BY DAN HILDEBRAN
Keystone Heights High School (0-9) quarterback Hunter Crumpton rushed for 106 yards and completed 7 of 12 passes for 75 yards against two interceptions in the Indians’ 46-3 loss to Palatka at the Panthers’ Bennett-Cooper Field.
Palatka quarterback Tommy Offord also had a big night, breaking John L. Williams’ 44-year-old single-season touchdown record of 66 with an 82-yard scoring sprint in the first quarter.
Williams, who starred at the University of Florida and played 10 seasons in the NFL for the Steelers and Seahawks, was on hand to give Offord the ball that the Palatka senior carried into the end zone for the record-breaking score.
The Panthers (3-6) rushed for 501 yards and passed for 49 against an outmanned Keystone squad, which dressed out only two seniors.
Offord’s record breaker came on the Panthers’ second possession. He broke through his offensive line from the Palatka 18 and ran untouched to the opposite end zone.
But the Indians (0-9) bounced back with a 31-yard field goal by Ryder Thomas, halving Palatka’s lead to 6-3 in the first quarter.
However, on Palaka’s next possession, Offord struck for the second time, breaking free for a 55-yard run.
The 170-pound senior appeared destined for his third touchdown of the night, but as he reached the 3-yard line, he lateralled the ball to teammate Jaiden Ashley, who took the ball into the end zone.
Offord, who finished with 232 yards on nine carries, tossed a 49-yard touchdown pass to George Taylor just before intermission, giving Palatka a 26-3 halftime lead.
The Panthers, led by former Keystone assistant football and head weightlifting coach Lantz Lowery, opened the second half with two more big plays. Joune Phillips broke a 94-yard TD in the third quarter, giving Palatka a 26-3 lead. In the final 12 minutes, K.J. Wright broke an 81-yard run. Palatka center Alan Blocker lined up in the backfield for the two-point conversion and punched in the extra points from the 2-yard line.
Palatka’s final score came in the fourth quarter on a nine-play, 52-yard drive, which drained almost seven minutes off the game clock.
Offord’s backup, Noah McKinley, completed the drive with a 1-yard dive, nailing the final score at 46-3.
The Indians wrap up their 2025 campaign at home against Crescent City (3-6) on Thursday, Oct. 30, at 7:30 p.m.
