12/06/2024
Good Luck Eau Gallie Commodores Football Team!
BSN 3A STATE SEMIFINALS BROADCAST PREVIEW: MIAMI NORTHWESTERN BULLS (10-2) AT EAU GALLIE COMMODORES (12-1) PRE-GAME 7:20, KICKOFF 7:30 LIVE FROM COMMODORES STADIUM ON BSN:
For the first time in program history the Eau Gallie High School football team will play in an FHSAA Football Final Four as the Commodores welcome in seven time state champions, the Miami Northwestern Bulls to Commodores Stadium.
The pregame show is at 7:20 with kickoff at 7:30 on BSN.
Eau Gallie comes into the game with just one loss this season at 12-1 while Miami NWST is 10-2.
The Commodores are led by several recent division one signees on defense in Brandon Brown (LSU), AJ Forehand (Duquesne) and Josh Roberts (FAU).
On offense, Eau Gallie will rely on a one-two punch at running back as recent D1 signee, University of Rhode Island commit, running back Tay Welch and recent Wagner University verbal commit, Emmanuel Small look to keep the Commodores on the field controlling the pace of play.
After just 59 combined rushing yards in their 35-0 regional quarterfinals win, Welch and Small racked up an impressive 421 combined yards and two touchdowns.
Each have power and speed as Small averages nearly eight yards (7.7) per carry and Welch picks up an average of six yards (6.1) per touch. They both flashed breakaway speed last week as Welch had a run of 49-yards and Small, 55-yards.
The Commodores also have junior Xavier Lherisse who leads the team in receiving yards, all-purpose yards, interceptions and touchdowns this season.
Lherisse has over 40 division one offers. At quarterback its Joseph Allen who was fantastic last week in his showdown against Bishop Moore’s Virginia commit, as the sophomore completed 13 passes for 151 yards and a big time touchdown into the teeth of a howling wind to DJ Maultsby.
Allen showed off his big arm on several key third down throws completing them for critical yards last week.
Speaking of DJ Maultsby, the 6’1” receiver, who picked up an offer this week, has 250 receiving yards and five touchdowns in three playoff games this postseason.
On Defense, Eau Gallie will need to continue to play disciplined assignment football as Miami Northwestern boasts a bevy of talented backs and receivers and head coach Teddy Bridgewater uses them all.
AJ Forehand, Josh Roberts and Caden Davis who have combined for 317 tackles, 64 tackles for loss and 23 sacks must keep the Bulls from reaching the next level of the defense.
Up front Brandon Brown will have his toughest test of the season but the future SEC defensive lineman has shown he’ll be up to the challenge.
MIAMI NORTHWESTERN:
Miami Northwestern led their regional final 28-0 in the first quarter scoring on a kickoff return touchdown, interception return touchdown, punt return touchdown and a long run from scrimmage as they went on to win 49-0.
The Bulls are averaging 60 points per game in the playoffs with wins over Barion Collier (69-0), Lely (64-12) and Cypress Lake (48-0).
On offense they are led by quarterback Leon Strawder who has 2,387 passing yards and 37 touchdowns this season. His receiving corps has six players over 118 yards, five over 200 and three with 500 or more receiving yards. The unit is led by No.6 Darius Johnson who has 681 yards and 8 scores and right behind him is No. 5 Calvin Russell Jr. who has 619 yards and 10 touchdowns.
The rushing leader is No. 9 King Davis who has 734 yards and 8 touchdowns. The Bulls have depth at running back too as three other players have 200 or more yards.
On defense the Bulls use speed in the backend and power up front to slow opponents. They’ll employ five to six defensive backs on most downs and dare you to beat them .
The Commodores Joseph Allen must protect the football and live to play another down when he has nothing open.
The Bulls are led on defense by Desmond Johnson who has 83 tackles and three interceptions. Deangelo Thompson has 10 sacks and Lineten Belizaire also has three interceptions.
