First Coast rides the arm of Johnson to defeat Baker County in spring game

JACKSONVILLE – Many times teams can look sloppy offensively in their spring games, but for First Coast that was not the case on Friday night.

The offense led by Quarterback De’Andre Johnson, First Coast tore apart the Baker County defense in a 47-0 thrashing.

First Coast’s offense looked like it was in mid-season form as they flawless executed their game plan. Johnson, a Florida State commit was 15-20 for 221 yards and five passing touchdowns on the evening.

First Coast took Baker County behind the proverbial woodshed tonight, amassing nearly 300 yards of total offense in the first half before both teams put in their second strings for the second half of the game.

Baker County’s defensive backs had their hands full covering First Coast wide receivers Jerad Washington, Tristan Payton, DJ Matthews and Kevin Stephenson. Washington, a South Carolina commit, had seven catches for 127 yards and two touchdowns. Payton, a Florida commit had three catches for 32 yards and one touchdown. Matthews had three catches for 22 yards and one touchdown. Stephenson had one catch for 40 yards and a touchdown.

First Coast’s two running backs combined for 87 yards rushing and one touchdown as well.

Not to be outdone by the stellar performance of the offense, the First Coast Defense put up a show of their own.

The defense led by Linebacker Sherrod Pittman, a South Carolina commit, the First Coast defense held Baker County to 21 yards of total offense in the first half. Pittman had six tackles on the night. The Buccaneer defense forced three turnovers, two fumbles, one which was returned for a touchdown, and an interception.

For Baker County, not much went their way through the course of the night in Tom MacPherson’s debut as the Wildcats head coach.

The Wildcats offense could not find a way to move the ball against a stingy First Coast defense.

The lone bright spot on the night for Baker County was the performance of defensive end CeCe Jefferson.

Jefferson had eight tackles and two sacks on the night. As, one of the nations most wanted recruits, he drew the attention of coaches from Alabama, Florida, and Auburn among others during the game.

First Coast Coach Marty Lee was impressed by the overall effort of his team.

“Our timing and cohesiveness on offense was good tonight. We did a great job of pass blocking. Defensively we did a good job of stuffing the run,” said Lee.