General manager
KEYSTONE HEIGHTS—Keystone Heights improved to 5-4 with a 49-8 win over Joshua Christian Academy (3-6), setting up a regular-season finale at P.K. Yonge tonight in Gainesville.
The Indians started off aggressively against the visitors from Jacksonville’s westside, recovering a pooch kick to open the game. However, after allowing Keystone one first down, the Eagles defense stiffened and forced Keystone to a fourth-and-two from the Eagle 28, on which the Indians failed to convert.
One play after the visitors took over on their own 30, Wyatt Van Zant intercepted a Joshua Christian pass and ran 35 yards for Keystone’s first touchdown with 8:14 remaining in the first quarter. Tyler Sapp added the extra point, giving the boys in white a 7-0 lead.
The Indian defense shined again on Joshua’s next possession, holding the Eagles on a fourth-and-13 from the Joshua 47 and taking possession on the visitors’ 40.
Four plays later, Baylor Ford hit Garrison Teague on an 18-yard touchdown pass, giving the Indians a two-touchdown lead after Sapp’s PAT.
The Indians kept the momentum when the Joshua Christian return man dropped the ball on the ensuing kickoff, and Van Zant pounced on the loose pigskin, allowing Keystone to keep possession on the Joshua 40.
Two plays later, Cartez Daniels broke free on a 55-yard sprint around the right, and Keystone celebrated a 21-0 lead with 3:33 left in the first quarter.
The Eagle offense showed signs of life on the visitors’ next possession, gaining a first down and 11 yards before a quarterback sack killed the drive.
Keystone notched its fourth score on a five-play, 47-yard campaign capped with a 10-yard pass from Ford to Teague. Sapp’s extra point gave the Indians a 28-0 lead with 8:57 left in the half.
After the Indians recovered a Joshua Christian fumble on the Eagle 38 with 5:10 remaining in the half, Ford found Andru Siemer in the endzone, giving the home team a 35-0 lead and activating the running clock for the remainder of the game.
The Indians scored once more as the halftime horn sounded when Darrion Grady broke a 65-yard rush. Sapp’s PAT gave the Indians a 42-0 lead at the half.
Keystone received the third-quarter kickoff and returned the ball to the Eagle 36. On the first play from scrimmage, Trey Jefferies broke the line of scrimmage between the tackles and then broke several tackles en route to a 36-yard TD run. Sapp’s PAT extended the home team’s margin to 49.
The Eagles finally struck paydirt with 3:45 left in the game, putting together an 8-play, 75-yard drive culminating with a 24-yard run by Syquan Mack. The 2-point conversion closed the visitors’ deficit to 49-8, which remained the final score.
