football

A few photo galleries from this weekend's action- enjoy!

Fleming Island v. Episcopal football

Orange Park v. Lee football

Ridgeview football

Golden Eagles Band

September 26th: Orange Park High School Raiders v. Bartram Trail Bears

Related: read more | MyClaySun's blog | login or register to post comments | Tags: fleming island high school | football | spring practice | video

By HAYS CARLYON and LAMAR THAMES
The Times-Union

Fleming Island’s football team is grieving following the death of standout middle linebacker Wesley Whiddon, who is the son of a Clay County school principal.

Whiddon, who was killed Wednesday night after being struck by a train, was one of the Golden Eagles’ top talents on and off the field. As a junior, Whiddon recorded 175 tackles and forced five fumbles last season as Fleming Island reached the Region 1-5A final. Whiddon is the son of W.E. Cherry Elementary School Principal Angie Whiddon.

When I first met my husband, on a blind date, he warned me that he was from Charelestown, Mass. and he was a fanatical NE Patriot fan.

What's a New England Patriot? I asked.

I was raised in Delaware. The closest NFL team was the Eagles but I had no allegiance. I was a free agent. I could support the Patriots.

In 14 years of marriage, I have learned a lot about the diehard Boston sports nut. We had our house  built on Lot #11, which was Drew Bledsoe's number at the time. Our living room is red, white and blue with framed sports pages from the Boston Globe. We have Patriot shoelaces, tissue boxes, toothbrushes, Christmas ornaments, flags, pillows, clothing. My husband won't let me move any furniture and he won't change his toothbrush during the season because it might jinx the team.

O.K. now the OPAA JPW Cyclones have earned First Coast Conference Champions, S.E. Regional Champions, now they're off to Nationals. This means the Pop Warner Super Bowl at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex. They leave on Mon- Dec,4 and return that Fri. They play a game on Tues against Hollister CA. and then a different team on Fri morning. They are 14-0 and it has been a long and exciting season. At this point they are 1 out of 8 teams in the Nation..WOW!!   These boys are dedicated to their team and passionate about the sport.  Between the parents and boys getting sponsors and the boys also bagging groceries at local grocery stores for donations it has helped them with the trip down to Disney.

One week after Ryan Aplin seemingly cheated fate with his brilliant improvisation, fate's bill came due, and Fleming Island paid in full as its Cinderella season came to an end in a dramatic 28-26 regional championship playoff loss at Bartram Trail.

Yet, even in the final minutes of Friday night's loss, when defeat seemed all but certain, the Golden Eagles still sat inexplicably poised to pull yet another rabbit out of their hat.

Trailing 28-12 with just 9:22 to play, Dee Frieson launched the second of his two 50-yard kickoff returns to the Bartram Trail 44 and followed it up with two receptions for 38 yards before Aplin once again hopped upon his scramble cycle at the 10-yard line and led Bear defenders on a merry chase to and fro that ended up with him in the end zone and the Eagles behind only 28-20 with 7:24 remaining.

This is why they play the game.

This is why we watch the game.

Montory Bellamy broke loose for a 26-yard touchdown run with 16 seconds left to play Friday night to lift Fleming Island to a 24-17 regional semifinal playoff upset of visiting Daytona Mainland (8-4).

The victory puts the Golden Eagles (8-4) in the Region 1 championship final game next Friday at Bartram Trail (8-4), a 35-12 winner at Niceville.

Bloggers, I can't help leaving us with one more little survey to complete this long weekend.

Gators and 'Noles. Who wins and what's the score at halftime?

I say Gators up 35-21.

Anyone else?