Sports | Clay Today

with clay story Clay High's offensive line was anchored by senior center Touni Saoud, as the Blue Devils dominated Palatka, 35-0, on Friday. They will host an explosive Orange Park Raiders team on Friday, Sept. 11.

PALATKA - The Clay High School Blue Devils rolled past the Palatka Panthers, 35-0, in a lightning-delayed game Friday, Sept. 4, at Bennett-Cooper Field. The dominant shutout triggered a running clock … more

By Brandon Pajkuric, Correspondent | 9/10/26

The Middleburg AA 8-Unders football cheerleaders got hyped up on the sidelines as the Broncos took on the Fleming Island Dreadnaughts on Saturday. See pics, page 30.

Raiders bounce back to blast Stingrays

ORANGE PARK - Orange Park High football coach Marcus Wimberly emphatically stated that his halftime talk with his team was not as emotional as the talk some of his seniors gave to their Raiders team … more

By Randy Lefko, randy@claytodayonline.com | 9/10/26

Caleb Miller holds on while riding Space Ghost in the saddle bronc riding category during Saturday night's Clay County PRCA Rodeo at the Clay County Fairgrounds. The event was expanded to include a Sunday performance featuring Super Bull Riding at 2:30 p.m. Miller finished in a tie for third place behind winner Keene Justesen and second-place Red Nixon.

Clay County Rodeo to make an encore performance on Sunday

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – After two successful performances on Friday and Saturday, the Clay County PRCA Rodeo will return to the Cattlemen’s Arena on Sunday for an encore featuring bull riding and … more

By Don Coble, don@claytodayonline.com | 9/6/26

Area junior high and flag football teams danced around rain and lightning last week. Green Cove Springs got a win against Wilkinson in flag football, while Lakeside beat Orange Park Junior at … more

STAFF PHOTOS BY RANDY LEFKO | 9/5/26

Zac Bourgeois will compete in saddle bronc riding at this weekend's Clay County PRC Rodeo at the Cattlemen's Arena at the Clay County Fairgrounds.

Cowboy faces bumpy ride in saddle broncs to qualify for PRC Finals

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Zac Bourgeois knows the rodeo season has reached crunch time. Literally. The Canadian saddle bronc rider has a month to move up in the Pro Rodeo Cowboys Association’s … more

By Don Coble, don@claytodayonline.com | 9/3/26

FIHS's Strombeck, MHS's Rosset get top finishes in XC openers

JACKSONVILLE - Fleming Island High cross country runner JP Strombeck and Middleburg's Lauren Rosset posted top area finishes at area cross country season opening races. Jacksonville and Flagler Palm … more

By Randy Lefko, randy@claytodayonline.com | 9/3/26

New Fleming Island High boys golf coach George Sauer surveys the first hole at the Fleming Island Golf Club. Sauer took over after the Bruce Cloud era included two state titles, a runner-up finish and an individual state championship.

FIHS Moody's lighting-fast start included 5-under 30 for nine holes

FLEMING ISLAND - Fleming Island High sophomore golfer Sophia Moody opened lightning fast (pun intended) in her 2026 season with a record-setting 5-under-par 30 on her first nine-hole outing at … more

By Randy Lefko, randy@claytodayonline.com | 9/3/26

Clay High linebacker Adam Whigham got ready for a play against Matanzas. Whigham snagged an interception and ran 42 yards to paydirt just before halftime to ignite the Blue Devils' 29-10 win.

Week Three Thursday, Sept. 3 Atlantic Coast at Orange Park. These two programs are on the verge of a breakout. Both are 0-2 with lopsided losses in Games 1 and 2. Orange Park lost to Andrew Jackson, … more

9/3/26

Ryan Preece celebrated his win at last Saturday's Coke Zero Sugar 400 at the Daytona International Speedway. He now starts the 10-race NASCAR Cup Series' Chase for the Championship with momentum.

Preece fights way into NASCAR’s Chase for the Championship

DAYTONA BEACH – After winning his first race since becoming a crew chief in 2023, Derrick Finley said his driver, Ryan Preece, will follow up on his Chase for the Championship-clinching win on … more

By Don Coble, don@claytodayonline.com | 9/3/26

Fleming Island's offensive line, here with Easton Isbell, Joseph Wilkey, Kaleb Thrasher and Noah Moreno taking a break, dominated an Atlantic Coast defensive line that featured two NCAA Division I commits en route to a 33-0 Golden Eagles win.

