JACKSONVILLE - Leaving your team’s fate up to a first-year player is not normally a blueprint for success. However, that recipe is working out just fine for Fleming Island and rookie Garret Godfrey.

The senior placekicker nailed a 33 yard field goal as time expired Friday night, lifting the visiting Golden Eagles over First Coast 17-14 and into sole possession of first place in District 2-7A. The undefeated Eagles, 6-0 overall and 3-0 in district play, have a one game lead over Fletcher, which Fleming Island beat 23-13 on September 13, and Gainesville Buchholz, which comes to Fleming Island on Friday, October 18.

“The win is very important. We are trying to win our district, which we have not done in a long time, and to go undefeated,” said Springs.

The kick was Godfrey’s second game-winner this season. The senior split the uprights from 21 yards out on the final play of Fleming Island’s 31-28 victory over Lake Minneola on August 30.

“It’s a little jittery each time, but as soon as I run out onto the field, I know that I am ready to make that kick,” said Godfrey.

Godfrey, a Golden Eagles soccer player playing his first season of organized football, has a routine for important kicks. He takes a few kicks into the practice net on the sideline, then jogs over to the yard line where the offense has the ball and does breathing exercises to relax. It is working, as his boot against First Coast easily cleared the crossbar, curling inside the left upright.

“It felt good coming off my foot,” Godfrey noted. “But I was not really sure until I heard the cheering from our sideline.”

The Golden Eagles were poised to break the 14-14 tie two minutes earlier. Taking possession with 9:31 remaining in the game, the Golden Eagles methodically marched 60 yards to reach the First Coast 20 yard line. But quarterback Dean Hyams threw a pass into double coverage that was intercepted by a leaping Buccaneers safety Devon Davis in the end zone with 2:19 remaining.

Fortunately, the stout Fleming Island defense was there to save the day. Impenetrable for Buccaneers ball carriers all night— the Golden Eagles allowed just 31 yards on 26 rushes— the defense turned the momentum for the final time. Two plays after Davis’ interception had given First Coast a chance to drive for the winning points, Tyler Cross, who had three of Fleming Island’s seven sacks, pushed the Buccaneers tackle who was trying to block him so far into the backfield that First Coast quarterback Jake Corley ran into him, causing a fumble that Golden Eagles defensive tackle Jeremiah Jackson recovered at the First Coast 20 yard line.

“I shed my block, and Tyler had shot inside, and we bumped into each other and the quarterback,” said Jackson. “The ball fell on the ground, and I scooped it up.”

Taking possession with 1:45 remaining, Fleming Island ran three times up the middle, draining the clock and setting up Godfrey’s heroics.

The game started out well for the Golden Eagles, who took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter on a five yard run by T.K. Kocak. Kocak, in the wildcat formation, took a direct snap and followed two lead blockers off of right tackle, capping a six play, 61 yard drive.

First Coast responded to Kocak’s touchdown with a score of their own. Tyree Saunders outmuscled Golden Eagles cornerback Darius Harris for an underthrown deep pass, then stepped over the fallen Harris to complete a 79 yard catch and run.

First Coast took a 14-7 lead early in the second quarter, taking advantage of a fumble by Fleming Island’s Tim Thomas at the Golden Eagles’ 21 yard line. Saunders drew a pass interference penalty to give the hosts a first down at the 11. Three plays later, Corley reached the ball over the goal line on a quarterback sneakThe Eagles had huge difficulty stopping Saunders, a Virginia Tech commitment. The 6’1” senior averaged 45.5 yards per catch on four receptions, finishing with 182 yards.

“We found out real quick that you can’t play man-to-man on him without a safety over the top,” said Springs. “He [Saunders] is the real deal.”

Fleming Island knotted the score at 14 before halftime. Broden Domenico took a quick slant pass 40 yards to set up first and goal from the eight yard line. Kocak scored two plays later on another wildcat keeper from three yards out. From that point, no one scored until Godfrey’s boot, though each team missed a field goal attempt.

Springs was concerned that Fleming Island would not be sharp in their return to action after a bye week, and his fears proved well-founded. Shotgun snaps were a problem most of the night, coming out too soft and too slowly, allowing First Coast rushers to gain penetration before Hyams had secured the ball. Late in the second quarter, a shotgun snap on fourth and one was too high for Kocak, forcing Kocak to pounce on the loose ball for a seven yard loss and ending a drive that had reached the Buccaneers’ 28 yard line. The sluggish play allowed the Buccaneers, now 1-5 (0-3 in District 2-7A), to keep the game close.

“We were not ready to play,” lamented Springs. “We have a lot to work on.”

Thomas powered the Fleming Island offense with 137 rushing yards on 28 carries. Domenico led all receivers with nine catches, gaining 98 yards. Hyams completed 12 of 15 throws for 120 yards.