Sports | Clay Today

Fleming Island setter Hazel Williams, a senior, has been instrumental in getting the ball to the net for the Golden Eagles with nearly 215 assists this season to fuel the Golden Eagles 9-2 record. Williams, who surpassed 1500 career sets earlier in the season, challenged the very talented net presence of Middleburg on Thursday, Sept. 25 in a key district 3-5A matchup at Middleburg.

Eagles, Broncos volleyball on collision course

FLEMING ISLAND - Middleburg High traveled to a super powerful volleyball gym in Venice over the past weekend to take on a handful of state powerhouses while Fleming Island stayed closer to home to … more

By Randy Lefko randy@claytodayonline.com | 9/25/25

Jacksonville to host FHSAA basketball finals

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) announced today that the Florida High School Basketball State Championships will be held at CSI Companies Court … more

Press release by FHSAA | 9/25/25

Clay High graduate Shelby Griffis exalts with her Guns and Hoses Boxing Champion belt after winning a unanimous decision in her bout at the Guns and Hoses Boxing Tournament held last Saturday at the University of North Florida. Griffis' win propelled the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) team to a win over the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) team by a 6-5 score.

FIHS Stephens, CHS Griffis steal Guns and Hoses show

JACKSONVILLE - With an explosive second round knockout and a dominant three round decision, Fleming Island High's Will Stephens and Clay High's Shelby Griffis, both Jacksonville area firefighters, … more

By Randy Lefko randy@claytodayonline.com | 9/25/25

Middleburg High's Riley Toomey leads out at the start of the Orange Park Raider Cross Country Invitational held last Saturday at Orange Park High. Toomey is among the race leaders including Emily Turner (RHS) left, AnnaLiese Hovda (Clay) and Narissa Blocton (RHS) with teammates Lauren Rosset and Kinlee Helmuth.

Turner, Yara take Raider XC titles

ORANGE PARK - Cross country runners traversed the Orange Park High campus in a brainchild local race directed by Raider head coach Craig Martin, Noah Yara of Keystone Heights and Emily Turner of … more

By Randy Lefko randy@claytodayonline.com | 9/25/25

Middleburg High wide receiver Jordan Avellino breaks away from Ridgeview defender Sean Moore en route to a 65-yard touchdown pass play in the Broncos 51-16 win over the Panthers. Broncos remain undefeated at 5-0 and will travel to Orange Park to open district play.

'Burg still undefeated; Knights lose

OAKLEAF - Middleburg High emerged from a rough weekend of Friday football for area teams as the lone, still undefeated team in Clay County with a dominating 51-16 win over Ridgeview to stay at 5-0 … more

By Mike Zima Correspondent w Randy Lefko | 9/25/25

Fleming Island golfer Ryan Houck battled with a handful of state ranked golfers to finish second at the Deerwood /FCA/Creekside Invite in Jacksonville on Wednesday, September 24.

FIHS Moody, Houck grab seconds at Deerwood Golf Invite

JACKSONVILLE - Fleming Island freshman golfer Sophia Moody opened with a six under par first nine holes to blister a 30 kept pace with an equally blistering seven under par from Beachside High's … more

By Randy Lefko randy@claytodayonline.com | 9/24/25

This rodeo clown got bullied after it threw a cowboy before the eight-second horn sounded.

ProRodeo getting back on the horse for three years in Clay

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – It was tempting for Clay County 4-H to bring PRCA ProRodeo back to the Clay County Fairgrounds twice a year through 2028. After all, counting last weekend’s show at the … more

By Don Coble don@claytodayonline.com | 9/23/25

Fleming Island outside hitter Kaylee Clark blasts away in the Golden Eagles' 3-1 loss to 4A powerhouse Bishop Kenny. Fleming Island faced off with district foe Ponte Vedra on Tuesday, Sept. 16.

Lady Indians, Panthers take wins at JJVA

JACKSONVILLE - Ridgeview and Keystone Heights High volleyball came home with bling last Saturday afternoon, while the Fleming Island Golden Eagles got a little lesson in championship pedigree as area … more

By Randy Lefko randy@claytodayonline.com | 9/23/25

Oakleaf High's Angeline Hawkins blasts out of a bunker to get on green in a tri-match victory against Clay and Orange Park. Hawkins and her sister, Vanessa, were first and second, respectively.

Oakleaf girls golf defends home course

OAKLEAF - The Oakleaf High girls' golf team, led by the one-two finish from junior Angeline Hawkins and her sophomore sister Vanessa Hawkins, took a 215-239 dual match win against Clay High. Orange … more

By Randy Lefko randy@claytodayonline.com | 9/23/25

Clay High backstroker Haley Hajost won her event and was in the winning 200 medley relay team to lead the Lady Blue Devils to a win in a tri-meet with Orange Park and Pedro Menendez.

Raiders boys, Blue Devils girls split wins in pool

LAKE ASBURY - Orange Park High boys' sprint swimming team dominated the Rolling Hills pool with fast wins in the 50 free, second and fourth place finishes in the 100 free, and a final gold in the 400 … more

By Randy Lefko randy@claytodayonline.com | 9/23/25

Middleburg High senior Daniel Johnson gets his second top finish in two weeks with an overall win at the Keystone Heights Invitational last Saturday. Johnson had the top area finish at the Middleburg Bronco Classic last week and clocked an 18:19.1 time to win the Keystone race.

Broncos boys, girls XC take Keystone titles

KEYSTONE HEIGHTS - Middleburg High cross country coach Kenneth Yancey had an Army of red-clad warriors with him at the Keystone Heights Cross Country Invitational last Saturday and came home with two … more

By Randy Lefko randy@claytodayonline.com | 9/19/25

Harris, Barker double up in Snyder win

Double digit spike totals from three players; Myla Barker (15), Mckenzie Harris (14) and Rose River (11), fueled a second win for Clay High over Bishop Snyder as Lady Blue Devils won a 3-2 match … more

By Randy Lefko Sports Editor | 9/18/25

Oakleaf High got explosive plays from Trace Burney, left, and Jordin Price who both scored off passes in the Knights' 36-26 win over Hawthorne. The Knights will welcome Bolles to the Dungeon for yet another state-ranked clash of titans.

MHS, OHS stay undefeated

MIDDLEBURG - Middleburg High revved up its offensive engine with a convincing 46-6 nondistrict win, while Oakleaf High took early control of a rematch with double state champion Hawthorne as both the … more

By Randy Lefko randy@claytodayonline.com | 9/18/25

Brosky, Eason power Eagles over Sharks

FLEMING ISLAND - With Lauren Broskey bashing over 16 scoring strikes, the Fleming Island High volleyball team won a 3-2 match Tuesday over Ponte Vedra to put the Golden Eagles into prime position to … more

By Randy Lefko randy@claytodayonline.com | 9/17/25

Fleming Island golfer Ryan Houck toyed with the lead in the mid-round of the Randy Warren Memorial Golf Invite. He eventually finished 10th.

Eagles fifth at Warren Golf Invite

FLEMING ISLAND - Fleming Island High state runner-up golfer Tyler Mawhinney was busy in Washington with the USA Junior National team and was not in town to defend his Randy Warren Memorial Golf … more

By Randy Lefko randy@claytodayonline.com | 9/12/25

Fleming Island blockers Moe Aseta, left, and Saniya Robinson try to stop Santa Fe hitter in the match won bhy Santa Fe.

Eagles stung by Raiders; MHS tops Leon

FLEMING ISLAND - With a handful of net serves that trickled over the for points, the Santa Fe High Raiders volleyball team took a 3-1 win against Fleming Island to halt the Golden Eagles' five-game … more

By Randy Lefko randy@claytodayonline.com | 9/11/25

Former Orange Park High soccer standout Tabitha Padgett, now Tabitha Nyberg, returned to the United States to coach in Texas after an impressive career as a professional soccer player in Sweden.

OPHS soccer great Padgett, now Nyberg, in Texas after Sweden

ORANGE PARK - Former Orange Park High soccer standout Tabitha Padgett was a high-energy, fast moving striker for the Lady Raiders in her days in 2009 and in her days as a Clemson University Tiger to … more

By Randy Lefko randy@claytodayonline.com w Excerpts from Stengnas Newspaper (Sweden) | 9/11/25

Middleburg High running back Travis Pinkard (10) celebrates in the endzone after his fourth quarter touchdown run propelled the Broncos to a come-from-behind 28-27 win at Clay High.

MHS’s Pinkard’s 23-yard TD with 17 seconds left stuns Clay

GREEN COVE SPRINGS - Middleburg High senior running back Travis Pinkard ran 23 yards for the game-winning touchdown with 17 seconds remaining, lifting unbeaten Middleburg to an emotional 28-27 … more

By Mike Zima Correspondent | 9/10/25

Fleming Island's strong cross country returners are led by Marcos Serrano, who was the second Eagles finisher in a strong field at Cecil Field Summer Classic season opener.

Fleming Island top five finish fourth

JACKSONVILLE - Fleming Island High's boys' cross country team executed a well-coordinated team plan in a sport often regarded as an individual sport, characterized by numerous hills, to finish fourth … more

By Randy Lefko randy@claytodayonline.com | 9/5/25

Fleming Island High's Ryan Houck blasts out of the bunker on hole two at Fleming Island Golf Club in the Golden Eagles' showdown with No. 1-ranked in Class 3A Beachside. Fleming Island won by one stroke, 142-143.

Super power golf teams go down to one stroke

Without his top five competing, Fleming Island defeated Oakleaf on Tuesday, August 26 169-174 with sophomore Mason Blom taking top honors with a 39 at Eagle Landing Golf Course. Mawhinney is slated … more

By Randy Lefko randy@claytodayonline.com | 9/5/25

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