Middleburg

El Guappo got to hear two proposals last night on the future of a golf course at The Ravines.

The contrast between the two groups was stark. The degree of preparation, quality of presentation, command of the information, ability to clearly and effectively communicate the goals and vision were quite different. One group demonstrated respect, trust and accountability. The other simply did not. One group had a vision of a future albiet with a price tag that was 'sticker shock' realization for the crowd. One group had a vision of a future that was simply what was here before you might have again without significant improvements and no clear price tag.

A firefighter was injured this morning when he fell through a weakened floor while fighting a fire in a Middleburg mobile home, according to Clay County Fire Rescue. He is being treated for an ankle injury.

About 5:30 a.m. today, firefighters were called to the 2300 block of Buckwheat Court where a doublewide mobile home was burning. Residents of the home were not inside and there were no other injuries reported.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Dana Treen.

With an overall record of 12-15 heading into Wednesday night's regional quarterfinal volleyball match against 22-8 Stanton, Middleburg was seemingly in for a tight battle.

But three turned out to be the only number that really mattered, as the Lady Broncos took three-straight from the Lady Devils (25-23, 25-20, 25-16) to set up Tuesday's home regional semifinal game against the winner of Wednesday night's Bishop Kenny-Santa Fe contest.

The Broncos have beaten Santa Fe three times this season, including the District 3-4A championship game last week. Bishop Kenny beat Middleburg back on Sept. 20.

(See related photo gallery on Spotted)

Middleburg's Lady Broncos square off against Santa Fe at 7 p.m. Thursday night for the District 3-4A volleyball championship.

The top-seeded Lady Broncos (11-15) defeated district-tournament host Baker County, 25-15, 30-28, 25-21, in Tuesday's semifinals to secure at least a second-place district finish, which includes a state playoff berth. But if they want to play that first playoff game at home against a lower-seeded opponent, they'll have to go through Santa Fe, a three-game winner over Ridgeview in Tuesday's earlier semifinal.

By Devon Jeffreys

Times-Union correspondent

It did not take long for the Middleburg Broncos to recover from last week’s loss to Columbia.

The Broncos used a mix of a solid running game and a bruising defense to beat the Pedro Menendez Falcons Friday night at Veterans Stadium in St. Augustine.

"These kids don’t know how to give up," Middleburg coach Rob Justino said. "They continue to fight and it’s a tribute to all these players."

Broncos’ sophomore running back Rodney Jones ran for 156 yards on 16 carries including a five-yard touchdown run in the victory.

Friday's final:

Columbia 40, Middleburg 7

Tiger Powell rushed for 150 yards and two touchdowns, leading Columbia to a 40-7 homecoming victory over Middleburg on Friday night in the district opener for both teams.

Columbia (5-1, 1-0 District 5-4A) piled up 347 rushing yards on the Broncos (3-3, 0-1 District 5-4A), who lost their second straight game. Middleburg will play at Menendez next Friday night.

Middleburg was held to 136 yards of offense.

Chase Weiskopf scored the Broncos' only touchdown on a pitch from J.C. Alexander, going 55 yards for a score, after Columbia had already pulled ahead, 26-0.

By GARRY SMITS

Florida Times-Union

Rashard Hall gave St. Augustine more than a spark after a slow first quarter Friday at Middleburg.

The senior wide receiver/defensive back changed the entire game.

Hall caught two touchdown passes from quarterback Kawaun Jakes and set up another score with an interception - all in the second quarter. He then returned an interception 77 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter to lead the Jackets over the Broncos 38-7 at Bronco Stadium.

The Jackets (4-0) led only 3-0 after the first quarter as Middleburg (3-2) appeared to be riding the emotion of three victories in a row to give the state's No. 2-ranked Class 3A team a handful.

Friday's final:

Middleburg 17, Fort White 14

Kody Spanbauer's 27-yard field goal in overtime gave Middleburg a 17-14 win over Fort White on Friday night -- the Broncos' third win in four games.

The Broncos came back from a 14-0 deficit in its first road game of the season. After giving up TD runs of 10 and 8 yards in the first half, the Broncos' defense shut down Fort White for the remainder of the game.

Middleburg quarterback Tony Cannaday threw for 196 yards and two touchdowns. Makensy Gede ran for a team-high 111 yards.

Fort White's Xavier Blake rushed for a game-high 160 yards, including a 10-yard scoring run in the first quarter.

New Day; New Blog

Focus: My understanding of the silly, maddening, fascinating, infuriating events with direct and indirect impact on my community. Also, my interests which may or may not amuse anyone else. So be it.

Today: Golfing Blues

Clay County has quite a few courses. Rumor says that they are all barely breaking even from a business standpoint (except probably the one on NAS Jacksonville. Lotta choices for us. I live on a golf course. A defunct golf course. Been defunct for over a year with no end in sight. Don't know if there is anyone out there with enough $$ and tolerance for suffering that would want to buy it. Probably the most beautiful area for golf in NE FL but...it is all overgrown with mustard weeds with a level of disrepair that has taken multiple owners years to achieve. But I have an IDEA: