It is onto the second round and both the Ponte Vedra Sharks and Nease Panthers are still alive and looking to continue advancing through the state playoffs.
After handling business against the Tate Aggies, the No. 1-ranked Nease Panthers (10-0) will take on the Oakleaf Knights (8-3) from nearby Clay County, as the Knights defeated the Mandarin Mustangs 17-14.
Both teams came about their wins in different ways as the Knights survived a battle against the Mustangs, while the Panthers established an early lead and never looked back against the visiting Aggies.
The Panthers could not have started the postseason any better as they kicked things off by playing a complete game where the offense and defense both produced seamlessly.
K.J. Perry made the most of his carries, scoring two touchdowns on nine carries, while quarterback Nate Harry was a calm customer in the pocket completing 15 of 17 pass attempts for three touchdowns, all to Maddox Spencer.
Spencer took over the game at points and was hard to defend for the Aggies, as he finished with eight catches for 171 yards and the scores.
His performance will surely have the Knights focused even more on him than they already would have been, which is a dangerous proposal for the Knights, as it will open up opportunities for the various other Panthers’ receivers who have shown the ability to threaten defenses throughout the year.
Defensively, the Panthers forced three turnovers and will give another stiff test for Oakleaf junior quarterback Jack McKissock and the Knights offense.
The Knights had scored more than 30 points in six games during the regular season, but they struggled to score against teams like Mandarin, Fleming Island and Hawthorne, who are all on par with the Panthers.
Speaking of defense, the Sharks are coming off a historic night on that side of the ball with eight sacks against Beachside, including five for senior Ryker Kemp.
The Sharks (9-2) will need that effort to carry over into the second round when they go on the road to face the Class 5A top-seeded Niceville Eagles (10-1).
It is a long trip out to the Florida panhandle, but it is not something Kemp is worried about, as he feels the team is prepared for it following their regular season matchup against IMG Academy White a couple weeks ago when they came back with a victory after going to Bradenton.
Now is the time where the experience the Sharks gained from that road trip will come into play and could be the difference in how they handle adversity and the process that goes into a five-hour-plus trip.
On offense, the Sharks have found their groove for some time now and their confidence appears higher than ever, after Drew Price threw for five touchdowns and Brian Case rushed for 193 yards and a score in the first round.
Both games will be played on Nov. 22 with kickoff at 7 p.m.
