RURAL FIT CHAMPIONSHIP: Fort Meade turns back late Dixie County comeback to win inaugural Rural FIT Championship

MIDDLETON, Fla. – In the first of its kind in Florida history, the new FHSAA Rural Florida Invitational Tournament (FIT) Championship lived up to the expectations of a competitive football game between No. 6 Fort Meade Miners and No. 5 Dixie County Bears (Cross City) at The Range at H.G. Morse Stadium at The Villages Charter High School. =

That is all, even though the game looked like it would get out of hand for good during the third quarter when the Miners took a 21-0 lead over the Bears before Dixie County made a push late in the third quarter to make it a game.

In the end, Fort Meade (6-7) came away with a 21-13 victory over Dixie County (7-7) to claim the first-ever FIT championship.

Here are four takeaways from the game.

DEFENSIVE SLUG FEST SET THE TONE EARLY IN THE GAME

It was a defensive slugfest to define how the game started for both the Miners and the Bears as both teams tested the field out to see what one would give to the other and vice versa. Pretty much it boiled down to Dixie County punting three times while Fort Meade lost a fumble and also turned the ball over on downs that set the tone of the game early on as it was 0-0 at the end of the first quarter. The total passing yards for Fort Meade was a negative three yards compared to the Bears’ 21 yards. In the end, both teams had just a combined 112 yards of total offense.

FORT MEADE ROARS TO LIFE IN THE SECOND QUARTER

The Miners roared to life in the second quarter thanks to a six-play 62-yard drive that was led by a huge 38-yard carry by Omari Russell to put the Miners in plus territory at the Bears’ 20-yard line. After a holding penalty that backed the Miners up, two plays later saw Fort Meade score the first points of the game on a 30-yard touchdown reception by Nasier Berrien from Jaden McCutchen with 7:28 left before halftime.  With Dixie County unable to do much on their next drive, Fort Meade took advantage of the Bears’ struggles once more with another 60-yard plus drive, with McCutchen finding Cayden Clark from 12 yards out to make it 3:34 left before halftime. Fort Meade getting the ball to start the second half, the Miners took advantage and scored on their third consecutive drive of the game, with Omari Russell capitalizing on a 15-yard run after starting the drive at their 47-yard after Clark returned the second-half opening kickoff for 18 yards.

DIXIE COUNTY FALLS SHORT IN COMEBACK

Following the last Fort Meade touchdown, Dixie County quickly responded on their first possession of the second half, showing that head coach Ric Whittington was able to make the adjustments needed to be seen by his Bears. That response was a quick one that only took 2:36 off the third-quarter clock, led by a huge 54-yard burst from Mister Williams. Williams, who had 135 yards rushing on 22 carries in the game, scored from one-yard out to make it 21-7 Fort Meade with 5:02 left in the third quarter.

However, with too much time ticking away off the clock, Dixie County found themselves in a hurry needing to get another touchdown to make it even closer midway through the fourth quarter. That score came thanks to a huge pass play from Pleasant to Jahiem Taylor down the Dixie County sideline for 40 yards to get the Bears in Miner territory at the 15-yard line. From there Taylor would scored from 2-yards out to cut the score to 21-13 after Javon Wilson’s point-after-try was blocked. The comeback would fall short at the end of the day for the Bears.

OMARI RUSSELL BALLS OUT FORT MEADE

If there is a player of the game, it was Omari Russell who made an impact for the Miners on both offense and defense. When looking at the stat lines, nothing looks eye-popping, which tends to be the case in Rural classification football, but it comes down more to the plays made by the athletes that can make or break a game. Russell finished with 63 yards rushing on four carries and a touchdown, leading the Miners in rushing on the day, making the biggest play of the game when it mattered the most. That play of the game came with just less than 10 seconds left on the clock when Russell stepped in front of a Drew Pleasant pass as the Bears were looking for a late score to send the game into overtime potentially. Instead a 48-yard return and and knell down sealed the game for the Miners.

FORT MEADE HEAD COACH MAURICE RUSSELL AFTER THE GAME

SCORING SUMMARY

SECOND QUARTER

FM – Nasier Berrien 30 pass from Jaden McCutchen (Lex Durate PAT good), 7:28

FM – Cayden Clark 12 pass from McCutchen (Durate PAT good), 2:20

THIRD QUARTER

FM – Omari Russell 15 run (Durate PAT good), 7:38

DC – Mister Williams 1 run (Javan Wilson PAT good), 5:02

FOURTH QUARTER

DC – Jahiem Taylor 2 run (Wilson PAT blocked), 6:03