Eastside starts fast, tops Sandalwood on Senior Night

Eastsides senior Corvin Byrd (6) celebrates his touchdown run with senior Daijon "Honey Mustard" Johnson in the first quarter.
Photo by Seth Johnson

It was Senior Night for the Eastside football team on Friday night at Citizens Field in Gainesville.

However, it was the underclassmen who made contributions early as the Class 3A Rams defeated Class 7A Sandalwood (Jacksonville), 38-9, to send its seniors out with a victory in their final home regular season game.

“It feels great,” said senior running back Corvin Byrd, who scored the Rams’ second touchdown of the night. “We waited all four years for this moment, so it feels real good.”

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Eastside, which improved to 5-2, made plays on offense, defense, and special teams to win its fourth straight game.

“It always feels good to get a W, especially after being off a couple of weeks,” said Eastside coach Harold “Gator” Hoskins. “We came out, we started fast, slowed down a little bit, but we picked it back up after the second half. Honestly, I’m just proud of all the seniors. I’m proud of those guys.”

Seven seniors were recognized before the game and a three of them (Byrd, Victor White, Daijon “Honey Mustard” Johnson) found the endzone.

“That was my goal,” Hoskins said. “I told all the seniors coming into this, ‘man, I’m trying to get all of you guys a touchdown. This is one that you guys will remember forever. It’s bigger than the game. I want you guys to have those memories,’ so that was my goal.”

However, it was a pair of freshmen who scored the first touchdown, and it didn’t take long for Eastside to score despite not playing a game since Thursday, Oct. 3.

The Rams went 80 yards on just three plays, capping the drive with a 65-yard touchdown pass in the middle of the field from freshman quarterback Andrew “Cade” Sutherland to freshman tight end Jordan Johnson just 1:06 into the game.

“That was just something that we had kind of seen on film,” Hoskins said. “We drew up something and it kind of played right into our hands. Right then and there we knew we had to take advantage of the opportunity, and it worked out. I told Jordan throughout the week, ‘it’s been a while since I got you going, I’m going to try and get you going tonight,’ and I told him this all week. ‘Just do what you’re supposed to do and I’m going to find you’ and the opportunity came up and I delivered.”

The next big play for Eastside was on special teams as junior Tramaine Montague blocked a Sandalwood (0-8) punt that was recovered by junior Chad Hall at the Saints’ 19-yard line.

Following a 10-yard run by Johnson, Byrd ran it in from nine yards out to give the Rams a 14-0 lead with 6:10 to play in the first quarter.

“We had been executing it all week in practice so when the play was called, we did what we had to do,” Byrd said. “My big boys got me in there…they (offensive line) came out and they did their thing. They told me that they had me. They told me they were going to take care of me for my senior night and they did.”

The defense made the next big play for the Rams as freshman Malicah Williams intercepted Sandalwood sophomore quarterback Jarelle Sims on a pass that was tipped twice. It was the first of two interceptions on the night for Williams, who almost came up with a third.

“He was close on it, man,” Hoskins said. “That’s a freshman and he can play some ball. I’m really, really proud of that kid coming in, his dad played here at Eastside and played varsity as a freshman and kind of following in those footsteps right now.”

Williams’ second pick was at the 1-yard line to preserve the shutout with just over three minutes left in the first quarter.

However, on its next series, Sims completed a 4th-and-9 to senior wide receiver Michael Bush for a 33-yard touchdown pass down the Eastside sideline to cut the deficit in half at 14-7 with 10:06 to play in the second quarter.

But that would be the only time that Sandalwood would get in the endzone, while the offense added several more scores to pull away.

White scored on an 8-yard run on a jet sweep with 1:53 to play in the half and junior kicker Elijah Dressel drilled a 33-yard field goal on the final play of the half as Eastside built a 24-7 lead at the break.

Following a Sutherland fumble that was recovered in the endzone by Eastside for a Sandalwood safety, freshman Javaris Gardner had a 9-yard scoring run for the Rams and Johnson scored on a 20-yard touchdown pass from Sutherland on a wheel route.

Eastside controls its own destiny in Class 3A-District 5, but they’ll have to win on the road in hopes of winning a third straight district title.

Next Friday, the Rams will travel to North Marion (Citra), which edged Williston, 20-14, for a key district game, followed by a league game at South Sumter (Bushnell) on Thursday, November 5.

“We’ll celebrate tonight, but we’re at back at it,” Hoskins said. “It’s a big game coming up in the next one, a district game, you’ve got to stay in control of your destiny, an opportunity to be in the playoffs, so we’ve got to come ready to work on Monday.”

Photo by Seth Johnson Eastside’s Jordan Johnson (18) celebrates a 65-yard touchdown catch for the first scored of the game.
Photo by Seth Johnson Eastside freshman quarterback Andrew Sutherland hands the ball off to freshman Javaris Gardner for a run.
Photo by Seth Johnson Rams defenders combine for a tackle behind the line of scrimmage.
Photo by Seth Johnson Eastside football coach Harold “Gator” Hoskins speaks with his players during a game against Sandalwood (Jacksonville).
Photo by Seth Johnson Senior Daijon “Honey Mustard” Johnson runs a punt return to the 37-yard-line.

Football scores

Friday, Oct. 18
Aucilla Christian (Monticello) 36, Bell 21
Bradford (Starke) 43, Leon (Tallahassee) 7
Chiefland 54, Keystone Heights 0
Eastside 38, Sandalwood (Jacksonville) 9
First Academy-Leesburg 42, Bronson 32
Hawthorne 35, IMG Academy White (Bradenton) 14
Lafayette (Mayo) 47, Trenton 0
Legacy Charter (Ocoee) 30, St. Francis Catholic Academy 12
Newberry 44, Fort White 10
North Marion (Citra) 20, Williston 14
Suwannee (Live Oak) 27, Taylor County (Perry) 6
Union County (Lake Butler) 54, Trinity Catholic (Ocala) 16
Zarephath Academy (Jacksonville) 54, Santa Fe (Alachua) 3
OFF – Branford, Buchholz, Columbia (Lake City), P.K. Yonge

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