ORANGE PARK - Fleming Island High field goal kicker Parker Sirdevan’s extra point in overtime lifted visiting Fleming Island to a scintillating 28-27 victory over Orange Park in the season finale for both teams on November 3.

The game-winning boot, which sailed high over the crossbar and was centered between the uprights, was sweet vindication for Sirdevan, who had a 27-yard field goal attempt blocked in the third quarter and missed a 40-yard field goal attempt with five minutes left in the fourth quarter.

Fleming Island head coach Chad Parker was very happy for his sophomore kicker, who had missed an extra point and a field goal in the fourth quarter of the Golden Eagles’ 49-48 loss to Creekside on October 20.

“The kid has had some struggles this season,” Parker said. “He has made some key ones and he’s missed a bunch and had a bunched blocked. Before we went down [to kick], I patted him on the helmet and said, ‘Tomorrow when you read the paper, you’re going to be a hero.’ He knows he can do it now.”

Sirdevan’s PAT followed an improbable touchdown pass from Fleming Island’s Cibastian Broughton to Trace Burney. Gabe Taylor’s quarterback sneak from two yards out on the overtime’s first possession had given the Raiders a 27-21 lead, forcing the Golden Eagles to match the score. The door was left open for a Fleming victory when Orange Park kicker Ty Obermeyer, who had been perfect on these first three extra points of the evening, hooked the extra point following Taylor’s touchdown wide right.

On second and goal to go from the eight-yard line, Broughton was looking to his left when the shotgun snap hit his right hand and fell to the ground off his right side. The three-year starter picked up the ball with the Raiders’ Tyler Jackson and Louiceus Ashnel closing in. Just before he was hit, Broughton shot-putted the ball toward Burney, who was all alone near the right pylon. Burney took two steps toward the interior and lunged toward the fluttering ball, cradling it in his arms before hitting the turf.

The play was supposed to have been a pass to the left side, but the botched snap forced the Eagles to improvise.

“I didn’t see the snap come in, so it was just, ‘Make a play,’” said Broughton. “I was going to scramble out to the left, but I saw Trace, and I just had to dump it off to him. He made a crazy play, jumping to the ball.”

“I was supposed to run a flat [route], but the ball got bobbled at the snap, so I just did the scramble drill and he found me,” explained Burney, who led all receivers with five receptions.

It looked like the 21-14 lead that Fleming Island took on Tyler Beverly’s one-yard plunge on the second play of the fourth quarter would stand as the final score, but two Golden Eagles turnovers later in the quarter helped send the game to the extra session. An Orange Park punt rolled dead at the Fleming Island 36-yard line with 3:50 remaining. After two Demhir Jackson runs lost yardage, Raiders safety Jermel Brown stepped in front of the Eagles’ Daevean Boykin and intercepted a sidearm throw from Broughton, giving the Raiders a chance at the Fleming Island 41-yard line with 2:25 remaining.

It took the hosts just one play to take advantage. An arching spiral from Taylor found Jaden Paulk in stride on a post pattern, and the senior raced to the end zone for the tying score.

Taking possession at their own 31 with 2:14 remaining after the ensuing kickoff, the Golden Eagles quickly moved 45 yards on six straight runs by Jackson. Already at the fringe of Sirdevan’s field goal range, Jackson, who was forced into full-time duty due to an ankle injury suffered by Beverly earlier in the fourth quarter, carried again and gained four yards before being upended by Orange Park’s Rory Childs, causing a fumble that was recovered by Raiders linebacker Triston Johnson at the 19-yard line with 35 seconds left.

From there, the Raiders ran the ball until the clock expired, content to decide the outcome in overtime.

The Golden Eagles had seized the early momentum, moving 75 yards on their opening possession to take a 7-0 lead. Jackson capped the drive from the seven-yard line, following Beverly over left tackle on a third and two. Beverly converted two third downs on the march, one on a 21-yard run and one on a 26-yard catch-and-run.

Orange Park dominated the second quarter, getting two stops on defense and scoring twice. Dylan Ruiz converted a fourth and one from the Fleming Island 29-yard line with a six-yard run around the right end as part of an 80-yard drive that culminated in a two-yard pass from Taylor to Quinton Moore, which also came on fourth down. Brown set up the next scoring drive with a 19-yard punt return to the Golden Eagles’ 41-yard line. On a third down from the 22-yard line, Moore took a jet sweep just past the outstretched arms of Golden Eagles defensive end Cohen Cioffi and cut off a downfield block from receiver Ryder Fulmer to speed across the goal line.

Despite their domination, the Raiders found themselves in a 14-14 tie at the intermission due to a risky fourth-down decision and a masterful one-minute drill conducted by Broughton. Facing a fourth down needing 20 yards for a first down at their 49-yard line, the Raiders eschewed a punt and elected to go for it with 32 seconds remaining in the half. Taylor could not squeeze a throw into Moore, who was sandwiched between Golden Eagles defensive backs Josh Murray and Tacori Allen, turning the ball over with :24 remaining. Working quickly, Broughton found Calvin Johnson on an 11-yard out route and followed that with a 35-yard strike to Boykin on a deep crossing route. On the next play, the junior rolled right and fired a bullet to Burney on a quick out. Burney fell just across the goal line with 0:03 on the clock.

“Sometimes it is instinct,” said Orange Park head coach Marcus Wimberly of his decision to go for it. “I thought we had a pretty good play and a pretty good chance of making it. It ended up costing us.”

The win ended a seven-game losing streak for Fleming Island, leaving the Golden Eagles with a 3-7 record in Parker’s first year at the helm.

“It was really important for us to go out and get a win for the senior class,” said Parker. “A win like this gives us a little momentum going into the offseason. We hung with some really good football teams. We just got to continue to build.”

The Raiders finished Wimberly’s second season as head coach with a 4-6 record, doubling their win total from 2022.

“I thought we were greatly improved from last year,” said Wimberly, who will welcome Taylor, Moore and Ruiz back in 2024. Running back Joshua Johnson, who sat out Friday’s game with an injury, should also return. “The culture is changing into what we want it to be, but it takes three to five years.”

Jackson led all rushers with 116 yards on 16 carries for the Golden Eagles, who enjoyed a 391-218 edge in total offense. Broughton completed nine of 18 passes for 143 yards and added 56 yards on the ground. Ruiz pounded out 98 yards rushing on 29 carries for Orange Park.