Sharks rally to beat Creekside

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The Sharks of Ponte Vedra finished the regular season with a 35-21 win over the Creekside Knights last Friday night at the Shark Tank, but it took 28 second-half points to secure the win.

The visitors quickly scored first in the Nov. 2 game on a five-play, 73-yard drive. Then Ponte Vedra responded with a drive of their own that covered 72 yards and took 10 plays. Passes from Jack Murrah to Reese Russi and a pair to Kyle Barker, including the touchdown, accounted for much of the yardage on the Sharks’ drive.

Creekside took less than a minute to regain the lead, thanks to a 66-yard strike for the score on their third play of the series. 

The Sharks struggled offensively for most of the remaining time in the first half, but their defense kept the Knights in check. Cole McCormick’s interception for the Sharks on the Ponte Vedra 18-yard line stopped one drive, and Ryan Chase’s pick on the Sharks’ twenty stopped another.

After taking the kickoff to start the second half, Ponte Vedra tied the game at 14-14. A pass interference penalty coupled with three pass completions –– two to Barker and one to Logan Conway –– gave the Sharks a first down at the Creekside eight. A Murrah to Barker toss finished the drive.

The Knights then engineered a drive that put them on the Ponte Vedra 5-yard line with a first down and an excellent chance to take the lead; however, McCormick sacked the quarterback for a nine-yard loss and the Knights settled for a 31-yard field goal attempt. Peter Merlini blocked the kick, Chase scooped it up and ran 85 yards for a touchdown and a 21-14 Sharks lead.

That play seemed to take all the starch out of the Knights. They turned the ball over on downs on their next possession and then gave it away on a fumble that Caden Fordham recovered for Ponte Vedra. Two plays later, Murrah found Russi for 10 yards and a touchdown. The Sharks now led 28-14.

After the teams traded punts and the Knights turned the ball over on downs again — this time at their own 36-yard line — Ponte Vedra scored their fifth touchdown of the evening. Mark Calvin slipped through a hole on the right side and rambled 27 yards untouched to the end zone.

The outcome wasn’t in doubt even though the Knights added a score in the game’s final seconds.

Standouts on offense for Ponte Vedra were Murrah, who completed 17 of 29 passes for 257 yards and three touchdowns; Barker, who caught 10 passes for 136 yards; and Russi, who caught six for 97 yards. 

On defense, Fordham had 14 tackles, caused a fumble and recovered one. Max Schalit was credited with 8 tackles and McCormick had 7. Merlini, Emory Kingry, Jake Lytle and Shane Bloss each had six tackles. Chase and McCormick each had an interception.

The playoffs begin this week and Ponte Vedra (8-2) will make the long trip to Tallahassee to face Godby (10-0) at 7:30 pm.