- April 26, 2024
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Senior-to-be Caden Gonzalez was the primary quarterback at Flagler Palm Coast’s intrasquad scrimmage. But he was off limits as far as getting hit.
In fact, until he played in the Bulldogs’ spring game at Jacksonville Riverside on May 25, Gonzalez had never been tackled wearing pads in a football game.
“Caden played flag football growing up,” new FPC coach Daniel Fish said. “This was the first time he got tackled in a football game, and he was a little nervous. The second play of the game, he took a big hit, and he was rattled for the next couple of drives. But he settled down and made big plays when it mattered.”
Gonzalez recovered to throw two touchdown passes as the Bulldogs defeated Riverside 20-19.
It was a great finish for us, an awesome experience. It was a huge confidence boost for the coaches and the team.” DANIEL FISH, FPC football coach
Gonzalez and receiver Cody Newton connected on the biggest play of the game — a 15-yard touchdown pass on fourth down with 7:30 left to tie the score at 19-19. Chase Magee’s extra-point kick put the Bulldogs ahead for good.
Defensive end Colby Cronk had the game-clinching sack in the waning moments.
“It was a great finish for us, an awesome experience,” Fish said of the back-and-forth battle in his debut game with the Bulldogs. “It was a huge confidence boost for the coaches and the team. Not a lot of people were expecting much from us. We played a really talented team, and we competed the whole way.”
With 2022 starting quarterback D.J. Murray and backup Cole Walker both transferring, rising freshman Mike London Jr. took most of the snaps at quarterback in spring practice. Gonzalez joined the team in the second week and got better every day, Fish said.
London was ineligible to play in a full-contact game because he was still an eighth grader, so Gonzalez was the next man up. Going into the summer, it’s now his job to lose, Fish said.
The Bulldogs were also down to their fourth-string running back. Starter Marcus Mitchell is out 6-8 weeks with a grade two hamstring strain, and the backups were also hurt or unavailable.
Jai’quan Grimes filled in and scored the first touchdown of the game on a 55-yard run. Gonzalez hit Grant Winkler with a 40-yard touchdown pass that gave the Bulldogs a 13-12 halftime lead.
The defense, which lost several starters to graduations and transfers, played well, Fish said. Defensive tackle Charley Perry had two sacks and a forced fumble and defensive end Ethan Laupepa also had a sack, while safety Zyquan Neal intercepted a pass and recovered a fumble.
“We came together in the toughest moments and we grinded it out,” Fish said. “We could have made all the excuses, but instead we found a way. It was a true team win.”
