This time of year is all about district play and paving a path to the postseason in high school football.
For the Nease Panthers, that path begins this Friday at 7 p.m. as they travel to take on the Flagler Palm Coast Bulldogs (4-3, 1-0) to open their district season.
Although the season has not gone as the Panthers would have hoped to this point with a record of 1-6 and having lost their share of close contests.
However, according to head coach Collin Drafts, Friday’s matchup marks a clean slate for the Panthers, as they begin essentially a “new season.”
The offense has found its way in recent weeks, and they are doing so by establishing a rushing attack, which in turn has opened opportunities in the passing game off of play-action.
The Panthers have scored 31 and 41 points in the past two games and have done so without Samuel Milton who has been out with an injury.
However, during his absence Camryn Smith has stepped up in a big way and begun to showcase his vision and skills as a running back.
Senior Da’von Patterson has also received some carries out of the backfield and is an explosive threat to score any time he touches the ball.
If Milton returns this week, it will give the Panthers a potent trio of backs against the Bulldogs.
The questions for the Panthers of late have been on the defensive side of the ball, where both the players and coaches know they cannot continue to give up 50-plus points like they have in the past two games.
A win for Flagler Palm Coast would secure them the district 4-4S title after already having defeated Ponte Vedra 20-17 Oct. 3.
The Sharks are riding high after their late-game heroics and 32-31 victory over Bishop Kenny Oct. 7.
They look to keep those winnings ways going on the road against Ocala Trinity Catholic (4-2) at 7 p.m. Friday.
Grit and determination can be the difference in which teams have success down the stretch at the end of seasons.
The Sharks (3-3) have showed plenty of both with late drives by the offense in clutch moments in the last two games.
That is a good sign moving forward, as the offense has proven not to be fazed during the pressure-packed points of a game.
A large reason for that continues to be the play of quarterback Ben Burk, who has taken complete command of the offense since the bye week and he will look to continue that progression against the Celtics.
