First Baptist football beats Community School to win district title

NAPLES, FLORIDA – Two weeks before the start of the playoffs, defending state champion First Baptist Academy is already in postseason form.

The Lions proved it Friday with a 42-2 beatdown of rival Community School of Naples. This was a showdown of the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in Class 1S in the FHSAA's RPI rankings, and FBA had no problem cruising to victory.

The win clinched the Class 1S-District 8 championship for the Lions (7-2, 2-0) and secured a home playoff game.

FBA still has an arsenal

First Baptist won the program's first state title last year, which was just the fourth football championship in Southwest Florida history. But the Lions graduated 19 seniors, a huge number for a small school, including three Division I talents.

And yet FBA is averaging 37.2 points per game and has scored 40 points or more in all seven of its wins thanks to a deadly passing attack. Junior quarterback Ethan Crossan has thrown for 2,277 yards and 31 touchdowns. 

Junior receiver Winston Watkins and sophomore Jayden Petit each have more than 800 receiving yards.

Those three did the damage Friday. On the very first play, Crossan connected with Watkins for a 35-yard gain. On the second play, he hit Petit for a 12-yard touchdown.

Petit, a former FBU Freshman All-American, finished with six receptions for 189 yards and two touchdowns. Watkins, a transfer from IMG who is committed to Colorado, had five catches for 107 yards and two scores.

CSN kept it close early

The Seahawks (8-1, 1-1) suffered their first loss, and despite the blowout score, threatened FBA early. Community School's Emrhe Pray blocked a punt in the first quarter and the ball rolled out of the end zone for a safety. 

After the Seahawks got the ball back, they drove to the FBA 9-yard line. A touchdown would have given the Seahawks the lead.However, CSN failed to convert on fourth and goal. Two plays later, Crossan tossed a 75-yard pass to Watkins, which set up a 7-yard touchdown by Sam Sparacio to put FBA up 14-2.

Community School turned the ball over twice inside the FBA 15-yard line.

Seahawks QB Cale Austin had a strong showing, passing for 129. He rushed for 29 yards, which would have been much more but FBA had seven tackles for loss on Austin.

Lions still own their rival

First Baptist and Community School might be the closest rivals in the state, geographically speaking. The two schools sit less than half a mile apart in North Naples. But it's not a rivalry on the field. FBA is 8-0 all-time against the Seahawks, who have been a strong program.Since 2011. CSN is 0-8 against the Lions but 90-35 against all other opponents. FBA has outscored CSN 289-63 in the past six meetings dating back to 2015.