TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Undersized in a lot of ways meant didn’t get in the way for the First Baptist Academy Lions out of Naples.
And being a projected underdog in this matchup against Trinity Catholic (Ocala) who had played some really solid teams including two that went on to play for state championships this weekend in Tallahassee did not faze the Lions at all.
Instead, the Lions took all those things and turned them into positives, turning in one of their best performances of the season to clinch the program’s first state championship in the 2022 FHSAA Class 1S State Championship game at Gene Cox Stadium.
The Lions took down the Celtics 21-3, using mostly a defensive effort that highlighted that even one of the smallest programs in the classification can take defeat a team that is one of the largest in Class 1S.
DEFENSE SHINES IN THE FIRST QUARTER FOR BOTH TEAMS
The Celtics, who had won the opening coin toss and elected to receive, got help from a short kickoff from the Lions starting the game at their own 46.
Short kickoff by First Baptist pic.twitter.com/QOCD1llLef
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 10, 2022
Moving the ball quickly on the first few plays, the Celtics were able to start establishing a rhythm with Beau Beard at running back, which would not last for the entire game. However, Preston Wright failed to complete a pass on second and third downs, the Celtics were forced to settle for a 42-yard Justin Arroyo field goal that gave the Celtics a 3-0 lead 2 minutes into the game.
2022 @FHSAA CLASS 1S STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Justin Arroyo for Trinity Catholic boots in a 42 yard Field Goal to give us our first points of the game
@TCCelticaFB 3, @FBA_Athletics_ 0 – 10:00 1st Q #flhsfb @HSFBamerica @ThePrepZone @Ridaught https://t.co/jCe8jEm2j1 pic.twitter.com/He99qr6WQ5
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 10, 2022
First Baptist on their first drive took things right down the field with the work of Richemard Mellien, Olsen Patt-Henry, Ethan Crossan, and Jaden Booker who were part of a tandem that made the Lions’ offense strong all season long.
However, that drive would not end with any points getting on the board after Crossan failed to connect with Patt-Henry on a fourth down play at the Trinity Catholic seven-yard line that was broken up by Courtney Patterson.
Great pass defense here by @TCCelticsFB in the end zone against First Baptist on 4th down inside the 10. Turnover on downs. Celtics ball at the 7 #flhsfb pic.twitter.com/5B9LJQbb2t
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 10, 2022
Trinity Catholic would quickly go three and out on their next drive only holding the ball for just over a minute while First Baptist’s second drive would fall short once again with a turnover on downs after getting down to the Celtics’ 26-yard line.
Another First Baptist drive ends with a turnover on downs after @TCCelticsFB cause some havoc downfield. #flhsfb pic.twitter.com/y43qfeYhEh
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 10, 2022
FIRST BAPTIST PUNCHES HARD IN THE SECOND QUARTER
With the ball going into the second quarter, Trinity Catholic could not find the offense that was supposed to have been the backbone for the Celtics getting to this far. Instead, another punt came about giving the Lions ball, but they would punt it right back after gaining just one first down.
Having the ball back, the Celtics were looking to try to jump-start the offense with Beard, but could not get things going with Preston Wright who struggled all game under center and would get sacked by Dominic Martucci.
Huge sack by @FBA_Athletics_ OLB Dominic Matrucci on Trinity Catholic to force a punt #flhsfb pic.twitter.com/Hr2Cfsh7mt
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 10, 2022
Now with the ball back, First Baptist was looking like they might be heading toward another punting situation with a long third down. On that third-down play from their own 29, Crossan found Patt-Henry deep inside the middle of the field with Patt-Henry racing past the Celtics’ defense for a 71-yard touchdown.
The video of the last TD play. Happened so fast we didn’t get it but Andy managed to get it here #flhsfb https://t.co/140VXtn0lS
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 10, 2022
That touchdown would put the Lions up 7-3 with 4:34 left before halftime and would never relinquish the lead after that.
The Celtics, now looking to respond after the Lions’ touchdown would end up in another punting situation, but when the ensuing punt happened, the snap flew over the punter’s head coughing the ball up to the Lions at the 14-yard line.
With the great field position in hand now, First Baptist took advantage of the miscue when Crossan found Jayden Petit from 14 yards out to give the Lions a 14-3 lead over Trinity Catholic with 2:55 left before the half.
2022 @FHSAA CLASS 1S STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Just like that the Lions capitalize on the Trinity Catholic mistake with a 14 TD pass from Ethan Crossan to Jayden Petit@FBA_Athletics_ 14, @TCCelticsFB 3 – 2:55 2nd Q #flhsfb @HSFBamerica @ThePrepZone @Ridaught https://t.co/jCe8jED5l1 pic.twitter.com/SAb4aTBKIf
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 10, 2022
Trinity Catholic would continue to struggle the rest of the half while First Baptist had a chance to add more points going into the half but missed a 25-yard field goal from Zachary Bates that went wide to the left.
