For the third time in four years under head coach Harold “Gator” Hoskins, the Eastside Rams are district champions.
Behind 148 rushing yards from Javaris Gardner and three total touchdowns from quarterback Nelson Tambling, Eastside erased a 13-0 halftime deficit to defeat South Sumter, 27-21, in overtime.
A previous win over Dunnellon, which beat North Marion on Friday, gives the Rams the tiebreaker, thus giving Eastside the 3A-District 5 title.
“It feels really good,” Hoskins said. “We should have four, but I’ll take this one tonight.”
It came down to a pair of fourth-and-goals in overtime.
Tied at 21-21, South Sumter botched a field goal attempt during the opening possession in overtime. Meanwhile, Gardner rushed for six yards before Kamariyon Mack put Eastside on the 1-yard line.
After a timeout, Eastside turned to Tambling, and the 6-foot-5 senior capitalized, reaching the ball over the goal line on a quarterback sneak to seal the win.
“In those moments, you almost can’t describe the amount of thoughts that are going through your head,” Tambling said. “Overall, there’s just an overwhelming feeling of love and kind of that brotherhood sort of thing.”
While Tambling’s overtime score won the game, the Rams’ third-quarter efforts put them in a position to win.
Gardner returned the opening kickoff in the third quarter to South Sumter’s 31-yard line, setting up a 17-yard touchdown pass from Tambling to Kaleb McKinnon.
The Rams’ defense, meanwhile, forced three-straight three-and-outs. Gardner had a 66-yard rush in the final minute of the third quarter to set up a one-yard score. Elijah Dressell’s extra point kick gave Eastside the lead.
Gardner had been battling a lower-body injury for most of the game.
“I wasn’t worried about that,” he said. “I came in, did my part. The line did their part, and we came out with the win.”
Tambling added a one-yard score with 4:26 left in the game to extend Eastside’s lead to eight, but with their backs against the wall, South Sumter’s offense came back to life.
The Raiders went on an 80-yard drive, capped off by a touchdown and two-point conversion in the final seconds to tie the game.
Eastside previously gifted South Sumter multiple scoring opportunities.
Tambling’s interception on Eastside’s final drive seemed like it could be returned for a touchdown had defensive back Logan Ward not fallen, and the Rams failed to recover a pooch kick late in the second quarter, leading to a South Sumter touchdown.
Nonetheless, Eastside overcame the mistakes and is heading to the postseason for the fourth-straight season.
“This team is a very tough team,” Hoskins said. “We had to face a lot of adversity this week, but they kept fighting. I’m so proud of this team. They deserve this moment.”
Eastside (5-2) travels to Sandalwood (Jacksonville) next week before rounding out district play against North Marion on Oct. 24.
Football scores
Thursday, Oct. 9
Leesburg 17, Gainesville 7
Friday, Oct. 10
Baker County (Glen St. Mary) 28, Suwannee (Live Oak) 21 (OT)
Bell 41, Interlachen 24
Blountstown 74, Dixie County (Cross City) 0
Bradford (Starke) 28, Newberry 7
Branford 30, Trenton 13
Buchholz 42, Tocoi Creek (St. Augustine) 7
Chiefland 30, Taylor County (Perry) 15
Columbia (Lake City) 44, Ridgeview (Orange Park) 0
Countryside Christian 59, Cornerstone Academy 0
Eastside 27, South Sumter (Bushnell) 21 (OT)
Fort White 49, Zarephath Academy (Jacksonville) 6
Hawthorne 42, University Christian (Jacksonville) 29
Old Plank Christian Academy (Jacksonville) 22, Oak Hall 20
Saint Francis Catholic Academy 2, Liberty Christian Prep (Tavares) 0 (FF)
Seven Rivers Christian (Lecanto) 46, Bronson 6
Specialty Fit Academy (Dover) 50, P.K. Yonge 7
Santa Fe (Alachua) 35, Keystone Heights 6
Williston 42, Taylor (Pierson) 0
OFF – Union County (Lake Butler)
