Texas commit C.J. Baxter injured in Edgewater victory over Wekiva
APOPKA, FLORIDA – Chase Carter ran for a touchdown, Michael Clayton threw a touchdown pass, and defensive tackle Josh Alexander racked up six tackles to help the Edgewater Eagles edge Wekiva, 14-6, on Monday in a District 3-3Metro football game.
The victory may prove to be costly as Edgewater star C.J. Baxter, a Texas commit, left the contest early in the first quarter with an unspecified injury and did not return.
Following the game Edgewater head coach Cameron Duke declined to go into detail on they injury, only stating, "We'll get an update tomorrow. I don't have anything from that."
Carter put the Eagles ahead for good with a 79-yard touchdown run with 5:28 left in the first. On the play, he faked an out pass to Baxter before breaking through the Wekiva line for the touchdown.
Carter also left the game, early in the second quarter with a shoulder injury, but returned midway in the fourth. He finished with 99 rushing yards on nine carries.
“Everyone in the state is keying on C.J., when they watch film, when they play against us,” Carter said. “Using him just as a decoy, as a running threat is very useful to me.”
Edgewater starting quarterback Chase Carter rushed for a 79-yard touchdown in the first quarter. He was forced from the game with a shoulder injury in the second, but returned in the fourth quarter and finished with 99-yards rushing in the Eagles' victory.
Photo by Lynn Ramsey
However, the injuries to Carter and Baxter left the Eagles to test their depth against Wekiva (3-4, 0-1 3-3M). Two plays after Carter left with an injury, Clayton shook two Wekiva tacklers and found Camp Magee just inside the end zone for a 5-yard touchdown and a 14-0 Edgewater lead.
Clayton, a freshman, completed 8-of-14 passes for 75 yards in relief of Carter. Duke lauded Clayton for securing the ball in a game where every possession counted. Duke also credited Clayton’s preparation. Carter concurred.
“Very, very good for a freshman,” Carter said of Clayton. “He’ll probably be the best quarterback in Orlando when it’s said and done.
“The only thing I told him is ‘Be loud.’ He’s got all the skills. He just has to speak up.”
In for Baxter, Kaden Shields-Dutton ran for 35 yards on 13 carries and caught three passes for 48 yards to help the Eagles (7-0, 2-0 3-3M) to victory.
Alexander then kept the Mustangs off balance with five tackles for loss. Alexander was one of three Edgewater defenders with six tackles – Damon Troutman and Kylen Meadows also had six stops for the Eagles.
“We just wanted to dominate for four quarters as a team,” Alexander said.
Duke said Alexander had a “high motor, very athletic kid who’s getting better day after day on the field and in the classroom. I’ve been proud of his growth, and it showed up in a mighty way.”
Josh Alexander is a "high motor" defensive tackle. He had six tackles, including five for loss, in Edgewater's 14-8 win over Wekiva, Monday night.
Photo by Lynn Ramsey
Edgewater plays at strong Class 4Metro foe Ocoee on Friday before closing district play against unbeaten upstart Horizon on Oct. 21. Duke said Baxter’s availability will be determined later this week.
“We have three games in eight days; that’s a tough stretch,” Duke said. “Another great game on Friday. We still have a lot of questions. We have to get healed up. It’s a quick turnaround Thursday to Monday against two quality programs. We’ve got to go to Ocoee, who’s a very talented team Friday.”
Wekiva (3-4, 0-1 District 3-3M) struggled offensively until late in the fourth quarter. Tyray Davis was 5 of 5 while driving the Mustangs 85 yards. Davis capped the play by placing a perfect throw to Joshua Bennett on a corner route for a 13-yard touchdown with 1:56 left. “It was just a back-against-the-wall mentality,” Wekiva coach Jeremiah Rodriguez-Schwartz said. “Obviously, we should’ve had something like that all game. They did a great job. Hats off to those guys.”
But Semaj Fleming blocked the extra point, then Cordell Lima recovered the onside kick to clinch the Eagles victory.
Davis completed 9 of 15 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown.
Edgewater, however, kept the Wekiva run game under control most of the night. Terrelle Weathers ran for 69 yards on 12 carries, but 41 of that came early in the fourth quarter – a drive that took the Mustangs to the Edgewater 8. But a holding penalty pushed Wekiva back and Alexander eventually ended the drive with a fourth-down sack.
“We couldn’t get into a rhythm offensively,” Rodriguez-Schwartz said. “Defensively, we did a great job. We gave up one big play, but that comes with big plays.
“Offensively, we just have to get better. I’m happy with the effort the boys gave. I’m not happy with the result, but I can live with the effort they gave.”
