Fleming Island's furious fourth-quarter comeback deflates Flagler Palm Coast

The Golden Eagles scored three touchdown in the fourth quarter to defeat the Bulldogs 26-25 on FPC's Senior Night.

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Fleming Island may earn a playoff spot with help from its furious come-from-behind victory over Flagler Palm Coast on Friday, Oct. 31. FPC could also have its season extended with a possible selection to the new Florida Invitational Tournament.

The Golden Eagles scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter to defeat the Bulldogs 26-25 on FPC’s Senior Night. Fleming Island took its first lead of the game with its final touchdown — a 3-yard run by Sebastian Cruz with 28.9 seconds left.

FPC ended its regular season with a 3-7 record, but its strength of schedule, which is ranked seventh among Class 7A teams and 20th overall in the state, could be enough to land the Bulldogs a spot in the FIT, which will pit 16 non-playoff teams in three brackets: rural class, Class 1A-3A teams and Class 4A-7A teams.

The Eagles improved to 6-3 with a makeup game scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 4, against Beachside, which is also in the Region 1-5A playoff picture. The Florida High School Athletic Association will announce postseason selections and pairings at 2 p.m., Nov. 6. The playoffs begin Nov. 14.

The Bulldogs were in control of the game against the Eagles until everything blew up in a disastrous fourth quarter for FPC.

Fleming Island trailed 25-7 entering the final quarter. A Bulldogs fumble set up a 16-yard touchdown run by the Eagles’ Zion Longmire to make it 25-13 with 9:40 left. Fleming Island recovered a pooch kick to get the ball back and scored again with 7:08 left to make it 25-20.

After FPC punted, Fleming Island drove 45 yards for the go-ahead touchdown. The drive was kept alive by a fourth-down pass interference penalty called against FPC in the end zone.

The pass landed well out of bounds. FPC coach Patrick Turner said officials did not tell him if they ruled that the intended receiver was pushed out of bounds while the ball was in the air.

“They didn’t give any explanation on what it was,” Turner said.

FPC drove from its own 26 to the Fleming Island 39 in the final 28.9 seconds, but quarterback La’Darius Simmons was sacked as time ran out.

The difference in the game turned out to be Fleming Island's blocked extra point after FPC's first touchdown early in the game.

Darwin Harris rushed for three touchdowns for the Bulldogs. Ehimen Ajede also ran for a touchdown. Simmons ran for 149 yards and passed for 58. He was sacked three times. The Bulldogs totaled 339 yards of offense while holding the Golden Eagles to 216 yards. But FPC was also penalized 13 times for 111 yards.


It’s a tough loss. The kids played hard for the entire game. Even at the end, they played hard. I can't take anything away from their effort and their passion.
— PATRICK TURNER, FPC football coach

“It’s a tough loss,” Turner said. “The kids played hard for the entire game. Even at the end, they played hard. I can't take anything away from their effort and their passion. We just came up on the wrong side of it. But we had way too many penalties and penalties just come back to bite you. We could be a really, really good football team if we would just stop the penalties.”

Ironically, FPC’s loss could have also hurt Matanzas’ chances of receiving a playoff bid. The Golden Eagles were ranked eighth in Region 1-5A, while the Pirates were ranked 10th entering their games.

The Matanzas Pirates football Facebook account posted on the afternoon of the FPC game: “Palm Coast and @FlaglerSchools got one heartbeat tonight. From the Pirates to the Bulldogs @FPCHSFootball Go handle business and bring it home for Flagler County.”

 

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