Wakulla beats FAMU in finale

The Wakulla High football team came into Friday's game at FAMU High knowing it wouldn't be playing in the postseason next week, but the War Eagles still had plenty of motivation.

Looking to send its seniors out as winners — and carry some positive momentum into next season — Wakulla rolled into Bragg Memorial Stadium and closed out the season with a 35-20 win over FAMU High.

"It's hard playing that last game knowing you're not going to the playoffs, but credit to the seniors," Wakulla coach Scott Klees said. "What an unbelievable job they did sticking together, and they held this team together. I'm proud of them."

A pair of War Eagles seniors, quarterback Casey Eddinger and running back E.J. Forbes, led a bruising Wakulla rushing attack that piled up 312 yards. Forbes led the War Eagles with 87 yards on just 11 carries — all of them in the second half, while Eddinger added another 70 yards on the ground.

Eddinger also passed for 82 yards, including a 57-yard touchdown pass to Mikel Cromartie on the War Eagles' first possession of the game.

After extending its lead to 14-0, Wakulla seemed poised to run away with the contest. But a resilient Baby Rattlers squad — and a superhuman effort from running back Jordan Stanley — kept the game tight.

Stanley terrorized the War Eagles defense, rushing for 196 yards on 24 carries — good for an astounding 8.2 yards per rush. The senior scored his first of two touchdowns on the night late in the first half to cut the Baby Rattlers's deficit to eight at halftime.

FAMU High received the kick to begin the third quarter, and promptly marched down the field for a 59-yard drive that was capped by a 7-yard TD pass from Mike Melvin to Leonard Barrington.

"I saw a lot of sparks," FAMU High coach Ira Reynolds said. "This is a quality ball club we played tonight … in my opinion, there's not a team in Class 1B that can match up with Wakulla, North Florida Christian or Florida High, so it does prepare us (for the state playoffs."

Reynolds admitted that he had an eye on next week's playoff game at Hawthorne, and pulled a few defensive starters in the second half to minimize any chance of injuries.

Wakulla, however, had nothing but this week to play for, and the War Eagles' offense capped its season in style, putting up 21 points in a wild fourth quarter.

Willie Thomas, Lorenzo Randolph, and Antonio Kilpatrick all scored rushing touchdowns in the final period.

"It's the way it's supposed to be," Klees said of the season-ending victory. "I hope this will lead to great things for next year."