In the land of theme parks, it fits that our Dragons had to hold on for dear life to edge out Eastland Christian School 48-42 in last night's SSAA 8-man 2A Semifinals game. The game featured numerous fireworks and ended with everyone in attendance gasping for air.
FSDB's offense was a well-oiled machine. Only twice did our boy's possessions not end with a touchdown due to the clock running out.
Our Dragons managed to build a 48-26 lead after Ajani Zahira's third touchdown with 3:48 remaining in the game. Eastland did not go away quietly, scoring with 2 minutes left on the clock. Then the opponent converted their onsides kick (4th and 15 play in our 8-man league) and promptly scored with 1:11 left to make it 48-42. It was the same situation FSDB was in, albeit in reverse roles, when we upset Countryside Christian earlier this season.
Eastland's second onside kick attempt fell incomplete. They were out of timeouts, so our boys could run out the clock on kneel-downs to secure a spot in the 2A 8-man Championship game next week!
FSDB will host the SSAA 2A Championship game next Thursday, 11/16. The time has not been announced. The opponent will either be Canterbury (St. Pete) or Real Life (Clermont). We will face the winner of their matchup tonight.
Playoff brackets can be found here:
2023 SSAC 8-Man (maxpreps.com)
For our conference info, you can visit
8-Man Football (sunshinestateathletics.com
SCORING SUMMARY
1q- FSDB Zahira 15 run (Valcin run) 8-0
1q- ECS TD (pat failed) 8-6
2q- FSDB Valbrun 45 run (Rosario-Crespo run) 16-6
2q- FSDB H.Essex 39 pass from Valbrun (Valcin run) 24-6
2q- ECS TD (pat failed) 24-12
3q- ECS TD (pat good) 24-20
3q- FSDB Valcin 5 run (Scott pass from Valbrun) 32-20
3q- ECS TD (pat failed) 32-26
4q- FSDB Zahira 22 run (Valcin run) 40-26
4q- FSDB Zahira 8 run (Valbrun run) 48-26
4q- ECS TD (pat good) 48-34
4q- ECS TD (pat good) 48-42
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING
Ajani Zahira 16-228, 3td. Roud Valcin 13-89, 1td, 3pat. Frantz Valbrun 8-58, 1td, 1pat. Jayden Rosario-Crespo 2-2, 1pat.
PASSING
Frantz Valbrun 1/3 39yds 1td. Roud Valcin 1/1 48yds.
RECEIVING
Henry Essex 2-87, 1td. JaMorien Scott 1pat.
DEFENSE
Roud Valcin 10t (5s), 2pd. Ajani Zahira 10t (6s), 1pd. Frantz Valbrun 9t (7s). JaMorien Scott 8t (3s). Henry Essex 7t (1s), 1sk. Ivan McAlpin 7t (6s), 1pd. Robert McCullough 5t (1s), 1sk. LaSean Nagle 1t (1s). Joey Seppala 1t (1s).
Key: td=touchdown, pat=point(s) after touchdown, yds=yards, t=tackles, s=solo tackles, tfl=tackle for loss, sk=sack, int=interception, ff=forced fumble, fr=fumble recovery, pd= pass defensed.
