Keystone Wins Home Opener

The Keystone Heights Indians received a dose of their own medicine on opeing night. They were forced to try and stop a team, Fort White Indians, that was able to run the ball effectively. This led to a high scoring game with Keystone winning a close one at home Friday night. Final 48-40.

At their home opener, the Indians went up against a strong offensive line that dominated the line of scrimmage. Senior offensive tackle Robert Hartley, who stands  6-foot-7 and weighs just less than 300 pounds, led the way. The Fort White Indians started the night with 13 runs out of their first 14 plays. That set the tone for the night.

The Fort White Indians totaled more than 200 yards on the ground. Junior RB Xavier Blake led the way with over 100 yards and a touchdown. The ability to run the ball opened up the passing game for QB Alex Gilmer and WR Jordan Dewhirst. The two connected on three touchdowns; two for 13 yards and one for 3 yards.

The Fort White Indians were also able to get their return game going. Freshman Alexis Blake ran two kickoffs back for touchdowns, both over 80 yards.

Led by Senior RB’s Greg Taylor (28) and Matt Story the Keystone Heights Indians running game carried them to victory. Taylor led the way by racking up 222 yards on the ground and one touchdown. Story was unable to reach the 100 yard mark, but he did score five times. Story also led the team in return yards; he had two kickoffs that for more than 60 yards.

Keystone's defense had a few bright spots throughout the game. Junior Safety Dillion Van Wagner had a fumble recovery inside the 17-yard line. He also had an interception but it was called back on a roughing the passer penalty.  Junior Cornerback Lee Lambert had an interception that he returned for 29 yards to set up the offense on the 13-yard line. Seniors Keegan Lowery and Jacob Elliot along with Junior Cameron Yarbrough were around the football all evening.

  The turning point of the game came in the fourth quarter when Fort White Freshman RB Joseph Harris (was stopped on a fourth and five late in the game. Six plays later Story scored on a 17-yard run with only 6 minutes left in the game. The Fort White Indians answered quickly by returning the kickoff for a touchdown. The Keystone Height Indians then turned the ball over to their work horse Taylor who ran for 55 yards setting up Story to score from 6 yards out.  

After the game Assistant Coach Lowery (Keystone Heights) commented on the defense's inability to stop the Fort White offense consistently.  “They’re bigger up front, and our defense is built on speed, so we're a little smaller. We did not give our defense a chance to rest; there were a couple of times that our offense scored too quickly.”  

  Keystone       14     7     13      14

 Fort White      14     6       7      13

 FW--- Dewhirst(16) 13 yrd td reception, Hatcher(9) PAT

 K--- Taylor(28) 10yrd run; Miller(80) PAT

 FW--- Blake(4) 90 yrd KO return, Hatcher(9) PAT

 K---Ricketts(10) 1 yrd td run, Miller(80) PAT

K--- Story(22) 5 yrd td run, Miller(80) PAT

FW--- Blake(2) 1 yrd td run, Hatcher(9) missed PAT

K---Story(22) 10 yrd td run, Miller(80) missed PAT

FW--- Dewhirst(16) 13 yrd td reception, Hatcher(9) PAT

K--- Story(22) 11 yrd td run, Miller(80) PAT

K--- Story(22) 17 yrd td run, Miller(80) PAT

FW--- Dewhirst(16) 13 yrd td reception, Hatcher(9) PAT

K--- Story(22) 6 yrd td run, Miller(80) PAT

FW--- Blake(4) 88 yrd KO return, Hatcher(9) missed PAT