FORT PIERCE – There was a feeling that this year’s Fort Pierce Showdown – also known as Showdown 43 – would come down to the final seconds this past Friday night (Oct. 21) at Lawnwood Stadium.
In a sense, the Fort Pierce Central-Fort Pierce Westwood rivalry game certainly lived up to the hype that came with it.
Up 19-12 with less than four minutes left in the game, the Cobras (2-6; 0-3 in District 12-4S play) were facing a situation that could have resulted in them losing their Fort Pierce Showdown trophy to the Panthers (5-3; 1-1 in District 11-3S play).
Here is what happened.
As Fort Pierce Westwood’s offense was going down the field, they saw a scoring opportunity present itself to them at the Fort Pierce Central 6-yard line.
With 3:44 left to be exact, Panthers junior athlete Todd Jackson found an open Jaylyn Monds, who caught the short pass and raced right to the end zone.
The score is now Fort Pierce Central 19, Fort Pierce Westwood 18.
A big decision by Fort Pierce Westwood head coach Chris Kokell came right up.
Extra point or two-point conversion?
Kokell went for two and the lead. He went for it.
Fort Pierce Central head coach Mike Watkins had his defense ready for the two-point conversion.
On the ensuing play, Jackson seemed to have found a receiver available for the game-changing catch in the end zone, which would have given Westwood its first lead of the game.
But Fort Pierce Central senior defensive back Jamari Tullis stepped right in he front of the receiver and put an extra level of effort in for the game-deciding interception at the end zone.
This play ultimately preserved Fort Pierce Central’s 19-18 win over Fort Pierce Westwood.
“Lots of ups and downs,” Watkins said. “Hard fought as it seems to always be in these games, at least the last two years. I’m really proud of our guys. Westwood played very hard. They should hold their heads high. We just got one more than they did.”
Watkins spoke specifically on the two-point conversion play.
“We just decided that we were going to play it soft,” Watkins said. “Obviously, we’re back up there. So we brought the pressure in their face a little bit and we were able to get in the backfield. I think it disrupted the throw a little. But it was close. Really, really close game.”
While the two-point conversion proved to be the deciding play on the scoreboard, both teams knew the game itself was not really decided until it reached the 15-second mark.
How so?
Fort Pierce Central would get the ball back and drive down the field on offense in the final three-plus minutes. In an effort to run the clock out, the offense took its time in getting plays off.
But with 15 second left, the Cobras had to punt to the Westwood.
Senior punter and kicker Tyler Patterson had a field goal blocked at the buzzer to end the first half – Fort Pierce Central’s lead was 12-6 over Fort Pierce Westwood at halftime.
Both teams legitimately thought a blocked punt was possible. If this scenario happened, it could set up a potential Westwood win at or close to the final buzzer.
But Patterson ended all hope for Westwood’s dream of a fantastic finish, as he avoided the punt block attempt and pinned the opposition down to around its 10-yard line.
“I think its speaks to him a lot,” Watkins said of Patterson. “The one before that, it didn’t go our way. It went off the side of his foot. I told him he was a little in his feelings right there. I knew we were going to need him. Our snapper stepped up big. The protection was great. And Tyler boomed it once, so that was huge.”
From there, a mini-push toward the end zone ensued for Westwood. With one play on offense to get it done, Westwood completed a pass but a host of Central defenders corralled the runner for a game-ending group tackle near the 40-yard line to preserve the one-point win.
“I’m just proud of the kids,” Watkins said. “Good to get a win.”
SIDE NOTE: With the game tied at 12-12 early in the fourth quarter, Cobras senior running back Malankov Daceus used his bruising running style and powered his way to the end zone on a 12-yard run.
At the 9:55 mark, Patterson connected on an extra point to give the Cobras the 19-12 lead.
Fort Pierce Central retained the Fort Pierce Showdown trophy after coming out on top in Showdown 42 last season by a score of 29-28 in overtime on Monday, Oct. 11, 2021.