Longmire powers Eagles to shutout win; 2TDs

JACKSONVILLE - Fleming Island High running back Zion Longmire ran for two touchdowns, and quarterback Greyson Critch passed for two more as the Golden Eagles kicked off their 2026 campaign with a … more

By Mike Zima, Correspondent | 8/28/26

Fleming Island volleyball smasher Lauren Brosky scissors a shot in between two Bishop Kenny defenders in the Golden Eagles' 3-0 quasi-upset of the Crusaders in the season home opener. The Golden Eagles are now 2-0.

Eagles open home schedule with win over Bishop Kenny

FLEMING ISLAND - After the FHSAA changed the district lineups for area volleyball teams, Fleming Island High coach Amy Yoder made it very clear that Bishop Kenny, a 4A region finalist last year and a … more

By Randy Lefko, randy@claytodayonline.com | 8/28/26

MHS LB Hanifen battling from horrific accident

MIDDLEBURG - Former Middleburg High linebacker great Kadin Hanifen, who graduated in 2025, is battling back from a horrific electric scooter accident on Aug. 14 that has left him nearly incapable of … more

By Randy Lefko, randy@claytodayonline.com | 8/28/26

Oakleaf High's defense, led by Isaiah Pierre-Val (110), and Landon Nichols, corralled Raines quarterback Sa'mon Ellison-Morgan to keep the vaunted Vikings offense at bay for most of the game.

Blue Devils fall to Baker County, 31-19, in home opener

GREEN COVE SPRINGS - The Clay High School Blue Devils dropped their home opener Friday night, falling 31-19 to Baker County High. While the final score favored the visiting Wildcats, it did not tell … more

By Brandon Pajkuric, Correspondent | 8/27/26

Oakleaf High safety Quassim Swain (7) reaches back to deflect a long pass play attempt by Raines High in the Vikings' 21-7 win over the Knights on Friday.

MHS Craven rumbles in Broncos win

MIDDLEBURG - Middleburg High senior running back Sam Craven, after changing his mind from focusing on his state weightlifting goals, returned to the Broncos football practice field in July with coach … more

By Chapman Sellars, Correspondent | 8/27/26

Fish Tales gets a load of big ones

Note: Clay Today encourages local fishermen to send us their best catches of the summer to randy@claytodayonline.com for consideration to Fish Tales. Please include names of people in pics, where … more

8/20/26

Keystone Heights High cross country coach Chris Thomas flexes in front of his son Ryder Thomas as both take on the Game On St. Augustine Triathlon at Vilano Beach recently. Chris Thomas competed in the duathlon in a run, bike, run race while Ryder Thomas was fourth in the sprint triathlon.

KHHS/Middleburg swim, bike, run at St. Augustine Triathlon

ST. AUGUSTINE - Middleburg and Keystone Heights high school cross country and track athletes turned in solid performances at the Game On St. Augustine Triathlon and Duathlon on Sunday, July 26. The … more

By Randy Lefko, randy@claytodayonline.com | 8/14/26

Lynne McWatters, 51, not only won her age group at the Hammerhead Sprint Triathlon at Camp Blanding on Sunday but got to watch her daughter Kayleigh win her age group in the Olympic Distance race.

8/13/26

Former Oakleaf High basketball great Jonathan Bryant, after returning from professional basketball in China, will lend his high-intensity athletic experiences on the sidelines for the Middleburg High Bronco football team. Bryant will also be an assistant basketball coach for the Broncos.

Trimble's return to sideline a matter of fate

KEYSTONE HEIGHTS - Former Keystone Heights High three-sport star Ray Trimble, who graduated in 2016, had some early post-high school decisions to make after a standout school career in football, … more

By Randy Lefko, Sports Editor w/ Correspondent Amber Foley | 8/13/26

Travis Hunter is wearing a white pullover jersey, which means he's on defense at Jacksonville's preseason training camp.

Travis Hunter gains 10 pounds to handle heavy burden for Jaguars

JACKSONVILLE – One of the busiest jobs at the Jaguars’ preseason training camp is for the equipment manager assigned to shadow Travis Hunter. He has a thankless, but important, task of carrying a … more

By Don Coble don@claytodayonline.com | 8/7/26

Hawkins' family gets hugs from Eagles baseball

FLEMING ISLAND - Most said he was a quiet guy in the dugout, but passionate about his Fleming Island High baseball teammates, and always the encouraging voice. "This has been a great night for us to … more

By Randy Lefko, randy@claytodayonline.com | 8/6/26

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