P.K. Yonge weathers storm, knocks off previously undefeated Keystone Heights

Though teams all around the state were canceling their season finales due to Friday night's inclement weather, the thought of not playing never crossed the minds of Keystone Heights and P.K. Yonge head coaches Charles Dickinson and Kevin Doelling, respectively.

"I played in worse weather than this," Dickinson said. "I couldn't imagine not playing."

Though the implications of the game were minimal considering the teams aren't in the same class, both teams had a lot to prove.

While P.K. Yonge was looking to spoil Keystone Heights' perfect 9-0 start to its regular season, the Indians were hoping for a statement win to silence the naysayers who challenge the strength of their schedule.

"In a game like this, when we've got the wind and the rain and the conditions, that favors Keystone," Doelling said. "We've got to persevere. We can't be concerned with whatever else is going on. You line up, you play football and the best man will win."

And by game's end, it was the Blue Wave who succeeded in its mission, knocking off Keystone Heights 33-14 at P.K. Yonge's Booster Stadium.

Devin Pedro, early scoring pace Blue Wave

After P.K. Yonge forced Keystone Heights to turn the ball over on downs after senior quarterback and defensive back AJ Small broke up sophomore quarterback Conner Guy's pass in the end zone, the Blue Wave began to chip away at the 80-yard field it was dealt.

The AJ Small-piloted offense drove 76 yards down the field on seven plays before junior running back Devin Pedro punched the ball in from four yards out to get the Blue Wave on the scoreboard. The short touchdown rush was set up by a 41-yard scamper from Pedro just two plays prior.

Pedro would go on to score his second touchdown of the night on P.K. Yonge's next drive, which happened after the Indians second possession traveled just 17 yards before fizzling at their own 37-yard line.

A 32-yard smoke screen from Small to Devin Pedro's senior brother, Cameron, would set up a 15-yard touchdown rush for Devin Pedro, giving P.K. Yonge a 14-0 advantage early in the second quarter.

"Man, those Pedro brothers," Doelling began. "Devin is explosive when he has the ball in his hands. He had a 65-yard touchdown last week against Providence. Obviously the two big plays on offense and the interception this week... He's a playmaker."

Devin Pedro finished his night with three carries for 60 yards and two scores.

The Blue Wave would add another pair of scores in the first half with an 88-yard drive capped off by a 1-yard touchdown rush from senior KJ Wooden, followed by a 57-yard touchdown pass from Small to junior Jaren Hamilton.

Small finished the night 6-for-11 through the air, good for 151 yards and a touchdown. He also added 107 yards on the ground, including a 58-yard house call in the fourth quarter.

Turnovers trouble the Indians

As rain fell from the Gainesville sky on and off all night, the teams struggled to take care of the football and stay on their feet.

But it was the Indians who did a majority of the struggling as they gave up three uncharacteristic turnovers.

"We turned the ball over one time all year until tonight," Dickinson said. "Normally we've been taking balls. We had one, I think, tonight. But usually we've been getting turnovers."

While P.K. Yonge's opening four drives ended in touchdowns, Keystone's opening four drives ended in a turnover on downs, a punt and then back-to-back turnovers.

The Indians first turnover ended a well-sustained drive that had the Blue Wave on their heels at their 13-yard line. However, after Guy connected with senior running back Tyler Jenkins, Jenkins fumbled the football and P.K. Yonge recovered.

On Keystone Heights' consecutive possession, the Indians ran just two plays before Guy's pass was intercepted by Devin Pedro, gifting the ball back to the Blue Wave at the P.K. Yonge 43-yard line.

Guy finished the night 4-for-9, good for 49 yards and an interception.

As the rain began to pick up out of halftime, the Indians would commit their third turnover on their opening drive out of the break with a fumbled recovered by P.K. Yonge senior Chance Brinson.

Keystone's strong second half too little, too late

Dickinson told his team at halftime to approach the second half of Friday's game as if the score was 0-0.

And had the scoreboard turned off, you would have never guessed the Indians were trailing by 27 points.

After allowing the Blue Wave to score on each of its drives in the first half, the Indians' defense forced three straight stops to open the second half.

After stopping the Blue Wave offense for the third time, the Keystone offense finally orchestrated a scoring drive after marching 50 yards down the field and allowing senior running back Kade Sanders to punch it in from 17 yards out.

With a spurt of energy following the score, the Indians forced and recovered a fumble, allowing them to quickly add another score after driving 47 yards, capped off by a 15-yard touchdown rush from junior Jackson Williams.

Sanders finished with five carries, 33 yards and a touchdown; Williams finished with six carries for 58 yards and a touchdown; and senior Dalton Hollingsworth tallied 18 carries for 57 yards.

Weathering the storm was fun, but all eyes on the postseason

With both the Blue Wave and Indians posting winning records, both teams are expected to draw playoff games next Friday night.

For Keystone Heights, it's an opportunity to make history — again.

The Indians' 9-0 start to the season was the best in program history. And should Keystone Heights win its playoff game next week, it would be the first playoff win in program history.

"We told our kids to forget about this game," Dickinson said. "We've got a playoff game to play. So we've gotta get ready for that."

Meanwhile, for P.K. Yonge (7-3), Doelling's message was simple.

"I don't mean to be cliche," Doelling said. "But we ain't done yet. That's all I got."

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Devin Pedro lifts Blue Wave to win over undefeated Indians