FLEMING ISLAND - Defense carried the day at Fleming Island Saturday, as defensive coordinator Stephen Creech’s charges made life difficult for the Golden Eagles’ offense throughout a spirited 70-play scrimmage in the first public look at Head Coach Damenyum Springs’ inaugural team. Creech returned to the Golden Eagle sideline after a stint at Oakleaf High School.

Led by Brandyne Mackey and Marquavian Wright, the defense limited the offense to 321 yards and one touchdown and forced three turnovers while scoring a touchdown of its own. Mackey, a defensive tackle, had two tackles for loss and a forced fumble, while Wright pressured the Golden Eagles’ quarterbacks throughout the day from his right defensive end spot. A sophomore, Wright finished with one sack and one tackle for loss. The second string defense punctuated the effort with a goal line stand on the final series, keeping the second string offense out of the end zone on four straight plays after the offense had secured a first down at the one yard line.

“I was glad the defense was flying around,” said Springs after the scrimmage. “Our whole defense is built on speed.”

Cornerback K.B. Ashe had a sack, while linebackers Jaylan Robinson and William Campbell, a freshman, had tackles in the offensive backfield.

It appears that Springs, who had the interim tag removed from his head coaching title at the end of last season, is placing more of his gifted athletes on defense, where five starters return. Left defensive end Deon Pate, a rising senior who holds a scholarship offer from the University of North Carolina-Charlotte, consistently pressured the quarterbacks Saturday along with Wright, while rising junior Ryan Smenda, who already has offers from UNCC and Buffalo, will man one linebacker spot. Cornerback Keon Jackson is another returning starter with Division I potential, forming a formidable cornerback duo with Ashe.

Isaiah Walker is returning to start at one inside linebacker position, while Jaylan Robinson has the inside track on the other spot. Springs was pleased with Robinson’s tackling and ability to handle calling the defenses Saturday.

If there is a question mark on defense, it is at the safety position, where the Golden Eagles will deploy two new starters. Rising juniors Jackson Bull and Jack Surgeoner started Saturday, with mostly positive results. Late in the scrimmage, Bull cut in front of receiver Logan Motes on a flag route, intercepted a pass and raced 27 yards down the sideline for a touchdown. Bull also had one of the defense’s two fumble recoveries. Surgeoner saw significant action at linebacker last year and had one tackle for loss Saturday.

Dylan Pate, Deon’s brother, provided the Golden Eagles’ offensive highlights, catching three passes for 121 yards and a score. On his touchdown, Pate came down the line of scrimmage to catch a quick screen pass from starting quarterback Spencer Mollnow, turned upfield, broke a tackle in the secondary and sprinted 76 yards to the goal line. Pate later gained 26 yards by outjumping the safeties on an underthrown post pattern.

Playing with the first string, Mollnow completed six of 15 passes for 131 yards, his statistics hurt by four dropped balls. Brian Brown, a transfer from Orange Park High School, looked capable of playing on the varsity level in completing three of five passes for 44 yards, also displaying an ability to run. Overall, five quarterbacks completed 12 of 27 passes (44.4%) for 191 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

Without the presence of Trey Snead, who is graduating this spring and taking his speed and power to Rutgers on a football scholarship, the Golden Eagles’ running game struggled. Javan Floyd started and gained just nine yards on seven carries. Keyshawn Young got a long look from the coaches with 16 carries for 76 yards, but lost a fumble. Rising senior Spencer Shaw gained 14 yards on six carries against the first team defense, and should see action in the fall. Overall, the offense gained just 130 yards on 42 rushes, averaging 3.1 yards per carry.

“We have got to move the chains more, but we’re young, and a lot of the guys are playing together for the first time,” said SpringsOnly four starters return to the offense, whose effort was hampered by the absence of center Austin Chipoletti and guard Will Hudgens, likely starters next season, and top wide receiver Farrell Turner.

“When he is on the field, he is the best athlete on the field,” Springs said of Turner.

There is much for Springs and his newly assembled staff to do before next season. The Golden Eagles will have new coordinators on both sides of the ball, coaches that Springs pried away from Clay County rivals. Evan Scharf is Fleming Island’s new offensive coordinator after having held that position at Orange Park last season.

“We needed to get more explosive, and he is a mastermind at spreading the ball around,” Springs said of his new coordinator. “We are going to be balanced.”

Scharf’s resume includes a previous stint at Fleming Island, when, according to Springs, the Golden Eagles averaged 38 points per game. In addition to a spread attack, Scharf will install a more conventional package that will take advantage of the talents of tight end Nick Ferendo, a rising junior who had two receptions for nine yards Saturday.

Creech is coming off a successful stint in the same position at Oakleaf High. He is an energetic and boisterous teacher on the field. Springs stated that the Golden Eagles will vary their fronts and the number of defensive backs during games.

“We have smart kids,” said Springs. “We will have the luxury of having multiple defenses.”

Teaching and getting the Golden Eagles comfortable with their ambitious number of new schemes will take time for the coaches, who hope to improve on last year’s 5-5 record and make a return to the playoffs. The next progress check comes Friday, May 20 at Pedro Menendez High School in St. Augustine.

“I just want to see us execute what we do,” said Springs. “I want us to play our base sets and play hard.”