ST. AUGUSTINE - With authoritative wins by Fleming Island and Oakleaf in pseudo warmup games to possible district championship games in two weeks, area high schoolers got a clearer picture of playoffs at the hands of powerhouse teams in north Florida.
St. Augustine, clearly number one in District 3-4A as well as number five in Class 4A, demonstrated why with a resounding 56-6 win over Clay High on Monday, while, on Friday in Lake City, Columbia, also in District 3-4A, took out Ridgeview with an ironically eerie 56-0 win. There was something weird about the number 56 this week.
For the most part, both Clay and Ridgeview played courageously in both games, though Clay started horrendously slow giving St. Augustine an opening kickoff return touchdown, then a kickoff fumble recovery on the Clay five-yard line, then a pick-six interception from about midfield to leave the first quarter at 28-0 with just a few offensive plays. Clay got a late touchdown from running back Nehemiah Bailey, but the Clay offense was stymied by the Yellow Jackets most of the night.
For Ridgeview, the irony of defense was perplexing as the Panthers held the vaunted Tiger offense to a respectable 95 yards rushing and 79 yards passing, but did leave the door open on kickoff and punt returns and a pick-six interception, plus two long touchdown passes. Other than that, Panther coach Merlin Smith's kids kind of did alright in two of the three aspects of football. Speed does kill.
Clay is at 2-5, 1-1 in the district with Ridgeview at 1-6, 0-2 in the district. St. Augustine is 5-1, 2-0 with Columbia, ranked 26th in 4A now 3-5 and 1-1 in district.
For district 3-5A, Middleburg was riding high with an unbeaten slate, though, the strength of schedule seemed dubious and Fleming Island coach Derek Chipoletti has methodically ironed out some of the weaknesses of the Golden Eagles to finish games with key district wins over Ponte Vedra and Beachside on Monday, 44-17, which included an 11.1-second 96-yard scoring dash by quarterback Cibastian Broughton.
Oakleaf (district 2-6A), about 40 minutes north, rolled over First Coast by another eerie score, 44-0, with their 85-yard scoring bomb on the second snap of the game, a handful of fumbles; one for a score, and interceptions for touchdowns. Note: I think I'm playing 44 and 56 in the lottery tomorrow.
I hope I get these right for the Oakleaf game; wide receiver Zach Michel with an 85-yard touchdown pass, fumble recovery, and no score, The First Coast screen pass from three gets Tyrone Early's interception for a touchdown (14-0) very quick.
Oakleaf gets an 80-yard punt return negated by the flag but runs and catches from Chris Foy and Michael Conner setting up a 12-yard TD pass to Carlos Witherup (20-0). A sack by Bryan Copeland puts the ball on the ground and Jordin Price scoops and scores from 40 (27-0). First Coast fumbled to Fareed Coleman for a score (34-0). One more pass scoring play 30 yards, and interception to an Andrew McDaid field goal (44-0). Whew!!
Back to Middleburg, who will have Fleming Island on October 25 for a de facto district championship if the Broncos can take out the same Beachside team that Fleming Island just dunked. Ponte Vedra beat Middleburg 52-21 on Monday with 24 points in the first quarter though the Broncos answered with 21 in the second. At halftime, the score was 38-21.
Orange Park can be a spoiler in the final three games with Ponte Vedra and Beachside on their calendar and Clay at the finale.
For Oakleaf, now 5-2, special teams and defense dominated First Coast in that district game with the Knights having district clashes the next two weeks with ED White (5-2, 33-0 over Sandalwood) visiting, then Mandarin (5-2, beat First Coast 27-6 last week) visiting to hash out that district lineup. Mandarin is set to play Fletcher on Fri., Oct. 18 and that could go either way to maybe put Oakleaf in the driver's seat.
The only team not 5-2 in District 2-6A is Fletcher at 4-3, but that district may be named the next District of Doom to replace the former District 3-4S that had Fleming Island, Oakleaf, Creekside, Bartram Trail, and Buchholz where all but Oakleaf and Fleming Island were playoff contenders last year.
In Class 6A, led by Armwood at 6-0 and Nease at 5-0 (postponed Monday game with Bartram Trail to November 7), Mandarin is at sixth, Oakleaf is at ninth and Fletcher is at 26th.
State-wise, Nease is ninth with IMG Academy number one. Locally, St. Augustine is 33rd, Buchholz is 34th, Bradford is 37th, Bolles is 38th, Mandarin is 42nd, Ponte Vedra is 48th and Oakleaf gets 53rd just out of the top 50 in Florida.
Fleming Island, who may be playing their best game to date, is back at 105th statewide and 17th in Class 5A with Beachside at 12th and Ponte Vedra 10th. That may change on Tuesday.

October 18

Chiefland (6-1) at Keystone Heights (2-5)
Chiefland lost its first game last week, 13-10 to Taylor County. Chiefland strong run game with lead back Demorri Sweet (No. 12) at 426 Yds, 5TDs; Osten Jones (No. 6) at 366 Yds, 7TDs; Jamarion White (No. 5) at 207 Yds 4TDs.

ED White (5-2) at Oakleaf (5-2)
ED White beat Sandalwood 33-0 last week. Quarterback King Boylston has 1017 Yds, 5TDs, and 4 INTs. Running back Joseph Williams (No. 4) 315 Yds, 1TDs. Wideout Landon Francis (No. 5) with 22 catches, Nick Roverson (No. 0) with 20 with Francis with 3TDs.

Ponte Vedra (5-2) at Orange Park (2-5)

Clay (2-5) at Fernandina Beach (4-3)

Middleburg (6-1) at Beachside (5-2)

Impact Christian (2-4) at Ridgeview (1-6)

Fleming Island (4-3) at Terry Parker (2-4)