ORANGE PARK - Area high school football will be showcased the next two weeks with spring games starting on Wednesday, May 14 with the Ridgeview High Panthers taking on Ribault in a 6 p.m. kickoff.
With Ridgeview coach Merlin Smith getting the first look at his football team, Friday night will feature two home games; Middleburg and Clay, while Oakleaf will take to the road in the Orlando area.
Clay, under new coach Jeff Gierke, will have Palatka visiting in a rivalry that has sparked interest through the years for Blue Devil football fans. Gierke seems intent in practice in amping up the Blue Devil offense behind quarterback Landon Martin and power back Nehemiah Bailey, plus a corral of pass catchers that Gierke thinks will open some eyes with his offense.
A quick glimpse of Gierke's practice has lots of misdirection with linemen moving right and left quickly and decisively.
Palatka will also have a new man in charge with former Keystone Heights defensive guru Lantz Lowery recently named head football coach after being on board as weightlifting coach. Area fans should remember Lowery's fiery sideline demeanor plus his strength and conditioning prowess for Keystone Heights deep playoff run a few years ago plus a handful of state weightlifting titles.
This could be a battle of wits with a volatile defensive dude taking on an explosive offensive wizard as Gierke averaged more than 30 points per game and had a record setting quarterback in his last stop at Gulf Breeze High School.
Palatka brings a strong offensive history into Blue Devil land with last year's 7-4 team putting up 30-plus points in every win, but giving up 32, 41, 42 and 24 in all their losses. Palatka's schedule featured the likes of Bradford, St. Augustine and twice 2A-Newberry, all playoff powers.
Up next, Middleburg, with a strong look on offense with a new quarterback and a new running back, also features one of the top linebacker crews, led by tackling machine Kaden Hanifen. Hanifen has been getting some reps as a tight end and making some Gronk looking catch and runs in practice. Bronco coach Ryan Wolfe has a battering ram named Gino Addison in the backfield with a fleet footed Caden Thigpen looking slick out of the backfield. Big up front, the Broncos look to be able to move the ball.
Middleburg will host 1A-Impact Christian Academy on Friday for the spring game with the Lions finishing 6-5 last year with well-known coach Bobby Ramsay at the helm. Impact took some early hits in the 2024 season, but rattled off a four game win streak in the second half before a season ending loss to University Christian.
Middleburg finished at 7-4 with a region playoff loss to Niceville ending their season with Niceville making the Class 5A Final Four.
Third on the Friday night scene is Oakleaf heading to West Orange High in the Orlando area for their second look on the field as the Knights had a Gold/Black scrimmage last week. Oakleaf is chock full of talent at all ends, led by quarterback Jack Mckissock and his cadre of pass and go guys; Micheal Conner, Jordyn Price, Fareed Coleman and a good looking bowling bowl in the backfield named CJ Moses.
West Orange, in Class 7A, brings a 10-3 2024 slate to the table with a 55-26 region final loss to Venice, the eventual 7A champion.
Not to be overshadowed, Oakleaf also brings a scintillating region final finish to the game with the Knights still seething from last year's thrilling finale loss to Buchholz.