By: Jeff Doke

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

Another First For Frederica On The March To Mercer.

There’s something amazing about watching unbridled joy erupting from a grown man. It doesn’t happen often, but when it does, it’s something to behold, and it’s exactly what we saw from Head Coach Brandon Derrick.

Derrick ecstatically hurled his visor high into the air in the final moments of the game Friday night. His Frederica Knights had just added another touchdown with less than two minutes left, cementing the school’s first-ever victory against Pinewood Christian Patriots by a score of 30-17.

“This was a huge win for us,” said an elated Coach Derrick after the game. “We’ve beaten a lot of people for the first time this year. You talk about signature wins as a program. We’ve now beaten three champions this year; two state champions and a defending region champ now tonight.”

Coach Derrick was referring, of course, to the victories against defending Class AAA Champions Valwood and defending Class AA Champions Memorial Day, two teams who (much like Pinewood) have given the Knights their fair share of on-field frustrations during Coach Derrick’s tenure.

Early on, it didn’t look like it was going to end up in another signature win. On the opening play of the game, sophomore QB Gaven Williams threw an interception going deep down the far sideline.

“They had cut a deal pregame as to who he was going to try to throw (the first pass) to,” Coach Derrick explained after the game. “I said ‘just read it, don’t try to force it.’ (Gaven) recognized that one was on him and he settled down after that.”

The normally sure-sighted QB had only one INT on the year so far, and he would unfortunately add two more picks by the end of the night, bringing his season total to four. Thankfully, he also added two more touchdown passes as well. Both first half scoring plays were 10-yard tosses to fellow sophomore Jaylin Simpson.

The key moment of the first half, however, belongs to the kicker John Mitchell Brock and to Running Back Jashawn Sheffield. After noticing a weakness in their kickoff return squad, John Mitchell dropped a perfectly placed squib-kick between the first & second lines of defenders, where the Patriot players let it come to a stop, not realizing it was a live ball.

Sheffield knew perfectly well that it was, and pounced on it for the first of two Frederica turnovers on the night. “It really was a perfect kick,” praised Coach Derrick after the game.

Jashawn had two rushing TDs in the second half as well, one of 41 yards as well as a beautiful untouched 1-yard scamper.

The player of the game from the booth though was Running Back Isaiah Jackson. Jackson was playing at a different level tonight, both on offense and defense. The sophomore carried the load for the Knights and was hitting the Patriots hard, even on offense. During one particular full-throttle run, Isaiah lowered his shoulder to run through a Pinewood DB rather than try to avoid him.

Talking to a Frederica administrator after the game, we both agreed that this was a game that will be remembered in Frederica lore. Most of Frederica’s games, it seems, are one-sided either for us or against us. Very few are close, hard fought battles like this one. It absolutely was an emotional win, and one that sets the tone for the rest of the year.

The road to the playoffs continues on the road next week against long tome rival Bulloch Academy. The Gators provide a fairly hostile environment, and Coach Brandon Derrick wants as many fans as possible to make the trip to Statesboro to support the Knights.

“Come out, be loud, be proud. We’ve got something special going on right now,” implored the head coach after the game. And I can’t disagree with him.