By Beth Jones
The Pirates are back in the playoffs. It’s the second season in the Sunshine State Athletic Association for the Fernandina Beach High School football team, and the team is making a return trip to state.
“I know the team is looking forward to it,” said Blake Willis, head football coach at FBHS. “The last half of the season didn’t really go our way, but they never gave up in any game, which a big testament to their determination to win.”
It was the tale of two halves for the Pirates, who won their first five games and finished at 5-5 with Friday’s narrow loss to Impact Christian Academy in the regular season finale at FBHS.
The Pirates, the No. 2 seed in the Atlantic League, will host No. 7 Bell Friday quarterfinal round. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
“Getting to play at home is going to be great for us,” Willis said. “I know it’s on Halloween night, but hopefully the community can make it apart of their Friday night plans. I think it will be a great game.”
In the matchup on Friday night, Impact Christian Academy broke open a first-half stalemate with a 95-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. The Lions built on that lead in the third with a 79-yard TD run. The visitors led 14-0, before Traivon Martin punched it in from 3 yards out for the Pirates’ first score. Aydin Poe hauled in the pass from Ian Miller for the two-point conversion. FBHS cut Impact’s lead to 14-8.
The Lions scored two more TDs in the fourth quarter to take a 28-8 lead over their hosts. The Pirates responded with TD passes from Miller to Ethan Watts (6 yards) and Beckham Rohe (10 yards).
Miller completed 18 of 35 passes for 248 yards. Watts reeled in five for 79 yards, and Rohe had four for 56. Jake Holbrook had four for 40, Khordel White had two for 38, Poe had two for 29, and D’ante Simms had one for 6.
Simms also had nine rushes for 56 yards, and Martin had nine carries for 35 yards.
Watts had three tackles and four assists and Devin Murray recorded three tackles and a pair of assists for the Pirate defense.
The Pirates played for the state title in their debut in the SSAA last season. FBHS beat West Nassau in the first round and lost to Frostproof 27-8 in the Atlantic League championship.
West Nassau (9-1) also returns to the playoffs and is the top seed in the Atlantic League. The Warriors host No. 8 Stanton College Prep at 7 p.m. Friday.