Trinity Catholic tried to go for it on 4th and 1 at their own 46 and fails to convert. Turnover on downs and it is First Baptist ball with 1:25 left before half. #flhsfb pic.twitter.com/Jewic1pnnL
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 10, 2022
25 yard field goal attempt for First Baptist with 28 seconds left before half is no good. Score remains 14-3 with the Lions up over Trinity Catholic. #flhsfb pic.twitter.com/fBliwAqpPW
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 10, 2022
THE LIONS SHUT DOWN THE CELTICS IN THE SECOND HALF
The Lions who were feeling great going into the half with a 14-3 lead over the Celtics were determined to keep things that way and by getting the ball to the second half they did just that by putting together a 10-play drive that would result in the game’s final touchdown.
That touchdown would come with Crossan finding Sam Sparacio in the middle for a 21-yard touchdown that would put the Lions up 21-3.
2022 @FHSAA CLASS 1S STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Lions take first drive of the second half and score with an Ethan Crossan pass to Sam Sparacio for 21 yards!@FBA_Athletics_ 21, @TCCelticsFB 3 – 7:39 3rd Q #flhsfb @HSFBamerica @ThePrepZone @Ridaught https://t.co/jCe8jEm2j1 pic.twitter.com/RFy6ZgamWe
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 10, 2022
Trinity Catholic’s close chance of scoring a touchdown would come in the third quarter when the Celtics drove the ball all the way down to the First Baptist 12 yards line where they faced a fourth down play only needing five yards to get a fresh set of downs.
On that fourth down play, Wright found Devontae Grant in the end zone, but the officials called the play incomplete saying that Grant was out-of-bounds on that play, handing the ball right back to the Lions.
Trinity Catholic gets down to the First Baptist 12 and Celtics WR Devontae Grant catches but could not get one foot down in the end zone. Turnover on downs. FBA ball now! #flhsfb pic.twitter.com/JGeNzQOhQx
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 10, 2022
First Baptist, determined to keep the ball in their hands ran down the rest of the third quarter clock, but early into the fourth quarter, Crossan was dealt his only bad play of the game when Deshawn Shelton came up for one of the best plays of the game for the Celtics with an interception at the Celtics 35 yard line.
INTERCEPTION FOR TRINITY CATHOLIC by Deshawn Shelton for @TCCelticsFB! Trinity starts this next drive at their own 36 #flhsfb pic.twitter.com/dQDVOfSnyC
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 10, 2022
With Alan Means coming in at quarterback for the Celtics with Wright struggling most of the game, Means started to spark things for the Celtics quickly finding Gerald Lawton down the field for 27 yards to get the Celtics down to the Lions’ 23-yard line.
However, that is where the drive would stall out on fourth down on a pass play, intended for Cedric McFadden, which would get broken up by Patt-Henry with 7:48 left to go that really ended any chances of the Celtics having a comeback in the game.
Olsen Patt-Henry with the huge pass breakup on 4th down for @FBA_Athletics_ to stall the drive for TC and taking any chance of a comeback away from the Celtics. #flhsfb pic.twitter.com/fKHuOVRLH0
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 10, 2022
First Baptist would punt one more time in the game after getting the ball back and the Celtics determined to find any points quickly found some short-lived hope when Means connected with McFadden for a 30-yard gain to get the Celtics down to the Lions 40.
What a play here for @TCCelticsFB late in the game to get the ball all the way to the First Baptist 40. Cedric McFadden with the huge catch for the Celtics #flhsfb pic.twitter.com/8KhQT5Gpsn
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 10, 2022
The Celtics would get down to the 31 yards line with Means running the show on most of the drive but failed to convert on fourth-and-one giving the ball back to the Lions to run the clock out to when their first state championship in school history.
Trinity Catholic fails to convert on 4th down with 1:42 left. First Baptist ball here and they are going to win the Class 1S State Championship! #flhsfb pic.twitter.com/kMsQEIdCjz
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 10, 2022
2022 @FHSAA CLASS 1S STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
THE FIRST BAPTIST ACADEMY LIONS ARE YOUR 2022 CLASS 1S STATE CHAMPIONS! First state title for FBA & Billy Sparacio!@FBA_Athletics_ 21, @TCCelticsFB 3 – FINAL #flhsfb @HSFBamerica @ThePrepZone @Ridaught https://t.co/jCe8jEm2j1 pic.twitter.com/K3ilKZqyq0
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 10, 2022
FIRST BAPTIST HEAD COACH BILLY SPARACIO SPEAKS AFTER THE GAME
A coach’s wife is not an easy thing to be but @FBA_Athletics_ HC Billy Sparacio has one amazing wife and he took the time to embrace and enjoy the moment with her after the Lions defeated Trinity Catholic 21-3 for the Class 1S State Championship! #flhsfb @HSFBamerica pic.twitter.com/q7IX45B2LG
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 10, 2022
