The Eastside football program has won back-to-back district titles under head coach Harold “Gator” Hoskins.
However, the Rams knew the chance of a three-peat would be tougher with the addition of Dunnellon and South Sumter (Bushnell) in the district.
On Thursday night at Citizens Field, Eastside rose to the challenge, rallying from a 12-7 deficit in the fourth quarter for a 14-12 homecoming win against Dunnellon, which was ranked No. 6 in Class 3A in the FHSAA football rankings.
“It feels good,” Hoskins said. “I’m proud of my football team. They played football, a team effort, defense stepped up when they had to. My guys stepped up late in the game. Cade threw a beautiful touchdown pass. The guys that we challenged, man they stepped up and made some plays tonight.”
Trailing 12-7 early in the fourth quarter, Eastside freshman Malicah Williams intercepted Tigers’ quarterback Dylan Curry at midfield.
The Rams (4-2, 1-0 in 3A-District 5) took over at the 50-yard line with 10:54 remaining.
Following a holding call that backed them up to their 40-yard line, Eastside was able to move the ball on the ground.
Freshman Javaris Gardner had a 12-yard run, senior Corvin Byrd had a 6-yard run into Dunnellon territory, and junior Kamariyon Mack had a 14-yard run out of the Wildcat on 4th-and-1 for a first down at the Dunnellon 27-yard line.
Mack added another 6-yard run, but his 21-yard touchdown run was called back because of holding inside the 5-yard line with 7:21 to play.
However, the running game set up a play-action pass for freshman quarterback Cade Sutherland who lofted a 20-yard touchdown throw left side to a wide-open Cam Ferguson. The junior’s reception gave Eastside the lead for good.
“That was just something that we had seen on film,” Hoskins said. “We really started running the ball, so they tried to stop the run, trying to get eight, nine guys in the box and playing man-to-man…Cade just made a great play, and a great catch by Ferguson.”
Dunnellon had a 3-and-out on their next series and Eastside took over at their own 40-yard line with 4:41 to play, converted another 4th-and-1, and ran out the clock to win their third straight game.
“It was a team effort,” said Eastside junior linebacker Tramaine Montague. “We knew we had to fight. We made the most plays and came out with the win.”
The Tigers (3-3, 0-1) won the coin toss and deferred to the second half, but Eastside marched down the field and consumed six and a half minutes off the first quarter clock.
The Rams began their first possession of the game at their own 35-yard line and Byrd set the tone with a 10-yard run on the game’s first play from scrimmage.
Mack capped a 65-yard scoring drive with a 5-yard touchdown run out of the Wildcat for a 7-0 lead with 5:33 to play in the first quarter.
Curry threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Tre’Quori Rollerson, but kicker Mark Pastorella missed the first of two extra points and Eastside led 7-6 at the half.
A 49-yard pick-6 by Dunnellon’s Sean Martin gave the Tigers their first lead at 12-7 with 9:13 to play in the third quarter.
Although the Rams didn’t score on their next possession, they converted two more 4th-and-1 plays and consumed over seven minutes of the third quarter clock, before pinning Dunnellon at their own 6-yard line for their next possession.
Eastside junior Orian Ellis Jr. intercepted a pass on a tipped ball and Eastside’s defense kept Dunnellon out of the end zone in the second half, holding the Tigers to just one score offensively.
“Communicating, playing as a team, playing as one, being together having that bond and being out there having fun and making plays, that’s what it’s all about,” Montague said.
Eastside will travel to South Sumter (Bushnell) next Friday at 7:30 p.m. for another key district game.
“They’re a great football team,” Hoskins said. “We’ll get a chance to dissect the film. I saw a couple of their coaches here tonight. I’m pretty sure they saw a couple of things. It’s going to be a tough one…we’ve got to be ready.”
Monday, Sept. 30
Newberry 32, Palatka 0
Williston 38, Trinity Catholic (Ocala) 7
P.K. Yonge 37, Central Florida Christian Academy (Ocoee) 7
Nease (Ponte Vedra) 20, Buchholz 17 OT
Thursday, Oct. 3
Eastside 14, Dunnellon 12
