FLEMING ISLAND – Fleming Island High’s football team has struggled with personnel jumbling all season with this week’s district game at Gainesville Buchholz the ultimate test of resiliency.

“The kids on this team have yet to back down in any game,” said Fleming Island coach Damenyum Springs. “We are keeping our fingers crossed for a playoff spot and we know that path will need help from other teams. Our two district losses (to Bartram Trail and Oakleaf) were both battles to the very end.”

The Golden Eagles took care of business early against district 3-7A’s Creekside High with a 14-0 first half lead growing to the final 27-14 win over the winless Knights.

For Springs, his kids have learned to deal with the adversity of a three or four quarterback system, two critical injuries and a district that houses three of the best 7A schools in Florida.

Right now, Buchholz, by way of a 17-10 win over Bartram Trail on Friday, is in the driver’s seat with Bartram Trail and Oakleaf set to battle on October 28.

“They are a fast, talented team, but so was Bartram Trail and Oakleaf,” said Springs. “We hung with both of them. We will have a plan to keep the game close.”

Oakleaf beat 1A-Arlington Country Day, score not relevant, and hosts Creekside on Friday.

A win by Fleming Island on Buchholz on Friday would be monumental in keeping the Golden Eagles alive for a district runnerup spot contingent on the Oakleaf v. Bartram result. Creekside can add some pepper to the mix with an upset win along the way over either Oakleaf or Buchholz in the next two weeks. Who knows?

Either way, Fleming Island running back Anfernee McCaskill, thrust into the key ballcarrier for Springs with injuries to Chauncey Garrison and Isaiah Walker in weeks one and three, blasted Creekside for 187 yards and two first half scores to push the Golden Eagles downfield in a flurry.

“He’s become a legit ballcarrier that can go the distance at any time and that’s a weapon,” said Springs.

Commander K.B. Ashe, who has played gallantly at quarterback and his natural defensive back position, kept the game in hand with three interceptions on the inept Creekside offense.

In the first quarter, on Fleming Island’s second series, McCaskill hopped to a 46 yard scoring scamper to get the Golden Eagle offense on the board.

Fleming Island’s defense, with linebacker Jack Surgeoner making key tackles along the way got their first turnover with Ashe snatching an errant Creekside pass near midfield as the teams switched into the second quarter.

Fleming Island used a combination of passes to Jackson Bull and McCaskill to move the ball to the Creekside seven yard line before McCaskill rumbled in for his second score of the half.

Linebacker Ryan Smenda shut down the Creekside run game on the next Knight series with three tackles coming downfield as the Knights seemed ready to churn the turf.

After a Creekside punt, McCaskill again used his track speed to roll 52 yards to the Creekside 45 but Fleming Island stalled there.

Creekside kept attempting to hit the air waves for success, but Ashe snatched his second errant pass as the half ended with a 14-0 Fleming Island lead.

Fleming Island would drive on the second half kickoff but miss a field goal before the Golden Eagle defense stuffed Creekside in five plays.

On first down after a punt to the Fleming Island 35, McCaskill nearly scored his hat trick with a 64 and a half yard run to the Creekside goal line leading to a touchdown plunge by Smenda and a 21-0 lead.

“Anfernee didn’t get run down, but he ran sideways around and through maybe six tacklers before getting knocked down at the one,” said Springs.

An interception to freshman quarterback Dean Hyams led to Creekside’s first score, a 15 yard run with a fumble on the next series leading to a second Knights score to put the game in jeopardy at 21-14 with the fourth quarter about to start.

Fleming Island would answer with Kesean Young, who added a quiet 116 yards on the ground sprinting in from 25 yards out and Ashe snagging his third pick of the night to salvage the win.