By Beth Jones
The Hornets are off to a 6-0 start with Friday night’s homecoming victory. The Yulee High School football team beat the Ribault Trojans 34-14 and boasts a 6-0 record for the first time and school history.
“Besides our hangover from the emotional game last week and our lack of execution to start the game, I was really pleased with the 34 points in the final three quarters of the game,” said Kyle Dougherty, head football coach at Yulee. “Seventeen in the second really helped us get control of the game back.
“I felt defensively we did some things really well, and some not so well. Ribault’s athletic quarterback causes problems, and he did that on a few plays (Friday) night.
“Offensively, we found our stride with a 59-yard touchdown to Gunnar Gibson from Jackson Visconti. Penalties really hurt us in the red zone, and I believe led to the two field goals.
“But Daniel Armenta was a real gem. He made two field goals (long of 42), hit a couple really big punts and had a touchback.
“This was Armenta’s best game, and I was really impressed with how he performed in some big moments. We will need that down the road.”
Visconti completed five of eight passes for 102 yards, and Tre Vazquez had two passes for 38 yards. The pair had multiple targets Friday night. Preston Matricardi had three catches for 23 yards, Pete Kuhlman had two for 17 and a TD, and Jayden Timmon (15), Corbin Fletcher (26) and Gibson had one reception apiece.
JJ Etienne scored on his lone carry, a 1-yarder. Timmon had 10 rushes for 72 yards, Fletcher had five carries for 43, and Vazquez rushed eight times for 36 yards.
Jaison Brown, a sophomore, had five solo tackles and seven assists, junior Tegan Rebane had six solo stops and four assists and senior Turtle Ricks had nine solo tackles and an assist. Jaheim London and Calvin McCardell had eight total tackles each.
Reid Nelson, Ricks and Payton Raines recorded a quarterback sack apiece. Maddox Brooks and Shamar Gibbs had interceptions, and Jaiden Wright and Ricks both caused a fumble.
Armenta was perfect on his four point-after attempts.
The Hornets have a bye week and so does their next opponent, Fernandina Beach. The two teams go head to head on Oct. 10 in Yulee.
bjones@nassaunewsline.net
