ORANGE PARK - Fleming Island High opened up the Tom Macpherson era with a 42-20 rivalry win against Clay High, while at Orange Park High, the Raiders blitzed to a 28-0 first-half lead en route to a 35-7 victory over rival Ridgeview as back-to-back rivalry games highlighted Week 1 in local high school football.

"We knew in a rivalry game that they would quit no matter the score," said Macpherson, who had a 14-0 halftime lead, had to put 21 points on the scoreboard in the fourth quarter to hold off a 20-point second half by the Blue Devils. "They had a good plan on defense; two onside kicks to get field position, then got things going in the second half with adjustments."

Macpherson, in his first year as head coach, had a quick chat with his coaching staff, with Clay as close as 28-20 in the fourth, to prevent his debut from getting out of control.
"We got a little off our game, and we just had to get back to Fleming Island football: hard running, solid defense, and protect the ball," said Macpherson. "They scored twice; one off a botched punt by us and one with a solid pass to their number receiver (Daylen Brown) that gave them some momentum."

For Clay, also with a first-year coach, Jeff Gierke, the rivalry itself kept both teams intense for the game, with Gierke getting a quick look at fast football from Fleming Island.
"They came out, surprised us with some stuff, and we just didn't react fast enough," said Gierke. "In the second half, we just settled down and played a better game. I knew it would be a good rivalry game."
Fleming Island got scores in the first half with running back Cedrick McNeil barreling in and quarterback Eric Gentry stretching in on short runs.
A 70-yard punt return from Sebastian Cruz ignited the Fleming Island crowd, but a penalty negated it. But, Cruz scored on a Wildcat formation to make it 28-14 in the fourth quarter.
Clay had closed the game with touchdowns from quarterback Landon Martin on a nifty 22-yard run after the botched punt snap fumble recovery by the Clay defense.
"We had a good game plan, but the first half was a one-step forward, two steps back," said Gierke, who conceded huge improvements from last week's 30-7 preseason loss to Menendez. "The kids kept fighting right to the end. Fleming Island has great players: a Power Four safety (Sebastian Cruz) and a Syracuse defensive end (Jarius Rodgers). You have to beat them; they won't beat themselves."
Clay linebacker JayShawn McCloud was put in at running back. He barreled into the endzone for Clay to put the game at 28-20, but Gentry sprinted right and dove over the pylon for a score, and backup quarterback Kymani Pettaway hit a touchdown pass to Chaz Brittain with a minute remaining to end the game.
Macpherson was quick to note that his call was to take a knee for Pettaway, but he saw Brittain open and made the throw.
"I apologized to the Clay team, but I told the quarterback to go through the handoff mechanics and take a knee," said Macpherson. "He did what good quarterbacks are taught: read the defense and found the open receiver. That score was on me totally. I don't want teams that play us thinking we run the score up."
Gierke noted freshman safety Wyatt Rapoza, brother to former Clay quarterback and baseball standout Merrick Rapoza, who jarred one pass from Fleming Island receiver Parker Sirdevan and also recovered on an onside kick for the Blue Devils.
"Wyatt has good instincts, and he's going to be a good player," said Gierke. "He gave us some opportunities."
Fleming Island will gear up to take on a very athletic Riverside team that lost a tough game 23-14 to Oakleaf, with the Generals slowing the Oakleaf offense by intercepting quarterback Jack McKissock three times, returning two for scores.
The Golden Eagles' schedule gets a little rugged the next few weeks with Oakleaf after Riverside, then an invigorated Orange Park team that took out Ridgeview 35-7 in its opener.
Against Ridgeview, Orange Park quarterback Gabe Taylor was masterful in the air with four touchdown passes. The Raiders' defense was also part of a 28-0 halftime lead.
Taylor's top receiver was senior Brock Afllege, who only caught two passes, but both were for touchdowns, including a 36-yard strike.
Raiders tight end James Waters snagged a 22-yard score, with Jaden Fields hauling in a 60-yarder.

Taylor finished completing six of 12 passes for 149 yards and no interceptions.
On the ground, Orange Park got 101 yards on six carries from Xzavier Jones, including a 38-yarder. Aust'een Mills scored on a run for the Raiders.
On defense, Orange Park safety Jack Rivera snagged two interceptions.
For Ridgeview coach Merlin Smith, the loss was a stunning wake-up from last week's 42-0 preseason win against Keystone Heights.
"We definitely were not the same team that played at Keystone Heights last week," said Smith. "We finally got off the bus in the second half, but, by then, they were up 28-0. We have to do better."
Ridgeview running back Christian Felder was effective. He and quarterback Jordan Mesa rushed for 87 yards, with Mesa scoring the Panthers' only TD.
Orange Park travels to Oakleaf, which beat Riverside in its opener, 23-14, on Friday.

Oakleaf defensive back Jordin Price had two interceptions, plus a 78-yard touchdown punt return, with Michael Conner taking a Riverside kickoff 65 yards for an Oakleaf score. Riverside's final TD came on a 94-yard interception return.

For Ridgeview, up next is West Nassau in Panther Stadium. West Nassau beat a good 3A Frederica Academy team out of Georgia, 14-7, in its opener. Frederica has been in the Georgia playoffs the last three years.
West Nassau finished 9-2 last year with a first-round playoff loss in the Sunshine State Athletic Conference playoffs. West Nassau had a 54-14 preseason win against Paxon on Aug. 15. West Nassau features a two-back running game with junior Smo Green rushing for 113 yards in Week 1 and senior Skyler Freeman adding 103 yards. Both had touchdown runs.