The final game of the season for the St. Johns Day Country School Spartans pitted them against the Maclay Marauders from Tallahassee. Unfortunately for the Spartans the evening ended with a defeat. It was senior night in Orange Park for the Spartans, unfortunately for the Spartan seniors; four on the team, their football season would end in disappointment by losing a close game 21-14.
The first half was dominated by hard hits and turnovers. The Marauders would strike first when Senior QB William Webb put great touch on a twenty eight yard touchdown pass to Senior Chase Smith. The Marauders (4-6) only took two minutes and forty five seconds to score. The Maclay offense would have opportunities to put more points on the board, but would be unable to do so. Some of the reasons would be penalties on the offense for holding and illegal block in the back. The closest the Maclay offensive unit would come to scoring again in the first half was when they reached the Spartans seven yard line. Unfortunately for Maclay, the defense for the Spartans would rise up and stop the drive with an interception in the back of the end zone.
For the Spartans, Senior Philip Robbins would not go quietly on senior night. Robbins was all over the field both defensively and offensively. Robbins recorded an interception in the end zone, recovered a fumble in Marauder’s territory. Robbins would also have the biggest hit of the night. The Spartans defensive line could not get to Maclay’s QB Webb. Webb broke free for a short gain and would run into Robbins head on. Robbins was the one left standing. Robbins best play of the night was when he hauled in a seventeen yard touchdown. Unfortunately the play was called back for holding. Robbins would finish his last game with 1 int, 5 tackles and 2 passes defended.
The Spartans offense seemed to thrive off of the plays being made by the defense. The Spartans would score at the beginning of the second quarter when QB Jake Haznedl set up a screen pass to RB Hwang Marino. Marino would shed tacklers on his way to the end zone on the thirty one yard play. Marino would have a productive night; 86 yards rushing on 18 carries and 3 catches for 31 yards and 1 td.
The second half would start in favor of Maclay. They would hold the Spartans to three and out on their opening possession. The Marauders would dominate the time of possession in the third quarter. The offense would control the ball for over eight minutes.
The Spartan defense would give up yards but would not surrender points.
The fourth quarter was again dominated by the Maclay offense. The offense was able to control just over seven minutes of the final period. The Maclay team was able to put points on the board in the closing stages of the game. The Maclay defense was able to hold the Spartans to three and out with the Spartans down inside their own ten yard line. Following a thirty yard punt return by senior Chase Smith, Maclay would set up shop at the Spartans sixteen yard line. Smith would carry the ball to the three yard line and RB Frank Shaw would finish the drive by running in for the touchdown. Shaw would not only play well on the offensive side of the ball but he had a large impact for the defensive unit. Shaw finished the evening with 14 tackles, 3 for a loss, and 1 sack.
Maclay would get the ball back with four minutes and thirty two seconds left. Led by hard running and ball control behind Shaw, the offense would set up at the Spartans twenty seven yard line. Webb would then connect to Smith for their second touchdown of the evening. Webb finished the night 14 of 21 for 165 yards, 2 td and 2 int. Smith would lead the Maclay offense with five catches for eighty two yards and two td. Smith was the second leading rusher on the Marauders offense with forty eight yards on eight carries.
The Spartans would pull off a little magic with only fifteen seconds remaining in the game. QB Jake Haznedl would find Andrew Creighton wide open on a fifty five yard pass that resulted in the Spartan's second touchdown of the game. Creighton would lead the team in reception yards; 2 catches for 67 yards and 1 td. Haznedl would finish his last game as a Spartan 7 of 12 for 177 yards and 1 int. Unfortunately for the Spartans there just not enough time left in the game. The season ended on a sour note for the Spartans (1-9, 0-5 District 2-1B), but for the players and their parents that filled the small sideline, it was a season to remember.
M 7 0 0 14
SJC 0 6 0 8
M-Smith 28 yard reception; PAT Stockstill
SJC- Marino 31 yard reception; PAT blocked
M- Shaw 3 yard run; PAT Stockstill
M- Smith 27 yard reception; PAT Stockstill
SJC- Creighton 55 yard reception; PAT 2 point run Haznedl
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