Pace senior defensive lineman Johnathan Jimenez dragged down Evans quarterback Derone Rogers for one final tackle at the final buzzer. One last fist pump from the University of West Florida commit and one last time mobbed by teammates.
A fitting way to end a dominant night for No. 3 Pace’s defense, which led the way in the Patriots 20-6 win over No. 6 Evans in the Region 1-6A quarterfinals on Friday night.
“Coming into it, there was many talks, getting disrespected and all of that,” Jimenez said. “We just gotta live up to it. I can’t take no disrespect and as a defense, we have your brotherhood and your together. I think we did that this game.”
Pace (10-1) will play at No. 2 Mandarin (10-1) in the Region 1-6A semifinals on Nov. 21. The Mustangs beat No. 7 Crestview 42-14 on Friday night.
Friday’s win had two constants. Flags throughout the game on both sides, and Pace’s relentless defense.
Pace didn’t shy away from the challenge. They knew Evans had an accurate quarterback in Rogers, a dangerous running back with a bevy of college offers in senior Li’Darious Pryor, and a big offensive line that could push people around up front.
The Trojans speed and athleticism were on a different level than the Patriots had seen in recent weeks, and liked to go up-tempo.
The first two drives it look liked their offense would be too much for the Patriots. Evans getting good push up front, opening up holes for Pryor and letting Rogers find receivers in space to make plays.
Both drives got into Pace territory, but Evans committed key penalties that led to fourth down stops on both drives.
On the first drive, an intentional grounding led to a fourth and 12, where Bowen Iorg tackled Rogers well short of the first down. On the second drive, a false start on fourth-and-1, led to a fourth-and-6 where Pace blew up a screen well short of the line to gain.
Two key plays not just to keep Evans on the board, but set the tone for how defensive coordinator Greg Revis wanted his group to play. The Patriots matched Evans tempo with relentless effort.
“Our guys said ‘we’re getting a little tired,” Revis said. “And I’m saying ‘well, they are too.’ But we’re in better shape, so they’re going to wear down. Just gotta keep the petal to the metal and good things will happen.”
Pace practices tempo on defense every Tuesday and Wednesday. With 75 players on the roster, they have enough players to have the defense practice against one scout team on the left hash, then sprint over and practice against another scout team on the right hash.
The Patriots prepared for Evans speed. They just needed time to settle in. The Trojans picked up five first downs on their first two drives and just six the rest of the game, with the last two coming in garbage time.
Jimenez, Bowen Iorg, Noah Hamlin, Caleb Curry and other made plays wherever they lined up. Pace started to stop more runs around the line of scrimmage. Rogers rarely had a clean pocket after the first two drives.
Pace defenders flew to the ball, supporting the initial tackler to make sure Evans couldn’t break free for a big play with sound help and physicality.
“That’s what we preach all the time,” Pace head coach Vance Smith said. “That we’ve got to be the most physical football team on both sides of the ball. I think our kids have rose to the challenge on that. We lift weights five days a week during the season and that’s kind of our mentality going forward.”
Everything else filled in around that effort. The Patriots scored just enough, with Tagg Strickenburger catching the Trojans defense off guard for a 77-yard touchdown in the first quarter, then Makael Williams punching it in from inside the five on the opening drive of the third quarter.
Pace did get bogged down in penalties like Evans in the second half, though the defense did force two turnovers. AJ Akins fumble recovery set up Pace’s last touchdown, a Makael Williams one-yard run with 1:02 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Since allowing 54 points in the first two games, Pace’s defense has allowed 86 points in its last nine games. They’ve been building to performances like this all season, feeling like they had a couple brief lapses along the way before dialing in against Milton and now Evans.
The Patriots know they’ll have to be cleaner and not be able to rely on another team’s self-inflicted wounds when they head to Mandarin in Jacksonville for the Region 1-6A semifinals.
But as the old saying goes, defense travels, and Pace has one that’s clicking as it makes the trip to Jacksonville looking for its first road playoff win since 2007.
“We challenged them a couple weeks ago to play with more emotion,” Smith said. “And I think you saw that tonight. That’s how you have to play defense. Just proud of our kids.”
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: How Pace football’s defense led the Patriots past Evans in FHSAA regional quarterfinals
Reporting by Justin Fitzgerald, Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