TEAM INFORMATION:
EAU GALLIE 12-1, lone loss to Lincoln Tallahassee
ROAD TO FINAL4 EAU GALLIE
REG QTR: Defeated Crystal River 35-0
REG SEMI: Defeated Titusville 44-7
REG FINAL: Defeated Bishop Moore, 26-24
ROAD TO FINAL4 MIAMI NORTHWESTERN:
REG QTR: Defeated Barron Collier, 69-0
REG SEMI: Defeated Lely 64-1
REG FINAL: Defeated Cypress Lake, 48-0
HEAD COACHES:
Eau Gallie’s Chris Sands is in his seventh season. Sands Career record is 54-22. The former FAMU offensive lineman is 7-6 in the playoffs at Eau Gallie.
Teddy Bridgewater is in his first season at Miami Northwestern. Bridgewater, who attended and played at Northwestern, recently completed nine seasons in the NFL with Minnesota, New Orleans, Carolina, Denver, Miami and Detroit.
PLAYOFF HISTORY:
EAU GALLIE
PLAYOFF APPEARANCES: 9
Playoff seasons: 1995, ’98, ’13, ’18, '19, '20, '22, 23 & 2024 Playoff record: 8-8
MIAMI NORTHWESTERN Playoff History: 2024 3A District 16 Champions & 3A Region 4 Champions, Seven State Championships 1995, 1998, 2006, 2007, 2017, 2018 & 2019
Two Time state runner-up 2001 & 2008:
TEAM STATS:
Eau Gallie Offense:
31 points per game scored
114 rush yards per game
188 pass yards per game
304 total yards per game
Passing Td’s 26, Rush Td’s 17
Interceptions 12, fumbles lost 7
Eau Gallie Defense
9 Points per game allowed (5 shutouts this season)
101 Tackles for loss
23 QB Hurries
30 Sacks
Interceptions: 13 Fumbles Recovered 7
Commodores are a plus one in turnover margin.
Miami Northwestern Offense:
42 points per game scored
169 rush yards per game
202 pass yards per game
371 total yards per game
Passing Td’s 37, Rush Td’s 30
Interceptions 8 , fumbles lost 6
Miami Northwestern Defense
11 Points per game allowed (3 shutouts this season including 49-0 last week)
63 Tackles for loss
37 QB Hurries
25.5 Sacks
8 Interceptions: 6 Fumbles Recovered
Bulls are even in turnover margin.
Team Leaders:
Eau Gallie Offense:
QB Joseph Allen
138-239 (58%) 2,376 yards, 26 TD- 10 INT
RB Tay Welch
156 carries 958 yards (6 yards per carry), 9 TD
RB Emmanuel Small 54-416, 4 TD
WR Xavier Lherisse
53 catches 786 yards, 9 TD
WR DJ Maultsby 33-650 7 TD
Eau Gallie has five players with 122 or more receiving yards.
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS:
Eau Gallie Defense
Tackles AJ Forehand 111, Caden Davis 108 Josh Roberts 98
TFL’s Josh Roberts 29, AJ Forehand 26
Sacks Josh Roberts 14
INT’s Xavier Lherisse 6
Kicking Chase Karpowhich 34-41 on PAT’s, 8-10 on Field goals with a long of 37
Punting Xavier Lherisse 35 punts, 1,147 yards, 32.8 yards per punt, long of 51, 8 inside the 20:
Miami Northwestern Offense:
QB Leon Strawder 149-232 (64%), 2,387 yds, 37 TD’s, 8 INT’s, 200 Rush yds, 3 TD’s
RB King Davis 57-734 yds, 8 TD’s
RB Elijah Hardy 54-394, 6 TD’s
WR Darius Johnson 33-681, 8 TD’s
WR Calvin Russell Jr. 32-619, 10 TD’s
WR Nick Lennear 33-566, 9 TD’s
Miami Northwestern Defense
Desmond Johnson 83 Tackles
Roderic McFadden 7 TFL
Deangelo Thompson 10 sacks
Desmond Johnson 3 INT’s
Lineten Belizaire 3 INT’s
Kicking: Ethan Silva 8/8 EXP, 2-2 FG, Long of 24
No Punting Data Available:
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