RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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After nearly three weeks practicing against each other, Pace and West Florida finally got to hit someone else when the two teams clashed for a kickoff classic on Aug. 13 at Patriots Stadium.
It was a chance for both teams to see which players’ strong offseasons carried over when the lights went on and for them to simulate things they can’t always do during practice, like kickoff coverage or going game speed for a full half in the stifling Florida humidity.
“It’s a gut check to see where we’re at,” Pace head coach Vance Smith said.
The freshmen teams played in the first quarter and the junior varsity in the second quarter before the varsity teams took the field for the entire second half. The Patriots won the varsity portion 20-0, getting three touchdowns from senior running back Makael Williams and holding the Jaguars offense to just one first down.
Pace will open at home against Fairhope, Alabama on Aug. 21, while West Florida travels to Walton the same night.
Here’s what else to know from the scrimmage.
Makael Williams picks up where he left off
Pace wasn’t exactly at full strength Thursday night. Senior quarterback Brooks Washington was in a boot, with junior Tyler Floyd getting the start. Junior linebacker Caden Shoemaker was wearing a knee brace and didn’t dress either. The Patriots are also trying to break in a nearly brand new offensive line, as only one starter up front got serious playing time a year ago.
Luckily for the Patriots, Williams looks ready to build off a 1,529-yard, 30-touchdown junior campaign. The South Alabama commit and reigning PNJ Offensive Player of the Year ran for over 100 yards and three touchdowns in a half in typical Williams fashion.
The 5-foot-10-inch tailback burst through holes when he had them, sometimes reversing the entire field before picking up a first down. He also battled to pick up yards, bouncing off defenders and never quitting on a run.
Williams even ran a few snaps as a wildcat quarterback, including a 20-yard touchdown off a direct snap, his second of the evening. When he wasn’t running the ball, he was blocking downfield too.
“I think he’s gotten a little bit faster than last year,” Smith said. “His body’s in a good place right now. Probably carried it too many times tonight, I didn’t really want him to run it that much, but Kael’s going to do whatever you need him to do. He blocks his tail off, he makes things happen when it’s not there.”
Char’son Floyd shows versatility in Pace debut
The Mercer commit was a swiss army knife for the Patriots in this preseason tuneup.
He was shifty returning punts, broke up a pass on a fourth down, then showed his quickness and lateral speed again by catching a screen pass and making a few defenders miss late in the scrimmage.
Arguably his best play of the night didn’t count, as he made a one-handed catch in the end zone on Pace’s opening drive, but was ruled out of bounds.
“He can make things happen,” Smith said. “He just loves the game of football and I’m excited for him to be a part of this and he’s doing great. He’s bought into the way we do things, he’s gotten stronger in the weight room and I’m just excited to watch his senior year.”
If Washington misses time to start the year, Pace will need a speedy threat to take some of the pressure off Williams, and Floyd fits the bill.
Young West Florida team thrown into fire
Jaguars head coach Wes Summerford likes to challenge his teams in kickoff classics. It gives him a measuring stick for where his teams are and a standard to chase as the season begins.
“I like to do this right off the bat, so they know,” Summerford said. “That’s what I explained to the kids after the game is we know where the bar is. You gotta get there and put it in your head to go to work.”
This year, that also meant baptism by fire for a lot of players against one of the best teams and toughest environments in the Panhandle. Senior Brayden Ellis was accurate when he had time. Sophomore Barron Latson and junior Messiah Reed split carries but had little space to run against Pace’s swarming defense.
The Jaguars special teams blocked a field goal and their defense didn’t make it easy for Pace on a couple drives before tiring out late.
West Florida graduated 23 seniors from a team that went 7-5 and advanced to the Region 1-3A semifinals in 2025.
“I was very proud of our defense,” Summerford said. “They played outstanding. I think our offense had a drive or two where they do really good things. But we gotta stop the drive killers. The penalties and the muffed snaps, we have to avoid that and you really have to avoid that against a team like Pace.”
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Takeaways for Pace and West Florida football from kickoff classic
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