Recap by Natalia Lopez
The P.K. Yonge Blue Wave were unable to break their losing streak to the Trinity Catholic (Ocala) Celtics on Friday night.
The Blue Wave lost their third consecutive district title game with a 37-0 shutout against the Celtics on Friday night in the Class 1A-District 4 championship game.
“My goal wasn’t to do a playoff type scenario because the thing I don’t believe in, is rewarding, as well as I put it in coaching terms, bad behavior right now,” said P.K. Yonge coach Willie Jackson, Jr.
It was a difficult start for the Blue Wave in the first quarter with several incomplete passes, allowing the Celtics the opportunity for a touchdown to make it 7-0 with 5:45 left in the first quarter.
Trinity Catholic got its second score on a touchdown by Luke Rudnianyn in the second quarter.
P.K. Yonge junior quarterback AJ Powers faced relentless pressure, leading to throwing incomplete passes, interceptions, and getting sacked.
“Quarterback, he’s flustered, everyone’s flustered, and they started dropping the ball, fumbling the ball,” Jackson said.
After an incomplete pass, two holding calls, a sack, and a false start took P.K. Yonge back to their 6-yard line with 3:34 left on the clock in the second quarter, Trinity Catholic got a safety to boost their lead to 16-0.
Junior Ty Moses tried to create opportunities for the Blue Wave throughout the game on offense and defense. In the third quarter with 2:09 left, Moses made an interception at the 18-yard line when the Celtics were looking for another touchdown.
P.K. Yonge’s offense was unable to reciprocate Moses’s efforts with no complete passes and unable to gain momentum.
“First off, I’m trying to build a program here,” said Jackson, who explained he was focusing on the development and growth for his team. “When you have a young team, you have to learn how to win, that’s on entry-level…I have guys that it’s their first time playing football, so you have to build the program.”
Trinity Catholic, which improved to 2-7, will play its home finale this Friday at 7 p.m. against Newberry, while P.K. Yonge, which dropped to 5-3, ends the regular season at home this Friday at 7 p.m. against Impact Christian Academy (Jacksonville).
