Florida High CELEBRATES first-round win of 2A playoffs vs Baldwin
Florida High defeated Baldwin 42-31 in the first round of the FHSAA Class 2A state tournament. Seminoles quarterback Jayme Miller scored four touchdowns.
- Sophomore quarterback Jayme Miller led Florida High to a 42-31 playoff victory over Baldwin with four touchdowns.
- The win snapped a four-game losing streak for the Seminoles, who are now 5-6 on the season.
- Florida High advanced to the second round of the FHSAA 2A state tournament.
- The Seminoles will next face the Bolles Bulldogs in Jacksonville.
He’s just a sophomore.
But that doesn’t matter.
Florida High quarterback Jayme Miller has balled out in the biggest moments of his football career thus far.
In his playoff debut, the 16-year-old diced up the Baldwin Indians’ defense with four touchdowns in the FHSAA Class 2A first round on Friday, Nov. 14.
“There were definitely nerves,” said Miller, who got his first start in August’s season opener versus Godby.
“I was a little nervous. Not as hype and energetic. Once we got things going and got momentum, I was more excited and energized.”
Behind Miller’s scores, the fourth-seed Seminoles (5-6) prevailed over the fifth-seed Baldwin (7-4) 42-31 at Mike Hickman Stadium in Tallahassee’s Southwood area. The Seminoles are a perfect 4-0 at home this season.
Miller tossed three touchdown passes, one apiece to Jaylan Lurry, Gabriel Miley, and Derrick Caldwell, and rushed 25 yards to the endzone.
Entering Friday, the young signal caller had completed 148 passes on 210 attempts for 2,122 passing yards, 19 passing touchdowns against five interceptions in 10 games. He added 37 carries for 182 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground.
“Coming out in the first half, there were a bunch of mistakes ― mental mistakes. And I came out in the second half and responded and played pretty well,” Miller recapped his performance versus Baldwin.
Florida High ends four-game losing streak in first-round triumph vs Baldwin
The Seminoles’ playoff opening victory over Baldwin ended a four-game losing streak.
Florida High hadn’t won a game since Oct. 3, a 40-38 triumph over Chiles.
The four-game skid saw Florida High fall by two or more possessions in three of those games.
“We’ve had to play through adversity all year long ― whether it’s been injuries and things that we couldn’t control,” Florida High head coach Jarrod Hickman told the Tallahassee Democrat. “The schedule’s been so challenging.”
It looked like the Seminoles turned a corner on Friday as they outscored Baldwin 28-21 in the second half. Florida High running back Mike Jones had two explosive touchdown rushes to put the game on ice.
“I’m proud of this group,” Hickman said. “It’s been the second half of some football games that we’ve had chances to win. And I certainly thought we came out and won the second half tonight, and that really helped us.”
Florida High advances to second round of FHSAA football 2A state tournament
Next for the Seminoles is a trip to Jacksonville.
They will face the Bolles Bulldogs (10-1) for the second round of the FHSAA 2A state tournament next Friday, Nov. 21, at 7:30 p.m., per MaxPreps.
“Just got to keep on,” Miller said. “I definitely think it’s winnable.”
Bolles hosted and walloped Walton on Friday, 63-13, for its eighth straight win of the season.
“Everybody knows Bolles across the state,” Hickman previewed the Sweet 16 matchup. “They’ve got an outstanding group of players, an outstanding coach, and you’ve got to go on the road. We’ve been in tough places this year. So, it’s really about us trying to come and play the best football we can play, get it to the second half, and see what we can do.”
Gerald Thomas, III is a multi-time award-winning journalist for his coverage of the Florida A&M Rattlers at the Tallahassee Democrat.
Follow his award-winning coverage on RattlerNews.com and contact him via email at GDThomas@Tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee.
