As Hurricane Milton swept through Florida, cancelling school for three days including the thrilling homecoming gameday experience, Atlantic Coast played their second game on a Monday night this season.
Creekside led by 28 points with 8:23 left in the game, as the Stingrays scored 22 unanswered points after two successful onside kicks and two touchdown passes from Rocco Manago and rushing touchdown by Jordyn Bell.
This comeback was cut short as time was just too much of an enemy for Atlantic Coast, as they fell to 3-4 and head to undefeated Nease next week.
The game marked a new spinoff of Friday night lights which came to a screen near Atlantic Coast Monday night with the Creekside Knights entering the bay looking to spoil the Stingrays “Homecoming.” Emphasis on those quotations because this was not a routine Homecoming for Atlantic Coast. Emphasis on those quotations because six days before kickoff, the game and dance were cancelled because of category five Hurricane Milton ravaging Florida.
An empty student section placed this game in a different dimension along with the brisk weather and ironically cloudless sky. Nevertheless, both marching bands were tuning their instruments, burgers were being grilled, and parents were filling in with their custom cushioned seats accustomed for the older ages.
With the Knights coming off a three-game win streak they look to be the hotter team, and they did not disprove that theory after scoring two quick touchdowns out of the gate following a muffed snap on the Stingrays first drive.
This 14-0 lead was threatened as the Stingray offense started to click following a lunging interception by Gemarkus Jones. But two failed two-point conversions would only cut the lead to two.
The Knights answered these two scores with another touchdown by running back Harrison Garrido.
21-12 heading into halftime.
On the first offensive drive of the second half, receiver Ethan Redding exploded for a 60-yard catch and run to the 10-yard line fumbling the ball…
Recovered by Stingray receiver Jeremiah Evans.
A huge break for Atlantic Coast.
The Stingrays would leave the drive with only three points which cut the lead to 21-15.
This would be the closest the Stingrays would be until the fourth quarter however…
The Knights offense would not let their foot off the gas as they scored 22 unanswered points to extend the lead to 43-15 with 8:23 left in the game, sucking the energy out of a near empty Bay.
With Atlantic Coast hanging on by a thread, the tide started to shift in its favor.
A touchdown pass from Rocco Manago to Jeremiah Evans would spark a miracle run of offensive onslaught.
43-21 Knights.
Ian Santos would set up for an onside kick which in football is like winning the lottery if you can recover the ball as the kicking team.
It looked like Vegas was in favor of the Stingrays.
With the ball fluttering right past three Creekside players, the Stingrays were able to pounce on the ball and regain possession for another offensive drive with 5 minutes left.
The Stingray offense would glide right down the field again with an Ethan Redding touchdown catch and a successful two-point conversion, cutting the lead to 14.
43-29 Knights.
Reignition in the Bay was just what Atlantic Coast needed for Vegas to be in their favor again.
Another successful onside kick would set the Stingray offense up inside the Creekside 30-yard line.
After a 27-yard catch by Ezekiel Cooper at the 1-yard line, Jordyn Bell would run right up the gut for yet another touchdown as well as a successful two-point conversion, cutting the lead to only six.
43-37 Knights.
50 Seconds left.
Surely Vegas wouldn’t let the Stingrays get three straight onside kicks right? Right?
Well, if you placed your bets on another successful onside kick, you’d lose the bag.
Creekside was able to finally recover an onside kick, putting them in victory formation on the next play and running the clock out to finally secure the win, crushing the miracle comeback bid that the Stingrays had up their sleeve.
