Ponte Vedra Hosts St. Augustine for District Title

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A district championship and a homefield playoff berth will be at stake when a proven football power, the St. Augustine Yellow Jackets visits the Shark Tank Friday, Oct. 25 to battle the Ponte Vedra Sharks.

 

Even the most optimistic followers of Ponte Vedra football could not have envisioned the success the young squad has achieved seven games into the 2019 season.

 

A multitude of questions faced this year’s Shark team even before the whistle blew at the first practice on a steamy morning in early August. To say that the Sharks would be in a rebuilding mode was a vast understatement. Missing from a team that posted a successful 8-3 record were their top 4 receivers on offense and 9 of their leading tacklers on defense.  All this and the 2019 Sharks were jolted when their popular and highly successful coach, Matt Toblin, suddenly left the program to take over the reins at Bolles.

 

Ponte Vedra Athletic Director Eric Frank may have hit the jackpot in new hire Jeff DiSandro. The former offensive coordinator at Bishop Kenny and a Schaumberg, Illinois native, has overcome numerous setbacks to post a current record of 6-1 that has moved the Sharks to a lofty ranking among North Florida elevens.

 

But no one could have foreseen DiSandro’s biggest fear when the Sharks lost their 2-year veteran quarterback, and Division 1 prospect, Jacobi Meyers for the year on the first offensive drive of the season.  Even more unlikely was the impact his backup RJ Glod would have on this team. Suddenly thrust into a starting role as the pilot directing this ship, Glod had attempted but 21 passes in his entire high school career, and none in his junior season.

 

However, following Ponte Vedra’s smashing 61-7 victory in their last game against Englewood, Glod was leading all Northeast Florida quarterbacks in passing yardage.

 

St. Augustine will come to the Shark tank with an overall 5-3 record against some very tough competition.  Coach DiSandro has high praise for the Yellow Jackets. “St. Aug is a very good football team and has a very good program,” he said. “They do some things scheme wise in all three phases that we will have to be ready for.  They have a number of talented players who consistently makes plays for them game in and game out.  From top down, both coaches and players, we have a tremendous amount of respect for them and expect nothing other than a hard fought four quarter type of football game.”

 

With a huge crowd expected for the game, fans are encouraged to arrive early for this important clash to avoid long waits in line for tickets as well as parking. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.  Fans unable to attend can watch the game on the internet by logging onto Facebook and typing in Sharks Football in the search box.