Port St. Joe, Pryor run past Franklin County (See Homecoming photos)
PORT ST. JOE — Port St. Joe’s Calvin Pryor can hurt an opponent in a variety of ways. The junior demonstrated many of them Friday night against Franklin County.
Pryor had a hand in five consecutive Port St. Joe touchdowns, one each receiving, rushing and passing as well returns of an interception and a punt, as the Tiger Sharks shook off a slow start to subdue a young and feisty Seahawk team 47-20 in District 2-1A.
The Tiger Sharks improved to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in district. The Seahawks are 2-3 overall and 0-1.
Pryor turned a physically entertaining struggle into a romp during the middle two quarters.
With a pair of perfectly executed gimmick plays, Franklin County kept the score close through most of the first 24 minutes. Pryor and the Tiger Shark rushing attack, which amassed more than 280 yards, were the difference from the 10:34 mark of the second quarter.
It was at that stage that Pryor took a dump pass in the left flat from Trubias Hill, who alternated with Pryor at quarterback. Pryor made it a 41-yard pass and run for a touchdown by slipping from the grasp of three tacklers while sprinting down the left sideline.
Daniel May’s extra point kick made it 21-7. The Seahawks used a long kickoff return by Trakel Turrell to set up a four-play, 56-yard drive, D.J. Lane busting over left guard from the Port St. Joe 18 to score.
Elton Olvera’s extra point kick made it 21-14, but Franklin County would get no closer.
The Tiger Sharks took the ensuing possession 57 yards in seven plays, Pryor hitting Hill from 24 yards for the touchdown and May making it 28-14.
Port St. Joe then went 69 yards in six plays, the last a 46-yard scamper by Pryor. He appeared to be stopped on an option keeper to his right, only to wriggle free from two tacklers, cut back and out-run the pursuit.
The Tiger Sharks led 34-14 at halftime and held a 334-111 edge in yardage.
“With an open week (which Port St. Joe had last Friday) you never know what you are going to look like,” said Port St. Joe coach Vern Barth. “We did come out a little sluggish, but I think we found our rhythm as the game went along and played well overall.
“And with No. 3 (Pryor), you never know what is going to happen.”
Pryor was the game’s leading rusher with 98 yards on 12 carries and 2 for 3 for 46 yards passing. He dominated the third period without touching the ball on offense.
On the opening series of the second half, the Seahawks were three-and-out and Pryor handled the resulting punt at his 45. He sprinted to his right to pick up a block and went untouched to the end zone.
“That was a play we just put in on Wednesday,” Barth said.
Less than three minutes later, Pryor intercepted Dalin Modican in the middle of the field at the Tiger Shark 46 and used his speed to go the distance.
The Seahawks converted the first of two Port St. Joe second-half fumbles — the only turnovers in the game for either team — into a 61-yard drive capped by Turrell’s 1-yard touchdown run.
“We battled, the kids refused to give up,” said Franklin County first-year coach Josh Wright. “We gave them a fight and we did it the right way, we acted right, we played the right way.
“We grew up tonight. We have a lot of young kids and they played hard tonight and played hard against a tough team.”
