JC's blog

The Clay High Blue Devils (7-4, 4-1District 4-3A) season came to an abrupt end this evening following a lopsided loss, 44-14, to the Baker County Wildcats (10-1, 4-1 District 3-3A). The Devils were not able to compete against the Wildcats due to the Wildcats relentless running game. Clay High could not run with the Baker County Wildcats and running was the plan for the evening for the Wildcats.

The Wildcats got off to a quick start when Senior QB Carlos Holton took the first carry for a fifty yard gain. The Wildcats were in Devils territory at the thirty two yard line. Following a mixture of running backs and little gain, Junior RB Greg Williams broke free for a twelve yard scamper. Holton then added seven more yards on the ground. Junior RB Hank Farmer would complete the drive by running in from one yard out. Following the touchdown, the Wildcats elected to go for a two point conversion. Holton ran in the conversion and it was quickly 8-0.  

The final game of the season for the St. Johns Day Country School Spartans pitted them against the Maclay Marauders from Tallahassee. Unfortunately for the Spartans the evening ended with a defeat. It was senior night in Orange Park for the Spartans, unfortunately for the Spartan seniors; four on the team, their football season would end in disappointment by losing a close game 21-14.

The first half was dominated by hard hits and turnovers. The Marauders would strike first when Senior QB William Webb put great touch on a twenty eight yard touchdown pass to Senior Chase Smith. The Marauders (4-6) only took two minutes and forty five seconds to score. The Maclay offense would have opportunities to put more points on the board, but would be unable to do so. Some of the reasons would be penalties on the offense for holding and illegal block in the back. The closest the Maclay offensive unit would come to scoring again in the first half was when they reached  the Spartans seven yard line. Unfortunately for Maclay, the defense for the Spartans would rise up and stop the drive with an interception in the back of the end zone. 

The playoffs have been on the line for the Keystone Indians (5-2,7-2 District 3-2A)over the last three weeks after losing to Fernandina Beach. The Indians have continued to do their part to keep those playoff hopes alive. Adding a victory over the Bradford Tornadoes(4-3,6-3 District 3-2A) this evening could help them. But at press time, it all depends whether Yulee can defeat Fernandina.

The game was just another evening for running backs Greg Taylor and Matt Story. Taylor left, Story right. The two backs combined for forty five yards on fourteen carries in the first quarter. Taylor would give the Indians an early lead on a two yard touchdown run. The two backs did not see many carries in the second quarter, with Bradford controlling all but two minutes of the second period.

The Keystone Heights Indians(4-2,6-2 District 3-2A) played their final home game of the season tonight. Following the win over the Yulee Hornets(1-5,1-7 District 3-2A) 35-0, there was some excitement in the air. The victory was bitter sweet for players such as Greg Taylor, Matt Story, Keegan Lowery, Joel Morgan and other seniors who played their final game in Keystone. When asked about playing his last game at home Taylor replied, “I am going to miss the fans, I will miss playing here on this field but most of all I miss my teammates”.

Needing a victory to control their own playoff destiny, the Keystone Height Indians were unable to defeat the Bolles Bulldogs. Following the 41-6 defeat, the Indians now look for some help from West Nassau to legitimately keep their playoff hopes alive.

The Indians (4-2, 2-2) struggles against the Bulldogs (6-0, 4-0) started from the first play of the game. The special teams for the Indians gave up a 75 yard kick off return for a touchdown. The play was called back on a holding call against the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs offense started on their own twenty four yard line after the penalty. Junior RB Stephen Barnett got the running game started with a two yard run, followed by a six yard gain. Sophomore quarterback Chandler Carr completed four passes for fifty one yards on the opening drive. Carr would finish the night 10 of 17, for 195 yards and three touchdowns, no interceptions.  Once the Bulldogs offense was inside the twenty five yard line of the Indians, they would finish the drive how they started it, on the ground. Barnett ran five straight times for twenty two yards and a score. The Bulldogs offense would use up just over six minutes on the opening drive.

“I felt good tonight. This is my last year and I am going to run as hard as I can every game”, said Senior RB Matt Story. That is exactly what he did Friday night. His determination to run hard helped lead the Keystone Heights Indians (4-1, 2-1) to a 28-0 victory.

The Indians traveled to Callahan to take on the West Nassau Warriors (1-4, 1-2). This was a game that had playoff implications in store for the winner. The Indians looked to get back on track after a difficult loss to Fernandina Beach last week (23-21).

“They're getting winded, get on the ball”, could be heard coming from the offensive coaches for Orange Park. The coaches were referring to the Lee Generals' defensive group, especially the defensive line. However, it took almost four quarters to finally wear the Generals out.

The game got off to a fast start when the Generals (2-2, 1-0) came out firing on the first play from scrimmage. Jr. QB Brandon Sirmans hit Jr. RB Tiray Dove on a 24-yard pass. Unfortunately for the Generals, Raiders and the fans, the next excitement to be seen on the field came at halftime.  The game basically became a defensive battle and a field position chess match until late in the third quarter.

The Keystone Heights Indians(3-0,1-0) were ready to get back on the field following their off week. Unfortunately for the Interlachen Rams, they had to be the team to face a well rested and focused Indian squad. “We had an extra week to prepare for them”, said Coach Dickinson following the 49–6 win over the Rams(0-3,0-1).

The Indians set the tone for the evening on the first play from scrimmage. Rams RB Brandon Aaron was stuffed for a four yard loss by DL Keegan Lowery. Two plays later, DB Dillon Van Wagner had his first of two interceptions on the night. The offense would start with good field position at the Rams 49 yard line. Sharing the backfield duties were RB Matt Story and  RB Greg Taylor. On the seventh offensive play for the Indians, Taylor would score from the four yard line.

“They just wore us down in the second half” said Ridgeview head coach Tom MacPherson following the Panthers' 40-0 lose to the Bartram Trail Bears(2-1). “It was a competitive first half, but after a while their size just took its toll on the defense”.

The Panthers(2-1) came out with a lot of emotion and fight in the first half. The crowd came out the same way, with their cowbells and chants of “DEFENSE!” echoing through the stadium. The emotion that ran through the Ridgeview players helped keep the Bears from getting a first down in the first 11 minutes of the game. Mistakes and penalties on Bartram’s part helped the Panthers gain good field position as the fist quarter played out. They just were unable to put the ball in the end zone. The closet they came to scoring was when they had the ball on the 14 yard line. They chose to give WR Riley Hill the option to throw the ball on first down. Hill under threw the ball and it was intercepted in the end zone by LB Josh Malaudrucco. Three plays later with 32 seconds left in the first quarter, Bears quarterback Kyle Parker hit wide receiver Charles Bailey in stride for a 70 yard touchdown. Both are division one prospects, with Parker looking at Clemson and Bailey at Mississippi State.

The Keystone Heights Indians received a dose of their own medicine on opeing night. They were forced to try and stop a team, Fort White Indians, that was able to run the ball effectively. This led to a high scoring game with Keystone winning a close one at home Friday night. Final 48-40.

At their home opener, the Indians went up against a strong offensive line that dominated the line of scrimmage. Senior offensive tackle Robert Hartley, who stands  6-foot-7 and weighs just less than 300 pounds, led the way. The Fort White Indians started the night with 13 runs out of their first 14 plays. That set the tone for the night.