Seahawks finish season at 6-5

With the return of sophomore sensation Sadiq Jones from a collarbone break earlier in the season, Franklin County was primed to make a strong stand against the Fort Meade Miners Friday night, in the second round of the Rural B Bracket tournament.

And that’s what they did for the first three quarters of play, bringing a 14-12 lead going into the final stanza.

But the Miners’ speed proved too much, as three fourth quarter touchdowns enabled Fort Meade to win 33-14 and advance. The Seahawks ended their season at 6-5.

“People look at a 3-7 team (but) there’s a difference between Panhandle football and Central to South Florida football,” said Seahawks Coach John Cooper. “They played a 2A, 3A schedule, they were very battle-tested. A credit to their coaching staff. A lot of speed, a lot of talent, and Division 1 talent we went against.

“The fact that our kids fought and got a 14-12 lead, I know it sounds like a moral victory, but I think it just is a testimony to our kids,” said Cooper. “We let it get away from us in the fourth quarter. We’ve never played a game this late (in the season) in Franklin County. If we keep doing the little things, it’s going to get better and better. These seniors have left something to really build on in the future and we’re excited to get back in it in January.”

“He’s such a smart kid, not the biggest, maybe not the fastest yet, but he’s going to be very special. I think he’s a programming changing type of player. And he’s a great kid, he’s what I want my son to be like is Kayden Drake. Intelligent, kind, the epitome of what we want a Seahawk to be,” he said. “We have a lot of great kids around here to build on in the future. We have a lot of talent to build on and I’m really proud of our nine seniors.
After a scoreless first quarter, Fort Meade scored first when quarterback Omari Russell completed a 15-yard touchdown pass to Mehki Berrien.

But the Seahawks quickly knotted it up when Seahawk senior Ajaylen McNair intercepted a Fort Meade pass at Fort Meade’s 49-yard line and ran it in for the score.

As the Miners were nearing the red zone, Seahawk junior Ja’micheal Miller had, but on a third down, with under a minute to go, Fort Meade completed a 30-yard pass for the go-ahead score. 

Trailing 12-6, Seahawk freshman Maddox Shaw recovered a fumble by Fort Meade and Franklin County had the ball on Fort Meade’s 24-yard line. Then with eight minutes left in the quarter, senior quarterback Garyson Millender completed a 77-yard touchdown pass to Jones. With the completion of a two-point conversion by senior Te’marion Carr, the Seahawks led 14-12 going into the fourth quarter.

But with 11 minutes left, Fort Meade’s May had a one-yard rushing touchdown, with the point after good by Lex Duarte. 

The Miners’ Gabriel Solomon recovered a fumble to land on Franklin County’s 30-yard line. Russell then had a 10-yard rushing TD, with the Raylon Black point after good.

An interception by Russell led to the Miners driving, but despite a sack by Seahawk senior Michael Hill, the Miners would wrap up their scoring with a 20-yard rushing touchdown and a 33-14 win.