Before Ponte Vedra took the field at Terry Parker High for their final conference game, the Sharks had won the District championship--their win over Bishop Kenny the week before guaranteed that. Still the Sharks showed why they are the best team in the district with a 45-7 victory over the Braves last Thursday evening.
That Ponte Vedra just had too many weapons was evident in the first 15 minutes of play when the Sharks scored five times to take a 35-0 lead. Nick Tronti passed for three of those touchdowns—one each to JD Pirris, Marshall Few and Hal Swan. Swan and Zach King accounted for the other two scores on short runs.
Ponte Vedra’s defense played a big part in the success of the offensive unit during this time forcing three Parker punts and a key fumble recovery by Gibson Pardue at the Parker thirty yard line that set up the Tronti to Swan touchdown.
Chris Howard’s 44-yard field goal with seconds remaining in the first half bumped the Sharks lead to 38-0 and gave Coach Matt Toblin took the opportunity to use his reserves for the remainder of the game.
Toblin saw some impressive performances by several underclassmen including sophomore reserve quarterback JP Vendas-Leyva and sophomore running back Zack King. The two combined for the a 58-yard third quarter pass and run touchdown to close out the scoring for Ponte Vedra.
King, who filled in for Swan in both the first and second half, had an impressive evening rushing fourteen times for 65 yards and one touchdown and 58-yrds receiving. His 123 all-purpose yards was second only to Swan’s 159 yards.
Parker’s lone touchdown came in the game’s closing minutes.
Ponte Vedra finished atop the 5A District 4 standings with a 4-0 record, scoring 199 points and allowing just 39. The Sharks, with an overall record of 7 wins and 2 losses, will play on the road at Creekside (0-9) in a non-conference game on Friday evening.
