CLAY COUNTY, Fla. – Ridgeview had lost nine straight games to St. Augustine entering Friday night's home bout with the Yellow Jackets. Make it 10.
St. Augustine came out on top yet again, 45-27.
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"We really didn't know how we were going to be tonight," Jackets head coach Joey Wiles said. "We came out and battled. Offensively, we really moved the ball well. We were physical running. Our quarterback, our ninth-grader's really maturing, threw the ball well."
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St. Augustine went up 7-6 in the first half on a rushing touchdown. An interception return for a touchdown a short time later put the Jackets up 14-6.
It was 28-6 at one point, and Ridgeview narrowed the score to 31-13 at halftime. But the Black Panthers didn't have enough to close the gap in the second half.
Prior to kickoff, Ridgeview (1-2) head coach Tom MacPherson believed his team had a chance to break through with a win over the St. Johns County powerhouse.
"I think every night you come on camera, you got to say tonight's the night," said MacPherson, the only head coach in the Panthers' 14-year history.
MacPherson said he felt like there were some areas where his team could take advantage against the Yellow Jackets.
"They're always going to be a great football-coached team and they're always going to be in proper position, they're not going to make a lot of mistakes," he said. "You've got to come out and beat them. They're not going to beat themselves."
He was right about that.
MacPherson said he'll continue to put St. Augustine on the schedule, despite the outcome Friday night.
"I love playing them. I love playing his coaching staff. I love playing good programs," MacPherson said. "So if it's not tonight then I'll have another shot next year."
St. Augustine (2-1) plays in-county rival Bartram Trail next week.