PaulBowker's blog

FRIDAY's FINAL:

FLEMING ISLAND 41, OCALA WEST PORT 3

By PAUL D. BOWKER

paul.bowker@myclaysun.com

A first-ever district title tucked away in their pockets, Fleming Island's Golden Eagles were anticipating nothing more than a tuneup for the playoffs when it played host to Ocala West Port on Friday night at Fleming Island Stadium.

That's exactly what the Golden Eagles got.

Senior quarterback Ryan Aplin threw for 181 yards and two touchdowns, Dee Frieson returned the opening kickoff 95 yards for a score and Fleming Island's starters made way for the reserves in the second half of a 41-3 victory over West Port.

Friday's final:

Fleming Island 28, Buchholz 21

The story is becoming quite a regular script.

Fleming Island High School's football team falls behind. Quarterback Ryan Aplin starts throwing footballs, and his receivers catch them. Running game pounds out yards. And before you know it, Fleming Island's band is energetically playing the school song to celebrate another win, and the Golden Eagles are swaying to the music right in front of the band.

Just don't call it boring.

The Golden Eagles, establishing a piece of school history with every game, overcame a 14-0 deficit Friday night and totaled 401 yards of offense in a 28-21 victory over Gainesville Buchholz that gave Fleming Island its first-ever district championship.

Friday's final:

Clay 21, Palatka 14

Quinton Battle ran for three touchdowns. Rodney Perry rushed for 120 yards. Quarterback Stephen Hearons completed the only pass he threw.

But the big celebration for the Clay High Blue Devils on Friday night didn't arrive until, in the last minute of the game, senior defensive back Kris Mena picked off a pass to seal a 21-14 victory over Palatka.

How important was this win for the Blue Devils?

Listening to the postgame team gathering offered a clue. "Playoffs!" shouted the Blue Devils. "Playoffs!"

Friday's final:

Fleming Island 17, Bishop Kenny 14

A 29-yard Branz field goal in the fourth quarter, combined with a well-time interception by Colton Longdon late in the game, led Fleming Island to its second consecutive victory, 17-14 over Bishop Kenny.

Fleming Island senior quarterback Ryan Aplin, one of the leading passers on the First Coast, ran for 82 yards and a pair of first-quarter TDs for the Golden Eagles, who totaled 207 yards rushing. Aplin completed 4-of-11 passes for 75 yards.

Colton intercepted a pass in the end zone with two minutes left, thwarting what would have been a game-winning score for Bishop Kenny. The Golden Eagles had three interceptions -- the third one by Andrew Carstarphen with just over a minute left.

By Devon Jeffreys

Times-Union correspondent

It did not take long for the Middleburg Broncos to recover from last week’s loss to Columbia.

The Broncos used a mix of a solid running game and a bruising defense to beat the Pedro Menendez Falcons Friday night at Veterans Stadium in St. Augustine.

"These kids don’t know how to give up," Middleburg coach Rob Justino said. "They continue to fight and it’s a tribute to all these players."

Broncos’ sophomore running back Rodney Jones ran for 156 yards on 16 carries including a five-yard touchdown run in the victory.

Friday's final:

St. Augustine 37, Clay 7

Clay played second-ranked St. Augustine close for the first half, and actually led at one point, but four second half touchdowns carried the Yellow Jackets to their fifth consecutive victory.

Kawaun Jakes threw for 141 ytards and two touchdowns in the third quarter.

Teddy Monroe scored the Blue Devils' only touchdown in the second quarter, a 31-yard run that gave Clay a 7-6 lead at the time. St. Augustine's only scoring in the first half came on three field goals by Caleb Sturgis.

The Blue Devils were held to two pass completions.

Friday's final:

Columbia 40, Middleburg 7

Tiger Powell rushed for 150 yards and two touchdowns, leading Columbia to a 40-7 homecoming victory over Middleburg on Friday night in the district opener for both teams.

Columbia (5-1, 1-0 District 5-4A) piled up 347 rushing yards on the Broncos (3-3, 0-1 District 5-4A), who lost their second straight game. Middleburg will play at Menendez next Friday night.

Middleburg was held to 136 yards of offense.

Chase Weiskopf scored the Broncos' only touchdown on a pitch from J.C. Alexander, going 55 yards for a score, after Columbia had already pulled ahead, 26-0.

CLAY FOOTBALL ROUNDUP

FERNANDINA BEACH 23, KEYSTONE HEIGHTS 21

Running back Terrell Dallas caught a 4-yard TD pass from Emory Wingard, giving Fernandina Beach (5-0, 2-0 District 3-2A) a district win over previously unbeaten Keystone Heights (3-1, 1-1).

The Indians had taken a 21-17 lead with four minutes left in the game.

Wingard threw for 286 yards and three TDS.

Keystone Heights running back Dennis Taylor rushed for a game-high 117 yards and Matt Story rushed for 74 and a TD, as the Indians outgained Fernandina Beach in rushing yards, 225-41. 

The Indians will play at West Nassau on Friday night.

By GARRY SMITS

Florida Times-Union

Rashard Hall gave St. Augustine more than a spark after a slow first quarter Friday at Middleburg.

The senior wide receiver/defensive back changed the entire game.

Hall caught two touchdown passes from quarterback Kawaun Jakes and set up another score with an interception - all in the second quarter. He then returned an interception 77 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter to lead the Jackets over the Broncos 38-7 at Bronco Stadium.

The Jackets (4-0) led only 3-0 after the first quarter as Middleburg (3-2) appeared to be riding the emotion of three victories in a row to give the state's No. 2-ranked Class 3A team a handful.

Friday's final:

Eagle’s View Academy 40, St. John’s Country Day 0

By MIKE ZIMA

myclaysun.com correspondent

The football program at St. John’s Country Day School is in only its second year of operation. The Spartans have just 35 players on their roster, over half of them underclassmen. Their best player, running back Carlos Sims, Jr., is out with a knee injury. Last year, all home games had to start at 5 p.m. to finish before darkness, as the varsity field had no lights.

On Friday night against Eagle’s View Academy, SJCD debuted field lights and a press box in front of a spirited Homecoming crowd. Excited to host their first night game, the Spartans began the game with a short drive and a booming 46-yard punt by sophomore Joel Haznedl. The Spartan defense then held the explosive Warriors without a first down on their first series. Eventually, the superior speed and depth of the undefeated Warriors overcame the Spartans’ hustle, allowing the Warriors (5-0, 2-0 in District 1-2B play) to coast to a 40-0 victory.