- October 5, 2026
There were so many mistakes, penalties and turnovers that were detrimental to Flagler Palm Coast in its 21-19 loss to Tocoi Creek on Thursday, Sept. 24. One call that could have gone FPC’s way, one field goal that could have sailed between the uprights, one less holding penalty or interception or controversial call — any one of those reversals could have changed the outcome.
One thing that the coaches didn’t want to do was let the Bulldogs’ first loss of the season, and what might have been, linger in the players’ minds. So they called the team in on Saturday to watch film and emphasized the positive. They are 4-1 and 1-1 in District 1-6A with three district games remaining, including a home game on Oct. 16 against Creekside, the only team with a 2-0 record in district games.
As a coach you have to be able to put things in the past and move forward. ... We’re extremely positive about what we can correct. The players are extremely positive. They’re excited to move forward.
— PATRICK TURNER, FPC football coach
“As a coach you have to be able to put things in the past and move forward,” FPC coach Patrick Turner said. “There were more positives than negatives. We’re extremely positive about what we can correct. The players are extremely positive. They’re excited to move forward.”
The Bulldogs will try to get back on the winning track on Friday, Oct. 2, in a road game against 1-4 University.
Statistically, FPC dominated in every way at Tocoi Creek except on the scoreboard. Bulldogs quarterback Reid Pritt passed for a career-high 209 yards but also threw two interceptions in a game for the first time, including a pick in the end zone on the game’s first possession after engineering a 60-yard drive to the Toros’ 20-yard line.
FPC also gained 216 yards rushing, with Ehimen “He-Man” Ajede running for 182 yards and a touchdown to give the senior 795 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns through five games. FPC outgained Tocoi 425 yards to 338.
But the Bulldogs were flagged for 19 penalties, while the Toros were penalized just three times. And FPC missed two field goals.
“We dominated on offense,” Turner said. “The difference was 19 penalties to three and two interceptions. Despite the amount of yards, we had at least 100 yards of offensive penalties that moved us backward. You visit the red zone that many times and come away with no points … you can’t win football games like that.”
Despite the miscues, the Bulldogs trailed by just 7-0 at the half. But Tocoi stretched its lead to 14-0 going into the fourth quarter. The Toros scored again with the help of a pass interference penalty against the Bulldogs. Turner called timeout and argued that the ball was tipped at the line of scrimmage which would negate a pass interference called, but the officials were unconvinced.
“It was my fault using a timeout to argue a call,” Turner said, adding that the Bulldogs would need that timeout in their final drive.
FPC scored in a flurry and came close to pulling out a victory. Nei’cco Murphy ran for a touchdown. Logan Jacobelli scored on a 44-yard touchdown catch from Pritt. And Ajede scored on fourth-and-goal from the 1 with no time left. Ajede’s 2-point conversion run that would have sent the game to overtime was called back because of holding. Another penalty — delay of game — pushed FPC all the way back to the 18-yard line.
“We were at the 18-yard line going for 2,” Turner said. “You don’t have 2-point plays for the 18-yard line.”
Jacobelli caught seven passes for 126 yards. Murphy had 47 yards on offense and added a team-high nine tackles on defense.
“If we hit one of our field goals it’s a different situation,” Turner said. “But that’s what high school football is. It always comes down to two or three plays that can change the outcome.”
