CLASS 1A STATE SEMIFINAL PREVIEW: Vernon at Port St. Joe

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Vernon (11-1) at Port St Joe (10-2)
Last Week’s Results: Vernon def. Baker, 30-14; Port St Joe def. Blountstown. 6-0
Looking Ahead: Winner plays Hamilton/Dixie winner for Class 1A state championship.

About Vernon: Since a season opening loss to Chipley, Vernon has rebounded with eleven straight wins and head coach Bobby Johns has his Yellow Jackets playing extremely well. Trailing 14-8 in the third quarter, quarterback D’Vonta O’Neal (170 yards) put his team’s playoff hopes on his own shoulders responding with three, second half, touchdowns (21, 37, 74). O’Neal stepped up and took over at quarterback when starter Tristan Porter went down with a ACL injury earlier in the season. Ironically it was Porter, who was playing in just his second game back from surgery, who made the play of the game. Up eight with three minutes left in the game, Porter picked off a Baker pass at the 35 setting up O’Neal’s game clinching 74-yard touchdown scamper. The trio of O’Neal, Darrius Peterson and Ryan Malloy combined for 307 rushing yards and five touchdowns in the win over Northview and will be heavily counted on.

About Port St Joe: One thing is certain when you come to play the Port St Joe Sharks, better bring your A game. The Sharks defense has posted five shutouts and held five other opponents to less than 15 points. Against one of Class 1A best quarterbacks South Walton senior Johnathan Ortner (2,453 yards, 33 TDs), the Sharks sacked him five times, forced four interceptions and held him to a season low of 96 yards passing and 13 yards rushing. Port St Joe, which ran all over South Walton with 325 yards rushing, including 209 from Jarkeice Davis, struggled against Blountstown. Davis (1884 yards, 33 TDs) was held to 99 yards on 27 carries, while fellow tailback Aaron Paul (934 yards, 4 TDs) finished with 69 yards on 10 carries.
Prediction: Port St. Joe