football

When I first met my husband, on a blind date, he warned me that he was from Charelestown, Mass. and he was a fanatical NE Patriot fan.

What's a New England Patriot? I asked.

I was raised in Delaware. The closest NFL team was the Eagles but I had no allegiance. I was a free agent. I could support the Patriots.

In 14 years of marriage, I have learned a lot about the diehard Boston sports nut. We had our house  built on Lot #11, which was Drew Bledsoe's number at the time. Our living room is red, white and blue with framed sports pages from the Boston Globe. We have Patriot shoelaces, tissue boxes, toothbrushes, Christmas ornaments, flags, pillows, clothing. My husband won't let me move any furniture and he won't change his toothbrush during the season because it might jinx the team.

O.K. now the OPAA JPW Cyclones have earned First Coast Conference Champions, S.E. Regional Champions, now they're off to Nationals. This means the Pop Warner Super Bowl at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex. They leave on Mon- Dec,4 and return that Fri. They play a game on Tues against Hollister CA. and then a different team on Fri morning. They are 14-0 and it has been a long and exciting season. At this point they are 1 out of 8 teams in the Nation..WOW!!   These boys are dedicated to their team and passionate about the sport.  Between the parents and boys getting sponsors and the boys also bagging groceries at local grocery stores for donations it has helped them with the trip down to Disney.

One week after Ryan Aplin seemingly cheated fate with his brilliant improvisation, fate's bill came due, and Fleming Island paid in full as its Cinderella season came to an end in a dramatic 28-26 regional championship playoff loss at Bartram Trail.

Yet, even in the final minutes of Friday night's loss, when defeat seemed all but certain, the Golden Eagles still sat inexplicably poised to pull yet another rabbit out of their hat.

Trailing 28-12 with just 9:22 to play, Dee Frieson launched the second of his two 50-yard kickoff returns to the Bartram Trail 44 and followed it up with two receptions for 38 yards before Aplin once again hopped upon his scramble cycle at the 10-yard line and led Bear defenders on a merry chase to and fro that ended up with him in the end zone and the Eagles behind only 28-20 with 7:24 remaining.

This is why they play the game.

This is why we watch the game.

Montory Bellamy broke loose for a 26-yard touchdown run with 16 seconds left to play Friday night to lift Fleming Island to a 24-17 regional semifinal playoff upset of visiting Daytona Mainland (8-4).

The victory puts the Golden Eagles (8-4) in the Region 1 championship final game next Friday at Bartram Trail (8-4), a 35-12 winner at Niceville.

Bloggers, I can't help leaving us with one more little survey to complete this long weekend.

Gators and 'Noles. Who wins and what's the score at halftime?

I say Gators up 35-21.

Anyone else?

Winter Park Lake Howell quarterback Chris Perry could run, and run, and run, but on a frigid Friday night on Fleming Island, there was nowhere he could hide from the cold, hard truth that he couldn't really throw.

The senior Silver Hawk signal-caller put on a rushing clinic in the 5A regional quarterfinal playoff game, amassing 374 yards on 44 carries against the Golden Eagles defense, but in the end it was the more versatile quarterback, and the more complete team, that won the day for Fleming Island, 55-24.

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.  

Friday's final:

Chiles (Tallahassee) 42, Orange Park 26

Gadget plays helped the host Orange Park Raiders get
close to the Chiles Timberwolves Friday night, but a
strong running attack carried the visitors from
Tallahassee to a 42-26 win.
The Raiders (1-9) hosted the Timberwolves for each team’s final regular season game and 17
Orange Park seniors took the field for the last time in their high school careers. The Raiders came out fired up and took their opening drive 80 yards in just under four minutes for the first score of the game. The drive was highlighted by a 34-yard touchdown run
by sophomore running back C.J. Stallworth.

Clay High (7-3) beat Middleburg High (4-6), 35-28, for its fifth straight win to end the regular season. The Blue Devils advance to the first round of the playoffs next week traveling to Baker County as the district runner-up. Middleburg's season is over.

Blue Devil Coach James Reape said his team did just enough to win.

"Offensively, we moved the ball consistently," Reape said. "We are getting better in our passing. Defensively we weren't great, but we made enough stops to win the ball game.

Reape was complimentary of the Bronco coaching staff and players.