NewsBreak Original

With the FHSAA baseball season beginning in February, the Clay High School Blue Devils have been preparing for the season in the weight room and on the track for their speed training program.

The Fleming Island Golden Eagles finished the 2022 season with a 5-4 record and missed the playoffs for the second year in a row. Despite having the most talented roster in the county, with 18 players making the Clay County Coaches All County Football Teams, Fleming Island finished in last place in 4S District 3, going 0-4. Outside of their district play, Fleming Island went undefeated.

Clay County Athletics announced the Clay County Coaches All County Football Teams this week. The Fleming Island Golden Eagles led the list with 11 players on offense and seven defensive/special teams players.

The Clay High Blue Devils finished the 2022 football season with a 3-7 record. Clay finished third in the 3S District 4 with a 2-2 district record, a 1-4 home record and a 2-3 record on the road.

With the Middleburg Broncos losing the Regional Quarterfinal on November 11 to the Escambia Gators 42-18, Middleburg ended the season with a 5-6 record. Despite not finishing the season with a winning record, Middleburg was the only high school in Clay County to make it into the 2022 playoffs. The Broncos were able to secure a spot in the playoff because of a weak district. The Broncos finished second out of four teams in 3S District 3. The two teams behind them in the district, Orange Park and Ridgeview, had a combined three wins.

With the 2023 high school football regular season ending last week, the Middleburg Broncos are the only team in the county to make the playoffs, set to play in the Regional Quarterfinal against the Escambia Gators in Pensacola Friday night.

Since the FHSAA made girls weightlifting a sport in 1997, it has grown exponentially across Clay County and the state of Florida. Clay County is home to many dominant female lifters and girls weightlifting programs. Six girls from Clay County won individual state titles last year, which is the most out of any county in Florida.

The Fleming Island Golden Eagles lost their homecoming game in heartbreaking fashion to the Creekside Knights on Friday night, 38-35. Fleming Island won the toss and elected to defer to the second half to start the game. Creekside went three-and-out on their first drive due to a sack by edge rusher Demhir Jackson. Fleming’s offense drove to Creekside’s side of the field but turned the ball over on downs around the Creekside 30-yard line.

Clay County Athletics has partnered with the American Cancer Society and the Jacksonville Jaguars to promote “Pink Out Month,” in honor of breast cancer awareness. During football games in October, fans and school communities will wear pink to help raise funds for breast cancer.

All of the high schools in Clay County set to have football games this Friday will have those games postponed to various dates next week due to Tropical Storm Ian. The Clay High Blue Devils are on a bye this week. Therefore, they are the only school that didn’t need to adjust their schedule amid Tropical Storm Ian.

The Oakleaf Knights traveled to Fleming Island Friday night and upset the Golden Eagles, 26-20. Oakleaf was 2-1, and Fleming Island was 3-0 heading into their matchup. Oakleaf put this game out of reach because they forced three interceptions and a forced fumble.