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Kocak hat trick fuels Eagles win

By Randy Lefko Sports Editor
Posted 9/25/19

ORANGE PARK - Ridgeview High surprised the Fleming Island sideline with an opportunistic fumble recovery on the opening kickoff that turned into a field goal, but the Golden Eagles survived behind …

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Kocak hat trick fuels Eagles win


Posted

ORANGE PARK - Ridgeview High surprised the Fleming Island sideline with an opportunistic fumble recovery on the opening kickoff that turned into a field goal, but the Golden Eagles survived behind three touchdowns from fullback T.K. Kocak to win 33-3 Friday night at Ridgeview High School.

Fleming Island maintained their unbeaten season opening (4-0) with the win with the Golden Eagles about to hit the meat of their district 2-7A schedule with Creekside (4-2), First Coast (1-4) and Buchholz (2-2, losses to 6A defending champion Ocala Vanguard and Lake Brantley (3-1)) scheduled for the next four weeks with a BYE in week seven between Creekside and First Coast.

Creekside has wins over Ribault, Nease, First Coast and a last field goal loss to Bolles last week, 24-21. Creekside also lost a 27-14 game to unbeaten Bartram Trail on September 7.

Against Ridgeview, Fleming Island was efficient on offense with quarterback Dean Hyams finding wideout Kaleb Seybolt for a 44 yard scoring strike later in the first quarter to push the score to 10-3.

From there, Ridgeview again got a fumble recovery with defensive back Matthew Dye punching the ball out of Fleming Island running back Sam Singleton's grasp near the Panther 13 to set the Panthers up going toward the Eagles end zone.

For Ridgeview quarterback Max Monroe, the unrelenting Fleming Island pass rush, led by Jeremiah Jackson and Zack Little, left little time for Panther offense to generate any movement with Monroe forced into two near interceptions then Little forcing a fourth down incompletion at the Golden Eagle 21.

With Fleming Island pounding the interior of the Panther defense behind tackle Evan Sheets, the offense moved quickly downfield with Kocak getting runs of 13 and 22 before Hyams scrambled out for 19 yards to put the Golden Eagles at the Ridgeview 18.

From there, Kocak again followed Sheets to the four before pounding in again behind Sheets for a 17-3 lead with Garrett Godfrey hitting the second of his four PAT kicks.

Ridgeview would only get a seven yard jet sweep to wideout Glenn Miller before giving Fleming Island the ball back on a 45 yard punt that landed at the five yard line.

A stuffed run to Singleton by Ridgeview tackle Jordan Jackson and two missed passes from Hyams ended with a punt to Miller who sliced the Fleming Island punt cover team for 40 yards to put the Panthers at the 13. Ridgeview would finish the drive at the 30 with a mishandled center snap ending the half.

A Ridgeview punt put Fleming Island at midfield to set up a 33 yard run by Kocak to the Panther eight before scoring from the six for a 24-3 lead as the third quarter started.

A punt blocked by Devin Grind added two more points; 26-3, before the Golden Eagles finished with fourth quarter fumble recovery from defensive tackle Elijah Montgomery and a two yard run from Kocak to end the game.

Ridgeview (0-4) next hosts Orange Park in a district clash. Orange Park (2-2) lost 28-20 to Westside on Friday.