Matanzas varsity blanks Eustis in spring football jamboree; younger players hold their own against Pine Ridge

Wiley Conner scored two touchdowns and the Pirates picked off two passes in a 19-0 win over Eustis.

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Matanzas running back Wiley Conner scored two touchdowns and Brennon Friendly and Jayden McCoy each grabbed an interception as the Pirates defeated Eustis 19-0 in the second half of a spring jamboree on Thursday, May 21, at Pine Ridge High School.

The Pirates played their JV players and some younger varsity players in the first half against Pine Ridge’s varsity team and lost 14-7.

 “We wanted to get some film of everybody,” said Matanzas coach Matt Forrest, explaining that he likes all of his players who suit up to see action in the spring exhibitions.

“We want to see what everyone needs to work on,” Forrest said. “Pine Ridge played their varsity, which is fine; I had no problem with that at all. Our young guys got to play against a varsity football team, and I think they played with them physically.”

Rising sophomore Mari Arneaud scored the Pirates’ only touchdown against Pine Ridge. Arneaud played quarterback, but he will likely transition to wide receiver/defensive back this fall, Forrest said.

“He played quarterback in the spring, just because we needed a backup,” Forrest said. “But we feel we have freshman quarterbacks coming up. We’re real excited about the group of quarterbacks we’ve got coming in.”

Matanzas dominated the half against Eustis, which was played under a running clock. The Pirates kept the ball on the ground with 1,000-yard rusher Conner running behind an experience offensive line. Quarterback Cole Hardy threw the ball only a few times.

“He did a good job of handling the varsity reps when it came to the tempo we wanted to run,” Forrest said of Hardy, a rising junior. “I thought he managed the game really well.”

The defense, playing a new scheme installed by new defensive coordinator Devin Mathews this spring, made some mistakes, but the energy and intensity were evident, Forrest said.

“The scheme, the details, those things we can correct,” Forrest said. “But the effort was there. We had two interceptions and a lot of big hits.”

Of the overall performance, Forrest said, “There were some things we can clean up, as always, but I thought the kids handled the game really well. There was a lightning delay before we even got off the bus, and they handled that well. It was a good showing.”

 

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