BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Keystone Heights High School’s football team gave a playoff-bound Crescent City team a tough battle before falling 26-10 to end the season on Nov. 1 in Crescent City.
The Indians (2-8) scored first, led at halftime and trailed by only three points for most of the second half until the Class 1A Raiders (8-2) scored two touchdowns in the final two minutes
“They played like warriors,” Keystone Head Coach Steve Reynolds said. “They came close. I’m proud of them.”
Keystone had several key players out with injuries, including leading rusher Zane Leger and leading receivers Tallon Campbell and Andrew Wilson.
Injuries — including a season-ending one to lineman Bryce Daniels in the team’s second game — were an ongoing part of a season that began 2-2 before a six-game losing streak.
“That hit us pretty hard this year,” Reynolds said of the injury bug. “As much offseason training as we do to get ready for all that stuff, sometimes you can’t avoid it.”
The Indians got big defensive plays early against the Raiders, who threatened to score on its first two possessions.
Crescent City quarterback Eric Jenkins ran for a 20-yard gain to the Keystone 43 on the Raiders’ first drive. That was immediately followed by a 12-yard run from Ja’Maris Fuller. Crescent City gained a net of 2 yards on its next two plays. On third down, Freddie Major fumbled on a jet sweep and recovered for a 1-yard loss. The Raiders went for it on fourth-and-9, with Keystone’s Colton Hollingsworth tackling Jenkins for a 2-yard loss on a keeper play.
The Indians went three-and-out on their first offensive series and appeared heading toward the same result on their second drive, but Jackson Parmeter completed a 10-yard pass to Baylor Ford for a first down at the Keystone 42. Parmeter made the most of a bad snap on the following play, keeping the ball and running for a 7-yard gain. A 5-yard carry by Hunter Crumpton gave the Indians a first down at the Crescent City 46.
Crumpton added runs of 10 and 4 yards for another first down, but a fumble put an end to the drive, with the Raiders recovering the loose ball at their own 34.
The Raiders wasted little time driving into the red zone. A12-yard carry by Fuller resulted in a first down at the Keystone 48, while a 30-yard pass from Jenkins to Kyrie Rolhac moved Crescent City to the 18-yard line. Jenkins ran for a 6-yard gain, but was then dropped for an 8-yard loss by Luke Bacorn, which left the Raiders facing third-and-12. After an incomplete pass, Giancarlo Baylon attempted a 37-yard field goal on fourth down, which was no good, leaving the game scoreless with 10:36 remaining until halftime.
Keystone and Crescent City each had a three-and-out series before the Indians put together a drive that resulted in the game’s first points. That possession began with an explosive play, with Ford gaining 46 yards on a pass play to the Raiders’ 19-yard line. Two Hollingsworth carries resulted in a net loss of 1 yard before Parmeter had an 8-yard run to the 12. On fourth-and-3, Tyler Sapp kicked a 29-yard field goal to put the Indians ahead 3-0 with 3:58 to play in the half.
The Raiders responded with a six-play scoring drive, though it didn’t get off to a good start for Crescent City. Major was held to a 2-yard gain by Damien Dunlap and Trase Wooden on first down, while a second-down carry by Jenkins resulted in another 2-yard gain after he was tripped up by Hollingsworth. Jenkins was chased out of the pocket on third down and tackled for no gain by Dunlap. However, the Raiders went for it on fourth down, with Jenkins scrambling for a 12-yard gain to the
Keystone 46.
After completing a 7-yard pass to Jariah Fuller, Jenkins had to chase down a fumble on a bad snap. After recovering the loose ball, he scrambled toward his team’s sideline and lofted a deep pass to Zay Robinson for a 39-yard touchdown with 13.9 seconds on the clock. Baylon’s extra-point kick was good, putting Crescent City up 7-3.
The Raiders successfully attempted an onside kick, giving the ball back to their offense with 9.9 seconds remaining until halftime. Jenkins attempted to connect on another deep pass, but Sapp tipped the ball away from the receiver. Parmeter, who was behind the play, intercepted the ball inside his own 5-yard line. He took the ball past midfield and pitched the ball to Ford on a lateral before being tackled. Ford carried the ball the remaining distance for a touchdown. Sapp added the PAT for a 10-7 Keystone lead.
It was the Indians’ first halftime lead since their Sept. 20 win over Dixie County.
Crescent City began the second half with a 10-play, 60-yard touchdown drive to take the lead for good. Robinson and Chris Washington had runs of 10 and 11 yards, respectively, to pick up first downs as the Raiders moved from their own 40 to the Keystone 30. Jenkins then rushed 12 yards to the 18-yard line. After a 5-yard carry by Jenkins, Robinson was tackled for a loss of a yard by Pete Bostic. Jenkins, however, then had a 10-yard run to set up first-and-goal at the 4. Robinson eventually scored on a 2-yard run to put the Raiders ahead 13-10 at the
5:30 mark of the third quarter. The PAT was no good.
Keystone went three-and-out on its first series of the half, but put together a promising drive the next time its offense had the ball. Parmeter had a 9-yard carry to convert a third-and-long play and later completed an 8-yard pass to Ford to set up a fourth-and-1 play on which Parmeter rushed for 12 yards to the Crescent City 28. A 12-yard run by Hollingsworth resulted in a first down at the 14, but the drive stalled at the 11. Sapp set up to attempt a 28-yard field goal, but a low snap prevented the attempt, with holder Parmeter throwing an incompletion with 5:41 remaining in the game.
The Raiders’ Robinson had four carries for 48 yards on an eight-play, 89-yard drive that ended with a 22-yard touchdown reception by Major with 1:51 left to play. Baylon added the PAT, which made the score 20-10.
A Keystone fumble set Crescent City up at the Indians’ 1-yard line. Robinson scored on a run from there with 1:15 remaining, putting the Raiders up 26-10. The PAT was no good.
Ford and Parmeter were responsible for the bulk of the Indians’ 158 total yards. Parmeter rushed for 43 yards on seven carries and was 4 of 11 passing for 72 yards, with Ford catching all four completions.
It was the final game for a senior group that consisted of less than 10 players.
“It’s a group of kids I’ve been around for five years,” Reynolds said. “I’ve gotten to know them. I’ve gotten to coach them in different sports. They’re great kids. They love each other. They love Keystone. They work hard. They’ve been a part of some successes, and they’ve been a part of some trials and have come through them.
“It’s a shame we didn’t win more than we did.”
Perhaps more wins will come in 2025. Reynolds mentioned how the 2023 team bounced back from a losing season to win six games and earn a spot in the playoffs.
“One of the pillars of our program is teaching kids how to become men and teaching them how to deal with adverse situations. This season has been full of them for all of us.
“Sometimes you need to go through the fire a little bit. Look at the success we had last year. Those kids came through (adversity) the year before.”
