Week 12 of the Florida high school football season delivered in the Volusia-Flagler area.
The week was not originally on the 2024 football calendar. The FHSAA installed it after Hurricane Milton postponed most of the Week 8 matchups around the state.
In District 2-7A, Thursday produced a pair of one-score games that resulted in a three-way tie atop the standings. Both home teams won.
At Daytona Stadium, two teams ended their campaigns in overtime. And in the fourth local game, Taylor earned its first win over an area team (Father Lopez) this season.
Here is a look at each showdown.
Anthony Hayden rushed for the go-ahead, 1-yard touchdown with 6:10 left in regulation as the host Hawks (7-3, 2-1) denied University (8-2, 2-1) a chance to win its first outright district football championship in school history, instead forcing a three-way tie in District 2-7A.
Trell Edwards scored twice for Spruce Creek, and PJ Miller iced the victory with a clutch third-down completion to Denali Campbell with less than 90 seconds remaining. Rajee McKinney preserved the Hawks’ lead with an interception on University’s final drive.
Titans quarterback Malachi Walters finished 15-of-25 passing for 160 yards, tossing touchdowns to Jermane Hayes and Barrett Schulz.
Flagler Palm Coast 62, DeLand 57
In a wild contest with more than 1,000 yards of offense, Flagler Palm Coast (9-1, 2-1) outlasted DeLand (5-5, 0-3) at FPC High School. The victory also ensured the Bulldogs a share of the District 2-7A crown with University and Spruce Creek.
DeLand took a 57-56 lead with 1:42 remaining in the fourth quarter when Marceles Carey rushed for a 5-yard touchdown and added the two-point conversion.
But Flagler Palm Coast responded immediately with a 69-yard TD pass from Hayden Hayes to Braylyn Simmons, reclaiming the lead with 1:21 left. Lucas Siharaj sealed it with an interception a couple of plays later.
For Flagler Palm Coast, Hayes accumulated 201 yards and three touchdowns through the air. He had 117 yards and three scores on the ground, too. Marcus Mitchell Jr. rumbled for 217 yards and two scores, as his squad posted at least 50 points for the third straight game.
Carey and Taihj Moore led DeLand. Carey toted the ball 25 times for 175 rushing yards and a score. He also caught a touchdown pass from Gardner Nordman. Moore tallied 25 carries for 240 yards. He found the end zone five times.
Deltona 13, Seabreeze 10 (OT)
Deltona’s Desean Fludd blocked a potential game-winning field goal as time expired in regulation, sending the Wolves (3-7) and Sandcrabs (2-7) to overtime. There, the Wolves won it at Daytona Stadium.
Damarion Phillips and Jeremiah Hancock each recorded rushing touchdowns. Jaden Ware had two interceptions to pace Deltona’s best defensive effort (10 points allowed) of the season.
Taylor 32, Father Lopez 12
The Wildcats (3-6) took a 16-0 first-half lead and never trailed at Father Lopez (0-9).
To build the advantage, James Thomas broke loose for a 46-yard touchdown and Anthony Miler returned an interception to the house. Both times, Andrew North tacked on two-point conversions. In the second half, Thomas hauled in a 22-yard touchdown pass from Miler. North also pushed in for a 4-yard touchdown, as Taylor again followed each score with a two-point conversion.
For Father Lopez, Colt Davis and Teddy Loach ran for their scores in the second half.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Florida high school football: Volusia-Flagler Week 12 scores, recap
