Middleburg falls to St. Augustine

By GARRY SMITS

Florida Times-Union

Rashard Hall gave St. Augustine more than a spark after a slow first quarter Friday at Middleburg.

The senior wide receiver/defensive back changed the entire game.

Hall caught two touchdown passes from quarterback Kawaun Jakes and set up another score with an interception - all in the second quarter. He then returned an interception 77 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter to lead the Jackets over the Broncos 38-7 at Bronco Stadium.

The Jackets (4-0) led only 3-0 after the first quarter as Middleburg (3-2) appeared to be riding the emotion of three victories in a row to give the state's No. 2-ranked Class 3A team a handful.

However, Marlon Williams scored a 54-yard touchdown on a weaving, tackle-breaking run, and Jakes found Hall for touchdown passes of 30 and 12 yards on St. Augustine's next two possessions.

Hall then set up an 11-yard TD pass from Jakes to Carlton Lewis with an interception and 24-yard return. The TD pass gave the Jackets a 31-0 halftime lead.

There was only one more score for the Jackets, but it was one for the highlight films. Hall intercepted a deflected pass from Makensy Gede at the St. Augustine 23 and went the distance for his third touchdown of the game.

"We were in man-to-man and I was playing off the receiver," Hall said. "The ball popped up and came right to me. The linebackers did a good job blitzing and forcing the throw, and then everybody blocked for me."

St. Augustine coach Joey Wiles said Hall will continue his double-duty as long as he's effective.

"We run these kids a lot, so he's in shape," Wiles said. "He's something else. Those were some tremendous plays."

Middleburg scored on the first play of the fourth quarter on a 13-yard scoring pass from Tony Cannaday to Chase Weiskopf. They also held the Jackets' offense off the board in the second half.

"When you're down like we were, it's easy to come back out in the second and all of a sudden, it's 60-0," said Middleburg coach Rob Justino. "But we fought back pretty well."

"When you're down by four touchdowns in the fourth quarter and you're still flying around to the ball, you're showing something," Wiles said of Middleburg. "They're going to beat some people."