FLEMING ISLAND - Fleming Island running back Demhir Jackson ran for two touchdowns while Cibastian Broughton accounted for three scores as the Golden Eagles blasted visiting Fort White 45-0 in their regular season finale on November 1.
Fleming Island closes the regular season with a 7-3 record, 4-0 in District 3-5A. As the district champion, Fleming Island is guaranteed a spot in the Class 5A playoffs which begin November 15. The seedings and matchups had not been determined at press time.
“This group of seniors has been through a lot,” interim Fleming Island head coach Derek Chipoletti explained. “They have had four coaches, or at least three since they have been here. They have lost a lot of close games, both this year and last year. We wanted them to shine tonight.”
Jackson and Broughton, both seniors, dominated the first half as the Golden Eagles picked apart an Indians squad that entered the game with an FHSAA Rural classification playoff spot assured, sporting a 5-3 record and boasting three skill position players with Division I college offers.
Jackson asserted himself early, gaining 30 yards on Fleming Island’s first offensive play, a run off left tackle that led to a 22-yard field goal by Parker Sirdevan for the game’s first points. Jackson then accounted for 39 yards on a 45-yard march on Fleming’s next possession, shaking off two tacklers to finish the drive with an 18-yard run from the wingback position. He faked out two Indians on his way to a 34-yard run that capped a 71-yard drive to push the hosts’ lead to 17-0. Jackson finished with 108 yards on just seven carries.
Broughton took over in the second quarter. The Akron commit ran consecutive keepers to the left side for 73 yards, reaching the end zone on the second one from 24 yards out. He then directed a two-minute drill with a perfectly thrown seam route to Eric Gentry for a 40-yard score to send Fleming Island to halftime with a 31-0 lead. Broughton completed his night with the final touchdown of the game, a 24-yard pass to junior Trace Burney with 11:47 remaining. Burney was just able to keep one foot in bounds before being pushed out of the end zone. Broughton, who now has accounted for 99 touchdowns running and passing in his high school career, gained 64 yards on five rushes and completed five of eight throws for 117 yards with no turnovers.
The Fleming Island defense did its part, limiting a high-powered Indians attack to 105 yards of total offense, registering 12 tackles for loss, sacking shifty Fort White quarterback Jayden Jackson twice, and registering an interception. Nickel safety David Smith had three tackles for loss while tackle Lavell Howard, end Jarius Rodgers, and cornerback Chase Donaldson notched two apiece.
“We played good on defense,” said Chipoletti. “They did get some yardage, but what we did a good job of was getting off of the field on third and fourth downs.”
Even the hosts’ special teams were locked in. Kicker Parker Sirdevan put the Golden Eagles on the scoreboard first with a 22-yard field goal on their opening possession, converted all six of his extra point attempts, and booted five of nine kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks. On his only punt, the junior lofted a kick toward the far corner of the field that would have bounced into the end zone for a touchback but for a heads-up play by Smith, who dove and batted the ball back into the field of play just before it went across the goal line. Fort White was forced to begin their drive at their one-yard line.
Sebastian Cruz got a running clock started on a special teams play to start the second half. The junior safety gathered in a high kick at the four-yard line started upfield, cut through a crease to his right, cut back to the middle, and sped to the goal line to the goal line to stretch the lead to 38-0.
“It feels great. I finally got one,” said Cruz, who had interception returns for touchdowns against Riverside and Middleburg called back due to penalties earlier in the season. “I saw my lead blocker, Tacori Allen, hit a guy, then I went straight behind him, then I saw another guy, I cut behind him and ran straight to the corner.”
Cruz also returned a punt 31 yards to set up a Golden Eagles touchdown in the second quarter.
The Golden Eagles are peaking at just the right time, riding a four-game winning streak during which they beat each opponent by at least 27 points. Both Broughton and Cruz noted the improvement in results after they adopted Chipoletti’s ‘play for your teammates’ mantra and the close-knit bond they have with their teammates.
“I love these seniors,” Chipoletti said. “They have bought into what I am selling and it makes me feel good because they have gotten results out of it. I want to keep this team together as long as possible.”
The Indians will play in the first round of the FHSAA Rural classification playoffs on November 15.