Bartram Trail-Seabreeze: Laython Biddle runs for four TDs, QB injury doesn't derail Bears
ST. JOHNS — With star senior quarterback Riley Trujillo sidelined by a balky right knee, Bartram Trail unleashed a furious rushing attack Friday night, giving new coach Cory Johns a 55-0 victory over Daytona Beach Seabreeze in his home opener at Bears Stadium.
Bartram (2-0) rushed for 275 yards, most of that in the first half before there was a running clock in the second half. Senior running back and Navy commit Laython Biddle had four scores, all in the first half from the wildcat formation. Sophomore speedster Arthur Lewis had 89 yards and a touchdown on just five carries. Rookie starting quarterback Jaden Weatherly stepped in with 169 yards total offense.
The Seabreeze (0-2) rushing attack went the other direction in falling behind 42-0 at the half, totaling only 20 yards on the ground for the night. The Sandcrabs threatened to score twice, ending a first-half drive with a missed field goal and a second-half drive turning the ball over on downs.
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“This place is very special — from the band to the student section to the people in the end zone and our administration,” Johns said. “I’ve been the head coach at two other schools and everywhere isn’t like this. I’ve told these kids many times it’s a privilege to play in front of this crowd.”
Trujillo, a UFC commit, injured his right knee near the end of last week’s 20-17 win at Ponte Vedra and wore a brace on his right knee for Friday’s game. He said it was a minor injury and Johns indicated medical staff are keeping a close eye on when Trujillo can return to action, possibly as soon as next week at home against Daytona Beach Mainland or Sept. 22 at St. Augustine.
“He just tweaked his knee a little bit,” Johns said. “We’re gonna go with what the doctors say and go from there.”
In his place stepped Weatherly, a sophomore and the younger brother of former Bears star back Eric Weatherly, who transferred from Duke this summer and was scheduled to start for Bucknell at wide receiver in its season opener at James Madison on Saturday night. Friday’s game was Weatherly’s first career varsity start for Bartram and he had a game-high 92 yards rushing and a 55-yard touchdown pass to Joey Davoli.
Johns’ first home game
Johns took over the Bartram Trail program this summer after Darrell Sutherland retired. Johns is only the second head coach in Bears history.
Johns had knowledge about the Bartram Trail program since he grew up an hour south in neighboring Putnam County (Interlachen High School) and played quarterback at Jacksonville University and Webber International University through 2008.
Sutherland started the program in 2000 when the school in northwest St. Johns County opened. He remains at the school as a Language Arts teacher.
New Seabreeze coach
New Mainland coach Lester Davis had a long talk with his team after Friday’s loss to Bartram.
“We’re all frustrated that we didn’t produce or execute the way we wanted to,” said Davis, who was Mainland’s defensive coordinator last season and returned to coach his alma mater. “They’re good, and we felt like we could play with them, but we just didn’t show up tonight.”
Junior quarterback Hayden Hayes had the best game offensively for Seabreeze. He passed for 93 yards, including a 61-yard pass to Chandler Mitzo in the first quarter, but was hounded by Bartram’s pass rush. Sophomore defensive back Denzel Shropshire stopped a Bartram first-half drive with an interception in the end zone.
Daytona double
Bartram Trail is going for consecutive Daytona Doubles with home games against Seabreeze on Friday and next week vs. Mainland. Bartram won 38-27 at Seabreeze and 17-3 at Mainland last season, both games in Daytona Stadium.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: High school football 2023: Seabreeze Sandcrabs-Bartram Trail Bears
