By CHRIS BERNHARDT JR.
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BROOKSVILLE – On Wednesday night, Nature Coast hosted the first regional playoff game in the brief history of the program and ended it in memorable fashion.
The Sharks scored on a touchdown on a do-or-die possession in overtime, then converted the extra point after visiting Citrus failed to do so, pulling out a 13-12 victory.
“It feels amazing,” said Gia Valenti, who caught the game-winning extra point. “We’ve worked so hard for this, and we came from just the beginning to here now and it’s just amazing to work with these girls and being right here right now.
“We worked so hard, and this is our goal the entire season, and it feels great to have finally reached it,” said quarterback Madelyn DePetrillo, who ran in the OT touchdown.
Third-seeded Nature Coast (13-4), which had lost at sixth-seeded Citrus (9-8) 26-6 back on March 12, scored in the first quarter on a two-play drive that covered 45 yards. DePetrillo hit Emma Brown, who pitched it to Lainee Tackett for a 24-yard gain to just outside the Citrus 20 yard-line. Brown made a nice over-the-shoulder catch of a DePetrillo
pass down the left sideline for a 21-yard touchdown to make it 6-0.
The Sharks looked like they would add to that lead on their next possession, getting nearly to the goal line before a Gianna Eaderoso interception in the end zone. They got to practically the same spot on their ensuing drive, but the clock ran out in the first half.
Then the ’Canes, who had gotten down to the Nature Coast 4-yard line in the first half but were thwarted on back-to-back pass breakups by DePetrillo and Valenti, got the ball to start the third quarter and finally broke through.
Kendyl Hunnicutt hit Demi Williamson on a 19-yard pass on fourth down, then took it in herself from 9 yards out to tie the game at 6.
In the second half, the Sharks ran just one play in Citrus territory and that one ended on an interception by Williamson. Neither team could cash in on chances to score down the stretch, creating the need for extra time.
The ’Canes got the ball first, starting at the Nature Coast 10-yard line. A penalty brought it to the 5, and Hunnicutt threw a touchdown to Williamson on a slant over the middle, with Williamson twisting around and stretching the ball over the goal line as she dove forward. Brooke Grace tried to run up the middle on the point-after try, but her flags were snagged by Charlotte Brady.
Nature Coast likewise immediately got to the 5 on a penalty, and after two pass plays it was DePetrillo running to her left into the end zone.
On the extra point, the Sharks ran the same play but this time DePetrillo rolled left and threw to a wide-open Valenti to end the game.
“Honestly if Gia wasn’t there, she kind of went off of her route and thank God she did because if we didn’t that could have been a whole different play,” DePetrillo said. “But she made the right read and she got into the open spot, and it was just perfect timing.”
“The first play that she scored on, we ran the same play actually, and I just was wide open in the back,” Valenti said. “I was hoping that he would call the same play again because even though I just had a go finding that open spot, it was perfect. She’s our perfect quarterback. She knows where every ball has to go.”
The junior DePetrillo came into the game having thrown for 2,236 yards and 26 touchdowns and also running for seven scores.
“I challenged Maddy all season with never being too high or too low, staying level-headed, not being too high in the good moments, not being too low in the bad moments,” said Nature Coast head coach Ian Wald, who experienced playoff success as Springstead’s quarterback in the early 2000s. “And she and I both made a lot of mistakes today,
with some of my calls, some of her reads and throws. But she answered the call when she needed it most.”
The Sharks moved on to Monday’s semifinal at second-seeded Clay after surviving this battle with the Hurricanes who were also in regionals for the first time.
“Hats off to Citrus. They were outstanding. They were very well-coached today, very prepared and they made the plays,” Wald said. “They made a bunch of really good plays. Some of them just savvy plays, smart penalties to keep us from scoring.
“We had our backs against the walls. I was definitely nervous, but the girls weren’t as nervous as I was, and they executed. So, we couldn’t be any more excited.”
“… I’ll take a one-point victory. It’s not as fun. My heart don’t like it. But I’d like to keep going, I’m enjoying the ride.”
