FORT PIERCE – Nick Clements turned the Fort Pierce Central High School flag football defense over to Cody Neese a year ago.
“He came on last year and started to get his fingers on it,” said Clements, the Cobras head coach. “And this year he kind of made it his own.”
While he doesn’t always agree with the philosophy of the defense, and lets Neese know about it, Clements has accepted it.
“It’s so complex, I couldn’t really tell you,” Clements said of the key to the defense. “He’s very versatile. We’ve got different girls in different positions moving everywhere. It makes me highly uncomfortable, but it works.”
Fort Pierce Central’s defense turned in one of its finest efforts of the season in a 20-6 victory over Jupiter High in the Class 4A-District 11 championship game at the Cobras field.
“That’s a huge testament to Coach Cody,” Clements said. “I give him a hard time. I know he’s got to be tired of it. But I know he’s doing a good job.”
It is the fourth straight district title for Fort Pierce Central, which has allowed 8.4 points per game this season.
“I’m very proud of him and the girls buying into that unique philosophy,” Clements said. “The defense carried us the whole season.”
Racking up the statistics
Winners of five straight, the Cobras (11-5) put on a defensive display, notching four interceptions and recording a safety while allowing one touchdown.
It did take a while for Fort Pierce Central to become a cohesive defensive unit.
“We’ve been kinda complacent throughout the season,” junior Naelah Breary said. “We just need to lock in especially after our last game which was kinda sloppy.”
Breary set the tone early. With the third-seeded Warriors receiving the first possession, she pulled flags on the first four plays of the game.
“Yeah definitely,” Breary said. “Set the tone.”
Finishing with a team-high nine flags, Breary also recorded the first takeaway of the game with an interception on Jupiter’s second possession. She also had another pick nullified by a penalty.
“It’s just connecting and being able to trust each other,” Breary said. “We have some hard time doing that. But when we really practice all the effort goes into that.”
Freshman Stephania Edmond had a quarterback pressure and a sack on fourth down in the fourth quarter to stop a Warriors’ drive.
Sophomore Erin Boyd picked up an interception and a safety in the first quarter to increase the Cobras’ lead to 8-0.
Senior Karla Timothy notched a pass break-up, picked off a pass and pulled three flags. Senior Kali Daniels pulled seven flags. Sophomore Kailee Grone grabbed four flags and had a pick.
“The key to the defense is fly around, have fun and pull flags,” Grone said. “We had a couple good games this season, but this is one of our best ones.”
Grone a two-way standout
In addition to being a factor on defense, Grone also doubles at quarterback for Fort Pierce Central.
Being behind center and knowing and understanding the offensive strategy helps Grone on the defensive side.
“I like playing defense better,” she said. “Defense is just easier for me. Since I play quarterback I can just read. I’m thinking what the quarterback is thinking. I don’t really need to see what is going on; I can feel and know what’s going on. I can just react.”
After stopping a middle screen on fourth down to turn the ball over to the offense, Grone completed three straight passes, all to sophomore Ayanna Robertson-Tommie for a touchdown and the early 6-0 lead.
“For quarterback, it’s my coach,” Grone said. “He helps me. He shows me a lot of stock film, so we know what we are up against. Once we are on the field, I just have to execute, read the players and make the throws and hope they catch it.”
Up 8-0 in the second quarter, the Cobras tacked on to their lead before halftime. Grone connected with top receiver Timothy, who made a diving catch in the end zone. For Timothy, who came in with 62 catches for 959 yards, it was her first catch of the game on her second target and 11th touchdown of the season.
Grone has a unique side-arm motion of throwing, one that benefited her on the throw to Timothy.
“I’ve been told,” she said. “Sometimes it’s harder. It depends on the rush. Other times it gets me out of a jam, so it’s a love-hate relationship I have with it.”
After Jupiter (13-4) closed to within 14-6 in the third quarter, top-seeded Fort Pierce Central closed it out. Following Edmond’s sack, Grone completed a couple of passes before scrambling into the end zone to put the Cobras up 14.
“She’s a kid you love to coach,” Clements said of Grone. “She loves football. She played tackle her whole life growing up. She’s got such a good IQ. She’s got great energy. She’s out there picking up her teammates. She throws it all on the line. She’s giving everything she’s got. It’s such a positive experience coaching someone like Kailee. That person at quarterback makes such a difference.”
In her first year at quarterback for the Cobras, Grone had big shoes to fill, replacing four-year starter Adrienne Rivera, now playing at Keiser University in Fort Lauderdale.
“She stepped right in and got our offense still producing,” Clements said of Grone, who went 17-for-29, ran eight times and was sacked twice. “At the beginning of the game she was a little shaky. But then she said I’m going to take this over, and she did.”
Moving onto the regionals
Clements thought he might have overscheduled with such a young team. The eighth-toughest schedule in the state could prove beneficial heading into regionals.
The Cobras will be home for the regional quarterfinals Wednesday against an opponent yet to be determined.
Fort Pierce Central is ranked 25th overall in the state and 12th in 4A, according to the latest Florida High School Athletic Association rankings.
In 2024, the Cobras won the regional title but lost in the Class 2A state quarterfinals. Fort Pierce Central reached the regional final a year ago. Both years it was eliminated by Wellington.
“I’m hoping we can get to states, but we have to take it one day at a time,” Breary said. “Just give effort and energy.”
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Fort Pierce Central flag football wins fourth straight district title
Reporting by Dennis Maffezzoli, Special to The Post / Treasure Coast Newspapers
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
