The Sonic Drive-In Player-of-the-Game for Friday, October 23, was senior DJ Curtis of the Buchholz (Gainesville) football team.
Curtis had two big plays in each half to help lead the Bobcats to a 24-21 win against visiting Fleming Island (Orange Park) on homecoming.
With Buchholz leading 7-0 on a 25-yard touchdown pass from sophomore Creed Whittemore to junior Adrian Sermons, the Wofford commit blocked a 29-yard field goal with 5:05 to play in the first quarter.
That helped the defense pitch a shutout in the opening half as the Bobcats built a 21-0 lead at the break.
Senior Quan Smith had a 10-yard scoring run for Buchholz (4-1) with 8:25 to play in the second quarter, and sophomore Jacarree Kelly scored from nine yards out with only 1:26 left in the half.
Following a 55-yard touchdown run by the Golden Eagles’ Sam Singleton to make it 21-7 in the third quarter, Fleming Island (5-2) got the ball back with a chance to make it a one-score game.
However, after tight end Timothy Lawrence picked up a first down on a pass play to midfield, Lawrence fumbled and Curtis recovered at the Fleming Island 48-yard line with 2:21 to play in the third.
Navy commit TK Kocak threw an 89-yard touchdown pass to Air Force commit Timothy Thomas with 1:42 to play in the third quarter, and Kocak ran it in from 5-yards out to tie the game at 21-21 with 9:24 to play in the game.
However, senior Hunter Smith drilled a 24-yard field goal with 3:18 to play, and sophomore Donny Hiebert helped seal the victory with an interception with 2:26 to play.
Buchholz, which won its fourth straight game, will travel to Creekside (St. Johns) next Friday, Oct. 30.
Every game The Prep Zone will recognize a Player-of-the-Game. The recipient receives a $10 gift certificate courtesy of Sonic Drive-In of Gainesville & Ocala.
