BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
It was a scoreless game in the second quarter until visiting Eastside struck with big plays, scoring on five straight possessions in defeating the Keystone Heights High School football team 35-0 on Sept. 1.
It was the season-opener for the Indians, who gave up four touchdown passes of more than 30 yards. Two of Eastside’s scores covered more than 70 yards.
“We’ve got be in better position. I’ve got to get them better,” Keystone Head Coach Steve Reynolds said. “There’s some new stuff defensively this season that we didn’t do last year. We’re trying to iron the kinks out. We’re going to be all right.”
Keystone’s offense held the ball for approximately 16 minutes in the first half, but trailed 21-0 at halftime. Reynolds said it was reminiscent of games last season in which the offense was able to move inside opponents’ 25- or 30-yard lines, only to have the drives fizzle out.
“We had three possessions inside the 30 in the first half alone and came away with no points,” Reynolds said. “That’s something where Coach Reynolds needs to do better. We’ve got to get these kids ready for situational football a little better.”
The Indians, who host Fort White on Friday, Sept. 8, at 7:30 p.m., made a big play on special teams when a Connor Guy punt traveled 48 yards, pinning the Rams (2-0) at their own 3-yard line for their opening possession.
Eastside was able to gain a first down, but a holding penalty hurt the Rams, forcing them to eventually punt.
It was Eastside’s only possession of the first quarter.
The Indians converted a fourth-and-1 play on their second possession when quarterback Baylor Ford went over center for a 4-yard gain to the Eastside 49. Ford later completed a 6-yard pass to Andru Siemer to set up third-and-4. Carez Daniels then ran for a 7-yard gain to pick up the first down.
Siemer, who finished with two receptions for 21 yards, caught another pass for a 15-yard gain to the Eastside 21. The next three plays, however, were a run play for a loss of 4 yards, an incomplete pass and a 4-yard sack. A screen pass to Daniels on fourth-and-18 went for only a 1-yard gain, resulting in a turnover on downs.
Rams quarterback Adrian Curtis misfired on a deep pass on the first play after the change of possession. However, he came back on the next play and connected with Chris Bishop for a 72-yard touchdown at the 9:52 mark of the second quarter. Brayden Wester blocked the extra point.
The Indians’ offense put itself in potential scoring position again when fullback Trey Jeffries got loose for a 21-yard gain to the Eastside 35. A 5-yard reception by Jackson Parmeter later moved Keystone inside the 30, but two straight incomplete passes resulted in a turnover on downs, with the Indians needing just 4 yards to gain a first down.
Jeffries and Wester held running back Joshua Benjamin to a 2-yard gain on the first play of the Rams’ ensuing series, but Benjamin broke a tackle in the backfield on second down and scampered for a gain that left Eastside inches short of a first down. After moving the chains on an 8-yard pass play, Benjamin rushed for an 11-yard gain to the Keystone 42. Two plays later, Curtis threw a 37-yard touchdown pass to Antoneo Wilson. Wilson then caught a pass for a successful two-point conversion, making it a 14-0 game with 3:24 left until halftime.
Keystone muffed the ensuing kickoff, with Eastside’s Tajoun Waldon recovering at the Indians’ 31-yard line. Runs of 13 and 11 yards by Corvin Byrd helped set up first-and-goal at the 1.
The Indians looked as if they were on the verge of a successful goal-line stand. Jayden Goodman dropped Byrd for a 3-yard loss on first down, followed by Garrison Teague tackling Curtis for a 1-yard loss on a quarterback keeper. Byrd was gang tackled after gaining 2 yards on third down. On fourth down, with 4 seconds left in the half, Wilson caught his second touchdown of the night. Elijah Dressel kicked the extra point for a 21-0 Eastside lead.
Wilson finished with 46 yards on three receptions.
Eastside opened the second half with a four-play, 65-yard drive that culminated with Curtis hitting Bishop in stride down the middle of the field for a 56-yard touchdown. The Rams, after the PAT, led 28-0 a minute into the third quarter.
Bishop finished with two receptions for 128 yards.
Darrion Grady returned the ensuing kickoff 29 yards. A late hit out of bounds on the play tacked on 15 yards, giving the Keystone offense the ball at the Eastside 45. The Indians would pick up a first down on a 17-yard Teague reception to the 26. The drive would bog down after a quarterback-fullback collision in the backfield, a penalty and a sack.
When Eastside’s offense took to the field again, its first play was a run play for no yards, courtesy of a tackle by Teague. The next play, Curtis dropped a deep pass into the hands of Waldon for an 80-yard touchdown. Dressel kicked the extra point to conclude the scoring.
A running clock was in effect after the score. Eastside also pulled its starters after the final touchdown, which meant Curtis exited the game having gone 9 of 13 for 276 yards.
The Rams, a regional semifinal team from last year, compiled approximately 400 total yards.
Keystone rushed for 86 yards, led by Daniels, who gained 43 yards on 14 carries.
Ford completed 7 of 15 passes for 49 yards.
Damien Dunlap led Keystone in tackles with nine. Zane Leger and Wyatt Van Zant finished with six and five tackles, respectively.
The Indians’ next opponent, a Class 1R playoff qualifier from last season, is off to a 1-0 start. Fort White, which didn’t play last week, opened the season with a 19-13 win over Taylor County.
Last season, Fort White defeated Keystone 28-0.
