PALATKA - Palatka High served as unruly hosts of the Ridgeview High Panthers who were about to test their 3-0 season record in hostile territory by opening with two plays for an 80 yard opening round …
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PALATKA - Palatka High served as unruly hosts of the Ridgeview High Panthers who were about to test their 3-0 season record in hostile territory by opening with two plays for an 80 yard opening round touchdown, but Ridgeview High gulped and responded with quarterback Tyler Huff hitting three fourth down scoring passes to win 34-25 in a key district 5-5A matchup Monday night at Palatka High School.
“They certainly caught us off guard early with their speed. We were able to adjust fairly quickly and settled in after that,” said Ridgeview head coach Cameron Porch.
For Ridgeview, the win puts the Panthers in the driver’s seat as the surprise team of the year after an 0-10 first year under Porch as unbeaten Fleming Island (4-0) visits Panther field on Friday in a non-district contest.
“It should be an incredible atmosphere. Our student body has really taken hold of our football program. There is an excitement building right now. We can’t wait until Friday night but the most important goal is to go from 4-0 to 5-0” said Porch.
Ridgeview’s initial response to the opening salvo by Palatka was aided by a late hit on quarterback Tyler Huff, but the drive stalled. A massive punt from punter Matt Koziolek put Palatka at their own 10 yard line.
From there, Ridgeview defensive end Dawson Smith smashed in for a sack that ignited the Ridgeview defensive unit behind an apparent fumble recovery by linebacker Steven Boyd. Officials curiously deemed the play an incomplete pass, but Ridgeview was clearly smelling blood in the water and a punt finished the series.
Ridgeview again would stall on their next drive with a fourth down pass from Huff to Kiaren Turner issuing a first down at midfield and Ridgeview pushing to the Palatka nine yard line leading to a missed field goal.
Another Palatka punt got Huff the ball at midfield where he scrambled twice to the Palatka 24 before hitting Jacolbi Sampson on a fourth down touchdown pass to put Ridgeview on the scoreboard. A missed point after kick left the game still in jeopardy at 7-6.
Huff continued to have his way on fourth downs with receiver Denali Lindo catching a fourth down pass to up the score to 14-7. The drive started at midfield and included a 41 yard pass from Huff to Brian Jackson to the Palatka nine yard line.
Palatka added a field goal for a 14-10 halftime score.
In the opening drive of the third quarter, Huff fumbled away the ball at the five yard line, but Palatka could not convert on a field goal attempt to leave the score still at 14-10.
With both teams seemingly shooting themselves in the foot with mistakes, Huff finally got the Ridgeview ball rolling as the fourth quarter was about to start with two passes to Lindo to the Palatka 25 setting up a four yard keeper by Huff and a 21-10 lead as the fourth quarter started.
Palatka cut the lead to 21-18 on a 71 yard scoring drive kept alive with a late hit flag, but Ridgeview responded with fullback Trent Coleman rumbling 65 yards to paydirt to push Ridgeview’s lead to 28-18.
Palatka answered with their own big play; a 56 yard scoring pass to inch to a 28-25 score with 5:05 to go and Ridgeview fans reminded of last year’s fourth quarter implosion that gave Palatka a last minute win at Ridgeview Stadium.
A Huff interception got reversed with a fourth down stop by the Ridgeview defense as both teams seemed at the breaking point.
Another fourth down pass; this one a 30 yard scoring strike to Kiaran Turner was the final dagger stab for Huff as Ridgeview finished the game at 34-25. Turner would come back and recover the ensuing kickoff fumble by Palatka to end the game.