TALLAHASSEE — Football is a team sport and the North Florida Christian Eagles embodied that Friday night in the second round of the FHSAA Class 2A playoffs. They beat the visiting University Christian Christians … 28-14.
It was a battle of attrition all night for the Eagles as the team battled cramps and injuries all night at every position.
After opening the game with a 38 yard kickoff return from Adrian Hill, the Eagles only took two plays to get on the board. Jonathan Vickers took a Justin Moore handoff and ran 41 yards to a TD. The extra point attempt would go on to be blocked.
Not soon after the Eagle defense got in the game by forcing a fumble on Hussein Howe Jr of University Christian. North Florida Christian went on to drive the length of the field in 10 plays. Vickers would have had his second score on the night if not for a fumble in the end zone. But lucky for him his center, Drew McCardle, recovered the loose ball for another Eagle score.
Halfway through the first quarter North Florida Christian led 13-0.
With 4:00 left in the opening quarter the mood of the stadium changed when starting Eagles quarterback, Justin Moore, was sacked and went down with an injury. Later it was determined that Moore had broken his leg on the play. This was the second consecutive year this injury happened to Moore.
The Christians would capitalize on their next opportunity to score when Howe Jr took a handoff, cut back and ran for 32 yards to a score.
Closing into the half the Eagles had a chance to score but once again the fumble bug plagued Vickers. But this time there was no saving by a teammates recovering. University Christian recovered in the end zone then kneeled on the next snap to go to half down 13-7.
Coming out after halftime neither team’s offense was present. There were a total of 7 three-and-outs before the next score.
University Christian struck with 1:18 left in the third quarter on a Tamarius Bowes option-pitch-run. Adding the extra point the Christians took a one point lead into the last quarter.
The replacement quarterback for the Eagles, Joey Giaritelli, had yet to complete a pass going into the fourth quarter but found a way to change that connecting with Christian Philpott for 37 yards to open the quarter. But he would be hurt in a pile up two plays later.
After exchanging possessions three times, the Eagles took over with 2:12 left in the fourth quarter. With three straight runs by Vickers netting 24 yards; NFC put their season on the arm of Giaritelli.
Giaritelli found Philpott tiptoeing down the sideline and connected with him for a 38 yard touchdown with only 59 seconds left in the game. Only up 5 the Eagles went for a 2-point conversion and converted to put them up a touchdown.
Though the Christians were aided by Eagle penalties … the Eagles defense still closed the game out in dramatic fashion.
Jonathan Vickers who played both offense and defense all game came up with an interception with only 18 seconds left. He went on to return the interception 55 yards to seal the game. Vickers finished with 185 rushing yards, a touchdown, two fumbles, nine tackles and a 55 yard interception return.
“He exemplifies what this program is all about. He played nearly every snap for us. He started cramping late in the third quarter but refused to sit down. He knew what was on the line,” said head coach for the Eagles, Robert Craft.
Next up for North Florida Christian will be a match-up with Victory Christian for the right to play in the 2A state title championship game.
