The St. Johns Country Day School football team (0-2) lost its second non-district game of the season Thursday night, 28-18, at home to Mandarin Christian (1-1). Mandarin Christian, which has only 17 players on its roster, never trailed in the game and scored 22 of its points in the first half. The closest the Spartans would come on the scoreboard was six points in the third quarter.
The Spartans struggled early on offense mainly because of turnovers. Yet, the offense seemed to settle down toward the end of the first half when junior Ray Grant took over at quarterback. The Spartans also had more success moving the ball when they went to more of a ground attack that concentrated on running at the middle of the Eagle defense.
St. Johns' defense had trouble containing the Eagle spread formation offense that racked up 198 yards passing and 85 yards rushing. St. Johns ran for 144 yards on 36 carries and gained 83 more yards threw the air.
Spartan head coach Rodney DuBose was dissapointed with the loss, but he was pleased with the team's improvement.
"We are still working out the bugs," DuBose said. "Our dreams are delayed, but not denied. Give credit to Mandarin Christian. They only had 17 players, but they were fighting to the end."
Mandarin Christian received the opening kickoff and drove from its own 26-yard line for the first score of the game. The Eagles scored when quarterback Josh Tylski, who completed 10- of- 16 passes for nearly 200 yards, connected with receiver Charlie Perry, who caught five passes for 91 yards, for a 36-yard play at the 5:54 mark of the first quarter. Tylski threw to Jesse Peoples for the two-point coversion to put the Eagles up, 8-0. St. Johns was not able to earn a first down on their first possession, but a 55-yard punt by Joel Haznedl pinned the Eagles back to their 23-yard line. The first quarter ended with the Eagles up by eight points.
In the second quarter, Mandarin Christian drove 50 yards for its second score capped by a fade pass in the corner of the end zone from Tylski to Peoples for 10 yards. Tylski connected with Marc Jewell for the two-point conversion to increase the Eagle lead to, 16-0, with 7:10 left in the first half.
St. Johns scored its first touchdown on the ensuing possession after a 71-yard drive. Grant made two big plays during the drive. The first was a 27- yard pass to receiver Philip Robbins that gave the Spartans a first down on the Eagle 44-yard line. A few plays later, Grant scrambled 27 yards down to the Eagle 5-yard line. Tailback Hwang Marino, who led the team in rushing with 77 yards on 20 carries, scored from two yards out two plays later. Grant converted a two-point coversion on a bootleg run to cut the lead to, 16-8, with 4:29 left in the half.
A sack by Spartan defensive end Jeffery Dobbertein and an illegal foward pass penalty ended the Eagles hopes on the next drive, so they punted to the Spartans. Two plays later, a turnover put the Spartans back in a hole when Grant was hit by Peoples causing a fumble that was picked up by Perry who ran it in for a 28- yard touchdown. The two-point conversion attempt failed and the Eagles led, 22-8, which was the score at halftime.
St. Johns got back in the game by taking the second half kickoff and driving 60 yards for a touchdown. Marino ended the drive with a 3-yard run at the 7:52 mark of the third quarter. He also ran in a two-point conversion to trim the Eagles lead to, 22-16.
After forcing an Eagle punt, St. Johns drove the ball to the Mandarin Christian 19-yard line where Grant was tackled for a loss on fourth down. The quarter ended with the same, 22-16 score.
Early in the fourth quarter, the Spartan defense came up with a big play. The Eagles had driven to deep into Spartan territory when Robbins intercepted a Tylski pass just short of the goal line to stop the drive.
St. Johns ended up having to punt after making a first down. Mandarin Christian scored its last touchdown of the game on the ensuing drive as running back Michael Rozmus scored from 21 yards out with 4:49 left in the game. The two-point conversion failed, but the Eagles led, 28-16.
The final points of the game came when Eagle receiver Will McCullough lined up in punt formation on fourth down and took an intentional safety in the end zone with :46 seconds left in the game.
After the game, DuBose praised the play linebacker T. J. Weaver, defensive back Raymond Welch, Dobbertein, Haznedl, Marino, and Grant.
He said Grant has matured in the first two games.
"I was proud of Ray," DuBose said. "He grew up tonight. He is still making mistakes, but i am proud of him."
DuBose also said the team's starting tight end Mitch Agee should see action next week after missing the first two games with injuries.
Unfortunately for the Spartans, senior running back Carlos Sims, Jr. will not be seeing any more action this season. DuBose confirmed before the game that MRI results of Sims knee injury in last week's opener at Providence is extensive and will require surgery.
The Spartans next game is at St. Joseph Academy in St. Augustine next Friday night.
Mandarin Christian-8-14-0-6-28
St. Johns-0-8-8-2-18
Scoring
First Quarter
MC-Tylski 36- yard pass to Perry; Tylski pass to Peoples two-point conversion
Second Quarter
MC-Tylski 10- yard pass to Peoples; Tylski two-point conversion pass to Jewell
SJ-Marino 2-yard run; Grant two-point conversion run
MC-Perry 28-yard touchdown run with fumble recovery; two-point conversion pass failed
Third Quarter
SJ-Marino 3-yard run; Marino two-point conversion run
Fourth Quarter
MC-Rozmus 21-yard run; two-point conversion pass failed
SJ-McCullough intentional safety