'Yeah, that worked out': Stanton's Courtney Brown TDs spark FHSAA flag football playoffs
Courtney Brown's 65-yard catch-and-run touchdown, her second of the game, helped Stanton hold off postseason newcomer Menendez 24-12 in Wednesday's first round of the Florida High School Athletic Association Region 2-1A girls flag football playoffs.
"As soon as I got the ball in my hands, I was like, 'I've just got to go [to the end zone],' because they were kind of putting that pressure on us with that last score that they had," Brown said.
Two touchdowns from Dasani Newsome, including a length-of-the-field pick-six, had brought Menendez (10-4) back from 18-0 down in only its third season of competitive flag football.
It wasn't the first big moment of the night for Brown. With seven seconds left before halftime, she took a pitch after a short Menendez punt and raced from one sideline to the other, finding the end zone for a 12-0 lead.
"My tactic is usually to try to cut it back inwards, kind of keep them on their toes, and I saw the opening so I just accelerated into that," said Brown, who also scored 24 goals this year for Stanton's Gateway Conference-winning girls soccer team. "Yeah, that worked out."
Gabrielle Fajardo caught two touchdown passes for Stanton and Catherine Brewer collected three interceptions to help the Blue Devils (10-4) hold on.
Stanton next plays Tuesday at No. 1 seed Clay (11-1), which rolled 33-0 against Westside (7-6).
White (15-3) stretched its winning streak to eight games with a come-from-behind 18-7 victory over Ridgeview (6-9).
The Commanders, the Gateway Conference champions, play Tuesday at home against Paxon (13-3) after the Golden Eagles' 25-0 shutout of Raines.
Middleburg (9-5) scored 12 fourth-quarter points to rally 12-7 past No. 3 seed Bradford (8-2). The Broncos travel next to Florida High, which beat Suwannee 27-0.
Fleming Island, Fletcher advance in 2A
London Jenkins scored all three Fleming Island touchdowns, on a rush, a reception and an interception return, to lead the Golden Eagles past Mandarin 21-13 in Thursday's FHSAA girls flag football first round for Class 2A.
Devyn Dudones passed for a touchdown and Gabi Musa made an interception for the Golden Eagles (15-0), who have outscored opponents 332-90. Mandarin ends at 9-6.
Also advancing is Fletcher, which won 20-6 against Tallahassee Chiles.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: 2024 flag football playoffs: Northeast Florida FHSAA first round wins
