JACKSONVILLE - Football is FINALLY here! For the Clay High Blue Devils and head coach Kyle Kennard, the season couldn't get here fast enough. Bishop Kenny, though, in the preseason opener on Friday at Bishop Kenny was less than hospitable with a 35-21 win over the Blue Devils; 21-0 at the half with the second half mainly junior varsity.

"I thought we competed really well and played hard for four quarters. Bishop Kenny is a really good football team," said Kennard. "It's an exhibition game where we can see on film where we were good and bad and what we need to fix. I have no doubt we will be ready to go Friday night for the season opener."

The 2022 season of youth, inexperience, and lack of size has turned into a 2023 season of improved leadership and experience along with noticeable gains in size, strength, quickness and depth.

"We graduated seven Seniors so we have the bulk of our team back and with the players we have added, our receivers don't have to also play defensive back, so our increased depth will only help us moving forward," said Kennard.

The Bishop Kenny offense wasted little time, picking up right where the playoff team left off last season; running an up-tempo, fast-paced offense scoring on an 80-yard, five-minute drive that ended on a 17-yard touchdown pass to give the Crusaders a 7-0 lead.

From there, the Clay offense stalled numerous times on drives into the Bishop Kenny end of the field with a missed field goal and a fumbled ball.

One bright spot was newcomer Geno Addison at running back, a sophomore transfer from Bradford County, who broke some runs for extra yardage.

Just before the half, with Landon Chadwich at quarterback, down 21-0, Clay looked to get to the half with a score, but an interception with 14 seconds ended the opportunity.

A 51-yard scoring bomb by Bishop Kenny awaited the Blue Devil defense after the half to push the Crusaders to 28-0.

"Even though our entire secondary is new, we have to be more disciplined. But, I think those guys really gained some valuable game experience against a really good group of receivers," said Kennard.

Clay finally hit paydirt with Rapoza and Dykas combining for a 65-yard toss and go pass play to put the Blue Devils on the scoreboard, Kenny would hit a 35-yard scoring pass to answer and go up 35-7.

Senior running back Chandler Thomas ran for a score late in the third before teams emptied their benches.

Clay opens at county rival Fleming Island Friday. Kickoff is set for 7:30 pm.