Anna Newhoff
NCR Reporter
Two Nassau County teams won Friday night, placing them face-to-face this Friday to determine which team will play for a chance at a state championship.
The West Nassau Warriors beat the Umatilla Bulldogs 45-36 in the Atlantic Coast quarterfinals of the Sunshine State Athletic Association. Meanwhile, Fernandina Beach shut out Paxon 28-0. The Pirates will travel to West Nassau Friday for the second Warrior Field battle between the two county schools this fall. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
Against previously undefeated Umatilla, the Warrior offense put in the work to claim victory.
“Avery Griffin, Smo Green, and Skyler Freeman had a fantastic game,” Coach Gunnar Cox said. “We rushed over 500 yards.”
Griffin rushed for 171 yards in 14 carries, Green carried 13 times to complete 142 yards and Freeman rushed 189 yards on 12 carries. Senior Andi Ataiza had seven carries for a 59-yard total. Together, the four totaled 561 yards during the game.
Freeman, Green, and Griffin each scored two touchdowns for the team, and Ataiza added one. Green also added a conversion.
Defensively, senior Landon Scaff
and sophomore Josh Stafford both made nine tackles. Junior Nate Batrous had eight total tackles. Senior Brian Wheat sacked the quarterback and had six tackles.
The Warriors have one more hurdle to overcome to reach the state championship game. They host Fernandina Beach for the SSAA state semifinal. The teams battled during the regular season, with the Warriors winning 32-21.
Last year, the Warriors lost to the Pirates 24-21 in the first round of the playoffs and Fernandina went on to become state runner-up to Frostproof.
“I think what we are looking most forward to is, you know, last year they knocked us out. They beat us in the first round of the playoffs and we got in a fourth-quarter fight,” Cox said. “So, I think the big thing is we get our rematch.”
The Warriors plan to lock in and work on the small things before they face their county rivals.
“We’re going to be super focused this week. We’re going to try to do the little things right and come out with the W,” Cox said.
The Warriors hold an 11-1 record and are completing new feats.
“We’ve never been to the semifinal of any playoff for football, so this is already huge.”
While the Warriors have accomplishments to be acclaimed, they plan to focus on the game because they know that Fernandina is coming prepared.
“We will celebrate at the end of the season. Right now, we are focusing on this game and getting to the championship game,” Cox said. “We know Fernandina’s going to come out and they’re very well coached. Coach Blake Willis is a very good coach. Their staff knows what they’re doing. They’re going to be prepared, and we’ve got to be prepared as well.”
This is not just a milestone for the Warrior football team and staff, but the whole West Nassau community.
“You know, we are blessed to have small-town football out here, and you know, having the community behind our backs and filling up the stands,” Cox said. “It’s not just one person, you know, it’s the players, the coaches, the school, the admin, and the community. It’s the whole nine yards, and it’s been a blessing.”
The tickets are $12 per person online at https://tickets.gobound.
com/tickets/events/h20251026121
8280151024db6cf4a047/checkout.