3 takeaways: Spruce Creek defense not quite perfect this time, but the Hawks still are
PORT ORANGE — Spruce Creek’s defense finally faltered, allowing its first points of the season with just over two minutes left in the fourth quarter on Friday.
But for the Hawks, better in junk time than in crunch time.
No, coach Andy Price probably won't make any personnel overhauls or coordinator changes anytime soon, because outside of one play, Creek’s defense has been near flawless. And it again led the way to the finish line on Friday as the Hawks moved to 4-0 with a 21-6 win over visiting Andrew Jackson.
It was no masterpiece offensively, though Spruce Creek got a pair of touchdown catches from do-it-all receiver Tony Kinsler in the second half, giving it plenty of breathing room to survive the late 55-yard strike from the Tigers’ King Johnson to Sylvester Miller. But as Price said, it's nice having four wins “in the bank”.
And he knows his defense has been money.
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“Those guys, man, they play great ball,” Price said. “And we needed them to play great.”
Indeed, the Hawks led just 7-0 after an ugly half for both sides. The teams combined for just 90 yards of offense in the first two quarters while punting a combined 10 times and being flagged for 15 penalties.
A pair of muffed punts in the second half set the Hawks up for both of their touchdowns. The first came on an in route as Kinsler caught a driving throw from Luke Smith and slipped a handful of tackles, running 46 yards to the end zone. The second was an over-the-shoulder grab in the fourth quarter to put the Hawks up 21-0.
The Tigers fell to 1-3 and have been held to seven points or less in all three defeats. Still, it reversed a 35-6 AJ win last season, and Price wasn’t about to minimize the importance with a tough stretch of six games to close the year starting next week.
“I know they’re not the same team and neither are we, but that was a great win for us to get,” Price said. “Already having four games in the bank in the first four weeks is pretty big. Proud of the kids for being where we’re at right now.”
Here are three takeaways from the Hawks’ fourth win in four tries to start the 2023 campaign.
Deondre Hill makes two game-changing TFLs
Yet again, the aforementioned Spruce Creek defense rose to the occasion when it was needed most, this time, spearheaded by back-to-back huge plays from junior linebacker Deondre Hill.
After Kinsler’s third-quarter touchdown made the score 14-0, Andrew Jackson put together its best drive of the game, capitalizing on a big kick return and driving from midfield to the Spruce Creek 1 on nine plays. With the game, and the scoreless streak, still hanging in the balance, Hill burst through the line on second-and-goal and buried Johnson for a 4-yard loss. And for good measure, he did it again, sprinting in and upending Johnson a second time, this time for a loss of 7 yards.
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Suddenly facing fourth-and-goal from the 12, the Tigers' offense stayed on the field, but Johnson’s pass attempt was knocked down in the end zone by Rajee McKinney, ending the threat and preserving the lead.
“Really, I just study my opponents and execute every play and want to preach to my team to execute every play as well,” Hill said. “It’s great. Just a lot of teamwork. Tough practices to prepare for tough games and situations like that.”
All told, the Creek defense allowed just 136 total yards and just eight yards rushing on 25 carries. Nine of those rushes went for negative yardage.
Tony Kinsler bides his time
Kinsler led the Volusia-Flagler area in receptions (20), receiving yards (376) and receiving touchdowns (five) entering Friday night but was held in check in Friday’s first half, running twice for 14 yards and catching just one pass for six markers.
But instead of checking out, Kinsler stayed locked in, and when he got his chance in the third quarter, he made it count. Catching the ball on the right hash, Kinsler worked back across the field to his left, shedding three tacklers and outrunning a fourth to the pylon to give the Hawks some room to breathe. His next touch was a nifty catch near the back of the end zone for a 12-yard scoring grab. He finished with 76 yards on four receptions.
“I just keep doing my job, even when the ball’s not coming my way,” Kinsler said. “I keep blocking, try to help lift up my teammates and just keep my head on a swivel at all times.”
Smith finished 8 for 13 for 114 yards passing and scored on a 4-yard run to account for the only points in the first half.
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Spruce Creek’s schedule is about to ramp up
Though Price and the Hawks will enjoy the 4-0 start, the teeth of the team’s schedule will begin to bite this week.
Spruce Creek’s remaining six opponents have a combined 17-3 record, starting with a home date against unbeaten Lake Mary (3-0) on Friday. Beyond that, a pivotal district game against DeLand, a trip to Atlantic Coast and then back-to-back, season-deciding district tilts at University and against New Smyrna Beach. The Titans and Barracudas are a combined 7-0.
These are facts not lost on Price, yet it’s a challenge he’s looking forward to seeing his team meet head on.
“Let’s go play somebody like that. Let’s see what we can do. Let’s see if we can get better by playing somebody that good and play on a fine line, an edge and maybe we’ll surprise ourselves,” Price said. “I’m just glad we got this one in the bank because it would’ve been one that got away if we did not.”
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Spruce Creek football downs Andrew Jackson 21-6, moves to 4-0
