019

The Bulldogs' Jason Browning (No. 34) and Guy Burkley bring down St. Augustine's quarterback. Photo courtesy of Bob Rollins

FPC's Ty Jenkins cuts up field against St. Augustine. Photo by Bob Rollins

The Bulldogs' Chris Parks runs up field against the Yellowjackets. Photo courtesy of Bob Rollins

FPC's Altarik Lumpkins brushes off a would-be tackler against St. Augustine. Photo courtesy of Stephen Libby

Bulldogs QB Preston Roberts drops back to pass against St. Augustine. Photo courtesy of Stephen Libby

FPC kicker Bryan Burris (No. 88) and holder Preston Roberts watch as Burris' 35-yard extra point sails between the uprights. Burris was named the Farm Bureau Player of the Week after the win. Photo by Bob Rollins.

Palm Coast Observer
Sports

Flagler Palm Coast was in danger of losing its first game of the season when the Bulldogs squared off against St. Augustine the night of Friday, Oct. 4, at St. Augustine High School.

On the Yellowjackets' first offensive series, quarterback Sammy Edwards faked a handoff to running back Ty Baxter and sprinted for a 32-yard touchdown. Two series later, the Bulldogs were forced to punt, and St. Augustine's Jaden McDowell returned it 80 yards for a touchdown with less than a minute to play in the opening quarter. The extra point was blocked, however.

St. Augustine led the Bulldogs 13-0 at halftime.

"We made some mistakes," FPC coach Travis Roland said. "One lapse of focus can cost you everything."

After recovering a St. Augustine fumble at FPC's 31, The Bulldogs were able to march down to St. Augustine's 10. Three plays lost four yards. But sophomore quarterback Preston Roberts fired a 14-yard pass to senior receiver Tyrique Graham on fourth down for FPC's first score of the game.

"You know that as each start goes by, he's only going to get better," Roland said. "That's the best part of it — knowing that he's going to get better every single day."

The Bulldogs regained possession with about 9 minutes to play in the fourth quarter. They capped off the 9-play, 88-yard drive with a 25-yard run by running back Ty Jenkins with 6 minutes left in regulation. After an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the touchdown, place-kicker Brian Burris made the 35-yard extra point for the 14-13 advantage, which the Bulldogs held onto for their sixth win of the season.