Jensen Beach flag football can't recover from slow start in state semifinal defeat

In search of the program's first state championship game appearance, the Jensen Beach flag football team's reliable defense was overwhelmed at the wrong time.

Falling behind by 20 points at halftime, the Falcons found their footing in the second half but couldn't rally all the way back as Florida A&M DRS advanced to the FHSAA 1A state championship game with a 20-12 victory at Mandarin High School in Jacksonville.

Having allowed just six points in their previous seven games that included six shutouts, Jensen Beach struggled to contain the speed of the Baby Rattlers receivers from the start.

Quarterback Jade Dubose connected with Nicollette Arthur twice for touchdowns and once to Suraya Wash all in the first half to help build Florida A&M's lead to 20-0 seven minutes into the second quarter.

With the Falcons still trailing by the same margin late in the third quarter, Jensen Beach senior quarterback Ja'Shya Christie connected with Makayla Lowenbach for a 10-yard touchdown catch with 1:58 left in the quarter to make it 20-6.

In the fourth quarter Jensen Beach narrowed the gap on a one-yard Christie run to cut the lead to eight at 20-12 after an unsuccessful one-point conversion with 5:01 remaining on the clock.

Jensen Beach had one final opportunity with one minute remaining to stop the Baby Rattlers on a fourth and two at midfield, but Dubose hit Arthur for a first down that allowed Florida A&M to run out the clock.

Falcons head coach Aaron Gilbert felt his girls played tight at the start of the game and allowed the Baby Rattlers to get too comfortable.

"I talked to the girls at halftime and I said, look, I've got two goals, one, don't let them score again and two, let's get some points on the board and make it close at the end and see what happens," Gilbert said. "They did their best and that's all I can say. It's a special group of girls and it's been an honor to be their coach."

Christie threw for 108 yards to go along with her two touchdowns and Vanessa Queen had a team-high six catches as the two along with two-way standout Naiya Sawtelle were among seven Falcon seniors that competed in their final game. 

"For me, as a coach, it's always tough to say goodbye to your seniors but this particular group where I had some four-year girls that learned the game and became really, really good at it, it's tough to see them leave," Gilbert said. "That's the hardest part about losing is knowing I won't get to coach those girls again."