Unbeaten Royals run past Saints

The unbeaten run toward the state high school football playoffs remains uninterrupted for The First Academy.

The host Royals (6-0) scored on their first six possessions at home Friday to outpace Trinity Prep 57-41 in a matchup of Class 3A, Region 2 rivals.

The teams combined for over 1,000 yards of offense and 14 touchdowns.

Spencer Fetter got Trinity Prep (3-2) to within 43-35 with under four minutes to play when he connected with Tommy Tight on a 24-yard TD pass.

But after recovering the onside kick, the Saints turned the ball over on downs before giving up a 51-yard touchdown run to Rolous Frazier on the very next play.

Frazier rushed for 204 yards and four scores and intercepted a pass early in the fourth quarter.

Owen Pifer ran for 96 yards and a touchdown and Parker Mara scored three times for TFA. Mara added 124 yards on the ground and had 61 through the air on three receptions.

Fetter finished 28 of 42 passing for 456 yards and six touchdowns as three Trinity Prep receivers eclipsed 100 yards.

“To put 57 points up on anybody, your offensive line has done a great job,” TFA coach Leroy Kinard said. “From the tight end Mike Shanahan on down the line, they’ve done a great job for us.”

It was the third close game of the season for the Royals after winning 34-27 in double overtime against Orlando Christian Prep and 26-24 at Clearwater Calvary Christian.

“These kids laugh and joke and clown around more than any team I’ve ever been associated with,” Kinard said. “The good side of that is that they never panic, and they never get stressed, and they just continue to play.”

First Academy entered the game as the top seed in the region with 42.6 points in the latest FHSAA playoff projections. Trinity Prep was ranked sixth with 34.5 points, more than three points behind No. 4 Melbourne Central Catholic.

The top four teams in points in each region in Class 4A through 1A make the state playoffs.

Trinity Prep kept pace with the Royals early on before a hit on Fetter jarred the ball loose and resulted in a diving interception near the line of scrimmage by Jordan Pierre.

Pierre also batted down a pass and had a sack in the first half.