Jupiter Christian rallies past St. Joseph Academy for SSAA 5A State Championship

Eagles outscore Flashes 23-7 in second half to win association's second-largest class title

Jupiter Christian wide receiver Cayden Alula (#13) looks to slip between ODA defenders. The Out of Door Academy Thunder hosted the Jupiter Christian Eagles in the SSAA Class 5A semifinal game Friday night, Nov. 8, 2024. The Eagles defeated the Thunder 29-26. / Mike Lang / Sarasota Herald-Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

RECAP

Jupiter Christian outscored St. Joseph Academy, 23-7, in the second half to win the Sunshine State Athletic Association (SSAA) Class 5A state championships on Saturday afternoon at The Villages.

The Eagles, behind the running of Gideon Douglas and Randolph Wilkerson and the passing of Shea McMillan, stormed back from a 28-14 halftime deficit to take a 37-28 lead in the fourth quarter. A pair of successful two-point conversions gave Jupiter Christian (10-3) a two-possession lead with 4 minutes, 45 seconds left.

After both schools turned the ball over on downs, St. Joseph (10-2) kept its hopes alive when Cody Ott threw a pass to Raymond Evans, who outjumped two defenders and raced 78 yards for a TD with just 19 seconds left. After making the PAT, the Flashes trailed just 37-35.

Jupiter Christian then clinched the victory when Steven Amorosino jumped on St. Joseph's onside kick and the Eagles ran out the clock.

It was one of the most exciting SSAA state title games as there were three lead changes and two ties. Statistically, Jupiter Christian's McMillan passed for more than 150 yards and two TDs, Alula caught four passes for 98 yards and two TDs, Douglas ran for more than 150 yards and two scores, including an 81-yard TD, and Wilkerson rushed for more than 90 yards, including a 14-yard TD late in the game. St. Joseph received a stellar performance from Jeremiah Kes, who caught a 56-yard TD pass and returned a kickoff 90 yards for a score. Ott passed for more than 210 yards and two TDs, Evans rushed for more than 70 yards and a TD, and Max Grimes caught a TD pass for the Flashes.

Scroll down to read up on both teams before kickoff and refresh this page for the latest score and game updates from setup to teardown.

The Sunshine State Athletic Association (SSAA) Class 5A state championship game features the Jupiter Christian Eagles (9-3) squaring off against St. Joseph Academy Flashes (10-1)

Both teams battled through tight semifinal victories, as SJA topped Foundation Academy, 10-5, in a defensive struggle, and Jupiter Christian edged Out the Door Academy, 29-26.

• LIVE FLORIDA HS FOOTBALL SCORES

Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. (Eastern time) and the game is being streamed live on the SportsFlixTv (subscription required).

JUPITER CHRISTIAN VS. ST. JOSEPH'S ACADEMY

	1	2	3	4	F
Jupiter Christian	14	0	7	16	37
St. Joseph's	14	14	0	7	35

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PREGAME

- Kickoff is schedule for 1 pm ET

Beautiful, sunny weather for this afternoon's state title tilt between Jupiter Christian and St. Joseph Academy of St Augustine. Temp is 76 degrees,

JUPITER CHRISTIAN wins coss toss, defers to St. Joseph Academy

FIRST QUARTER

TOUCHDOWN! St. Joseph QB Cody Ott with a perfect strike to Jeremiah Kes for a 56-yard catch-and-run! Flashes lead 7-0 with 9;16 left.

JUPITER CHRISTIAN's Gideon Douglas big 43-yard pickup screen, but drive stalls and Eagles punt.

TOUCHDOWN! Jupiter Christian QB Shea McMillan scrambles and finds Cayden Alula wide open for 20-yard TD pass! JC 7, St. Joseph Academy 7, with 3:48 left.

TO THE HOUSE! TOUCHDOWN!! Jupiter Christian RB Gideon Douglas battles past defenders up front and then races 81 yards for a TD! Jupiter Christian takes 14-7 lead over St. Joseph Academy with 1:39 left.

TO THE HOUSE ON THE RETURN! St. Joseph Academy strikes back quickly as Jeremiah Kes takes kickoff, breaks to the sideline and sprints 90 yards for a touchdown! St. Joseph 14, Jupiter Christian 14, with 1:22 left in the first quarter. That is Kes's second TD of the day.

END OF FIRST QUARTER

SECOND QUARTER

ST JOSEPH STAR WIDE RECEIVER Jeremiah Kes makes spectacular 39-yard catch and then is shaken up on the play.

TOUCHDOWN: ST. JOSEPH ATH Raymond Evans crashes 2 yards to the end zone!! St Joseph Academy 21, Jupiter Christian 14, with 3:09 left in the half.

FUMBLE!! St. Joseph Academy sacks Jupiter Christian QB Shea McMillan, who fumbles ball away.

TOUCHDOWN! St. Joseph Academy QB Cody Ott scrambles to his right, buys time and then finds Max Grimes behind the secondary for a 35-yard catch-and-run for a TD on the last play of the first half! St. Joseph Academy 28, Jupiter Christian 14.

HALFTIME: St. Joseph Academy 28, Jupiter Christian 14.

SECOND HALF KICKOFF: St. Joseph Academy kicks off to Jupiter Christian.

THIRD QUARTER

ST JOSEPH ACADEMY star RB Jack Fox shaken up on short run,

WATER BREAK: St. Joseph Academy 28, Jupiter Christian 14. All defense so far in the third quarter.

TOUCHDOWN! JUPITER CHRISTIAN RB Gideon Douglas scores off LT for 1-yard run! St. Joseph Academy 28, Jupiter Christian 21, with 2:50 left in 3Q.

JADEN JOHNSON big sack for Jupiter Christian pins St. Joseph back at its own 1-yard line. 0:19 left in the 3rd quarter.

END OF THIRD QUARTER: St. Joseph Academy 28, Jupiter Christian 21. JC on St Joe's 44-yard line,.

FOURTH QUARTER

TOUCHDOWN! Jupiter Christian QB Shea McMillan completes screen pass to Cayden Alula, who races 44 yards for a TD! Gideon Douglas then scores around left end on the 2-point conversion! Jupiter Christian 29, St. Joseph Academy 28, with 11:49 left in game.

FUMBLE! St. Joseph Academy fumbles the ball away on controversial run.

TOUCHDOWN! Jupiter Christian RB Randoph Wilkerson Jr. scores on 14-yard around left end! Luke Beach then catches 2-point pass! Jupiter Christian 37, St. Joseph Academy 28, with 4:45 left.

TOUCHDOWN! St. Joseph Academy QB Cody Ott throws pass to Raymond Evans, who outjumps 2 defenders to score on 78-yard TD run with 19 seconds left!! Jupiter Christian 37, St. Joseph Academy 35.

FINAL SCORE: Jupiter Christian 37, St. Joseph Academy of St. Augustine 35. Eagles win Sunshine State Athletic Association Class 5A state championship.