FLEMING ISLAND - As sports guys call it, This Friday is Crunch Time; go big or go home.
Pretty simple.
The biggest David and Goliath is Clay vs. St. Augustine for a probable …
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FLEMING ISLAND - As sports guys call it, This Friday is Crunch Time; go big or go home.
Pretty simple.
The biggest David and Goliath is Clay vs. St. Augustine for a probable winner-take-all-all finish as the Yellow Jackets are fifth-ranked state-wide. The scrappy Blue Devils have taken some body blows, but, like Rocky, keep getting up.
Whether St. Augustine will become Clay's Drago is whether Clay gets a playoff slot. The game is in Green Cove Springs, but coach Kyle Kennard is an old-school kind of guy and, if his legacy of tenacity is to be bolstered, a win against St. Augustine would be monstrous.
On the other end of town, Fleming Island has its own David and Goliath of sorts with Buchholz in town for a district showdown. The Bobcats have lost no steam from last year's Final Four finish and the Golden Eagles need a break after weeks of brutal finishes including last week's excruciating loss to Creekside.
As my guy Ray Dimonda said, the kids have a chance to bless their season with one of the biggest wins of their high school era; one that will be told to their grandkids.
Down Blanding, Middleburg, with multi-talented Jaydan Jenkins finding his groove, bolstered their playoff bids with a thriller (kudos kicker Kaleb Robison) over Bishop Kenny while Orange Park went numb in loss to Ponte Vedra. Orange Park, who had spurts of solid play against Ponte Vedra, can get some get-back on the Broncos with an upset win. Don't think it hurts Middleburg's playoffs though.
Oakleaf goes on the road a second time with a trip to the Bears at Bartram Trail. Oakleaf can punch a ticket for a solid season with a win at Bartram Trail. The Bears have been an Achilles Heel for past Oakleaf teams.
Keystone Heights comes off a forfeit week well rested and Joshua Christian (1-5) needs to bring plenty of ICYHOT because the Indians will be rugged.
Ridgeview, a 45-0 loss to Fort White (7-1) just adds to the Panthers woes (-7). Ridgeview hosts new district champion Columbia and can shake the district tree in combination with the OP v. MHS outcome.