FLEMING ISLAND - Despite a red card in the first half that limited the Clay High boys soccer team to just 10 players for most of their district 3-5A championship game against Fleming Island, Fleming Island coach Roger Dailey was respectful in the effort of the Blue Devils who were down just 1-0 at the half before eventually falling 6-0.

"I respect that team and their coach (Wale Leyimu) who played their hearts out with a guy down from the red card," said Dailey, now at 14-1-0 and ranked seventh in 5A, will advance into the region playoffs with Clay, at 14-3-1 and ranked 16th, will await the rest of the district tournament finals and region playoff rankings to know their fate. "They were district champions last year and played like a district champion right to the very end."
In district 2-6A, Oakleaf lost 2-0 to second seed Fletcher to finish at 5-9-1.
In district 4-3A, Keystone Heights lost 3-1 to Eastside to end their season at 11-6-3.
In district 3-1A, St. Johns Country Day School snapped a five game losing streak to win their semifinal 5-2 over Harvest Community while University Christian beat top seed Christ's Church Academy 2-0. St. Johns and University Christian will play Thursday at St. Johns at 6 p.m. for the district title.
Region rankings from January 28 for Fleming Island's region 1-5A lineup had Booker T. Washington (13-0-1) at No. 1, Arnold High (12-1-4) at No. 2, Fleming Island (13-1-6) at No. 3, Gulf Breeze (12-6-3) at No. 5, Ponte Vedra (12-2-0) at No. 5, Chiles (8-2-5) at No. 6, Beachside (11-3-2) at No. 7 and Choctawhatchee (9-3-3) at No. 8. Clay is in the No. 9 spot and will have to await final region rankings after district finals are complete to determine if the Blue Devils get the number eight spot. Top eight teams in each region advance.
In the first half, Fleming Island scored off a scramble in front of the Clay goal with forward Ryker Dailey splitting two Blue Devil defenders before blasting a right to left laser to the net at 27 minutes. Just two minutes later, Clay defender Jake Mihalik got red carded for knocking down Fleming Island midfielder Danny Vizcarrando on a a breakaway. On the ensuring free kick, Fleming Island kicker Brodi Hoth missed right of the goal.
In the second half start, near the 36 minute mark, Fleming Island foward Cooper Stewart struck quickly with a left side sprint to the corner of the Clay defense that was defensed, but the Fleming Island offense kept the ball in play for a second shot by Stewart that found the net.
Fleming Island iced the game with outside forward Blake Gaucher ripping a shot across the face of the goal that hit the left side post and stayed on the field, but found Dailey's foot who buried it for the third goal.
Fleming Island got final goals from Gaucher, who avoided the Clay goalie to walk the ball in, a goal by Jeffrey Lin after a Vizcarrando run and a final tally from Jonathan Jackson off a corner kick with 23 seconds on the clock.