JACKSONVILLE – Atlantic Coast defeated visiting Ponte Vedra 31-17 in their spring game on Tuesday night.
Coaches from UCF, WKU, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Rutgers, Pitt and Kentucky among many others that were in attendance for this spring game, scouting out the talented players both programs have.
Atlantic Coast used a rushing attack that featured five different running backs accounting for 153 yards on the night.
Senior running backs Rashad Saxton and Terry Bennett led the charge for the Stingrays accounting for 66 yards and 35 yards respectively. Saxton had two rushing touchdowns on the night as the Stingrays gave fans a lot to be excited for in the upcoming season.
Quarterback Leishaun Ealey accounted for 75 yards of total offense.
Ponte Vedra struggled to move the ball consistently on offense throughout the night. Ponte Vedra’s no huddle offense struggled against a swarming Stingray defense.
The bright spots for the Sharks offense were the efforts of Kurtis Wellingham and Colton Bell. Wellingham had 58 yards rushing while Bell had 45 yards rushing and one touchdown.
Ponte Vedra’s defense kept this game close as the Sharks was by stellar defensive efforts by Dallas Parker and Casey Barker. Both players were in the Stingray backfield consistently throughout the night. Parker had four tackles and two sacks while Barker had eight tackles and two sacks as well.
Atlantic Coast had a stellar all-around defensive game led by senior defensive end Chris Cunningham who had five tackles. Defensive backs David Gardner and Kelvin Perry had a pair of interceptions for the Stingrays.
The effort of his senior running backs left Coach Kevin Sullivan of Atlantic Coast impressed.
“They’re veteran guys; they’ve been in our program for four years. We expect one gets the hot hand… and the other one spells him,” Sullivan said.
