Wakulla beats Suwannee, 24-21

War Eagle receiver Nehemiah Chandler tries to get away from the Suwannee Bulldog defense.


Running back Jeremiah Thomas gets into open field. He had 100 yards rushing on the night, plus another 56 yards with receptions coming out of the backfield.

PHOTOS BY WILLIAM SNOWDEN

By WILLIAM SNOWDEN Editor

The Wakulla War Eagles got out of Live Oak with a tough 24-21 win over the Suwannee Bulldogs to end the regular season undefeated, a bye week in front them, and a playoff game next week at home against an opponent yet to be named.
Wakulla Head Coach Scott Klees noted his team was down 14-0 at one point to Suwannee. “I’m proud of our guys,” he said. “They didn’t flinch. They could’ve quit, you know, said ‘This is just not our night.’ But they didn’t. They just kept chipping away.”
One challenge was an 80-yard touchdown pass called back for offensive pass interference for Wakulla receiver Nehemiah Chandler supposedly pushing off the defender.
Later in the fourth, there were back-to-back defensive pass interference calls against Wakulla – one on a play in which Wakulla defensive backs broke up a pass, and the very next play an interception by Chandler. The calls had Wakulla fans angrily yelling at referees.
Coach Klees said he was pleased with how the regular season went. “We controlled what we could control.”
Winning the district championship by beating Suwannee and Taylor means that Wakulla will have at least one home game in the playoffs – with an opponent that has yet to be determined. The playoff schedule will be released this weekend, and it should have the War Eagles playing at J.D. Jones Stadium on Nov. 9.
The ultimate goal is the same, Klees said. To win a state championship.

GAME RECAP

Suwannee took the opening kickoff. First offensive series, the Bulldogs drive the field, scoring first on a 20 yard touchdown pass. It’s 7-0 with 7:22 in 1Q.
Wakulla was forced to punt on its first offensive series. Suwannee started at the 40. And the Bulldogs score on a 60-yard run up the middle. Wakulla down 14-0 with 4:44 in 1Q.
Wakulla faces 4th and 1 on their own side of midfield. And Jeremiah Thomas breaks a run to Suwannee 14. Wakulla kicker Luis Quintonilla kicks a 30-yard field goal to put the War Eagles on the board. It’s 14-3  with 1:11 remaining in the first quarter.
Suwannee drives to Wakulla 35, drive stalls, attempt a field goal but it’s no good. Wakulla starts at their 20 and connect on 25-yard pass play. Wakulla has 4th and 3 at Suwannee 7, quarterback Haden Klees pressured, scrambles, finds Nehemiah Chandler in the end zone. Wakulla cuts the Suwannee lead to 14-10.
Wakulla had a scoring opportunity with the ball at the 2, but on 4th down, Klees ran and couldn’t get into the end zone. At halftime, Wakulla trailed 14-10.
In the second half, Wakulla took the kickoff but the drive stalled. Suwannee’s first possession had a long pass and the receiver was wrestled down at the 4. The Bulldogs ran a quarterback sneak but it was fumbled and recovered by Wakulla. The War Eagles were intercepted at the 40 on the next play. But the Bulldogs were stymied and had to punt. Then came the 80-yard touchdown pass to Chandler that was called back for offensive pass interference.
First play of fourth quarter is a 50-yard pass from Klees to Samron Brinson for a touchdown. Extra point makes it 17-14, Wakulla’s first lead of the night.
Later, Brinson’s second touchdown as he caught a long pass from Klees around the 20, walked a tightrope along the sideline to stay in bounds and then dives for the end zone. Wakulla up 24-14 over Suwannee with 6:48 left in the game.
Suwannee pass is intercepted at the goal line by Devontae Roberts. Wakulla takes over inches from goal. Klees pass to Brinson who makes a leaping catch at 30. There’s only 3:30 left.
But Suwannee keeps fighting and they drive and score a touchdown with .7 seconds on the scoreboard. Extra point cuts Wakulla’s lead to 24-21.
An onside kick as time expired. Final: Wakulla 24, Suwannee 21.

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Overall Player of the Week was Devontae Roberts: on offense he had 4 catches for 48 yards; on defense, he had 7 tackles, a fumble recovery and an interception.
Offensive Player of the Week was Samron Brinson, who had 8 receptions for 175 yards and two touchdowns.
Defensive Player of the Week was Tanner Jordan with 7 tackles.
Special Teams Player of the Week was punter Owen Klees who had 4 punts all over 40 yards.
Quarterback Haden Klees ran 7 times for 51 yards, and threw for 331 yards and 3 touchdowns. For the season, that puts him over 3,000 yards passing and 44 touchdowns.
Running back Jeremiah Thomas rushed 11 times for 100 yards and had 7 catches for 56 yards.
And kicker Luis Quintonilla ends the season with a perfect record on extra points and going 4-for-5 on field goals.

INJURY REPORT

Coach Klees anticipated that the week off may give time for his team to heal up.
War Eagle receiver Del Zanders was out with a leg injury that happened the previous week against North Florida Christian. Klees was hopeful Zanders might be back.
It might also mean that running back Bradley Kelly may return from his medical condition. When he went out, Jeremiah Thomas was shifted from receiver to running back.
Defensive lineman Antonion Eglton suffered an arm injury against Suwannee and it’s hoped he will be good for the playoffs.