FLEMING ISLAND – With the summer over, area high school football teams will be cranking up a final week of practice before embarking on the 2018 season with three teams returning from playoff seasons last year.
Fleming Island, Clay and Keystone Heights return to the gridiron with playoffs on the mind as both Fleming Island and Clay reached their respective region finals and Keystone Heights getting one region playoff game after a season beset with a slew of late season injuries.

Clay (9-4) at Fleming Island (11-3)
Clay loses a host of offensive weapons; mainly quarterback Caleb Eason and running back Aundre Carter, but come back with a formidable offensive line, two strong outside defensive stalwarts and a coach that figures stuff out on the fly.
Fleming Island loses a trio of now NCAA Division I linebackers; Ryan Smenda, Jack Surgeoner and Jackson Bull, that put the Golden Eagles offense in great field position most times. Seasoned and more poised is junior quarterback Dean Hyams for coach Damenyum Springs.
Preseason: Clay got wrecked in the first half against St. Augustine with turnovers, penalties and inability to move ball. Final score was in favor of Clay after four quarters, but a strong first half and some depletion of first stringers opened door for a big Blue Devil third quarter.
This game depends on Clay’s quarterback situation; Spencer LeSage is a wideout turned QB for the start. Senior Turner Erstad is a senior backup of Eason with a repaired shoulder. Erstad sparked the Clay wake up against St. Augustine with opportunistic scrambles and a 90 yard touchdown pass. Fleming Island blew out Westside 54-0 with a variety of weapons making their case for starting positions. Ironically, Westside threw all over Fleming Island in the Jags 7 on 7 in June. Back then, it was senior Max Michaels who said pads and live tackling will make a big difference. It did.
FIHS 24, CHS 17


Nature Coast (7-3) at
Ridgeview (6-4)
Last year, Ridgeview surged to a 6-1 season streak before the balloon burst with three losses to playoff teams; Clay, Baker County, Menendez. Nature Coast has been in the playoffs five times in past six years; once against Clay in region final, last year losing to 5A runnerup in regions. They are strong running team with handfuls of NCAA Division I athletes from the nort of Tampa area.
Ridgeview has a ton of guys back either as underclassmen of last year or from late season injury. The top quarterback in the county, Tyler Huff, has a plethora of weapons through the air and a speed-filled backfield with Jaiden Turner, Caleb Plyler and Rolando Gray.

Preseason: Ridgeview knocked off Keystone Heights with a handful of big plays, but Keystone Heights got some turnovers on the Panthers. A key Ridgeview player was injured (still tentative) and that will put a wrinkle in this one.
From the Hernando Sun: Nature Coast coach Cory Johns returns quarterback Fabian Burnett under center and the signal caller was a dual-threat every time he dropped back to pass. Combine running back Mike Weston with Burnett in the backfield the the duo pose one of the top 1-2 punches not only in Hernando County, but maybe the Tampa Bay area. Nature Coast scored five first half touchdowns (four on ground) in 48-20 final over Superior Collegiate Academy out of Clearwater. Superior Collegiate, an Independent, was 7-4 in 2017 with a 63-44 loss to University Christian of Jacksonville.

Ridgeview 45, Nature Coast 38


Orange Park (1-9) at Oakleaf (2-8)

Orange Park got the win in their preseason clash with Bishop Kenny with a sprinting opening kickoff from Terrance Johnson then hammered away to the 19-8 win behind new quarterback Vinny Walker.
Oakleaf had its troubles with ball security though coach Frank Garis said the “offense moved at will” in his 19-6 loss to Fletcher. Three fumbles costly in that game.
On paper, Oakleaf has the weapons; Keshawn King, Dexter Moore and attitude with a new coaching staff and a eagerness to prove naysayers wrong.
The Raiders have Tom Macpherson and his third year should prove fruitful as this team can now grasp his abundant football acumen.
Both are turning around seasoned programs.

Oakleaf 16, Orange Park 14



Middleburg (1-9) at Menendez (8-4)

Holy Smokes! Broncos unleashed a wave of fumbles to scores against inept Wolfson squad in preseason, 54-7 final. 37-0 first quarter. So, I guess that means Broncos are back.
Quarterback Joe Justino is a soothing fellow; size is on Broncos side spelled Saunders, LeClair, Warner.
Menendez is team expected to battle likes of 5A powers Clay and Baker County this year with renewed vigor.
Preseason: Middleburg hammers Wolfson. Menendez hammers Creekside 50-10. It’s either a shootout if Middleburg is real or Menendez bursts the good-feel balloon.

Middleburg 28, Menendez 14



Keystone Heights (4-6) at Fernandina Beach (5-5)

Keystone Heights kind of slowed down an explosive Ridgeview team but lost 23-0. Quarterback issues for Indians have been a staple, but a strong run game and a feisty defense under coach Lantz Lowery is always Indian lore.

Keystone Heights 38, Fernandina Beach 21



Merritt Island (1-7) at St. Johns Country Day School (1-6)

Two programs looking for identity. St. Johns survived a strong showing from 1A Branford in their preseason game, but coach Derek Chipoletti knows his depth will be an achilles heel. Good thing is that Chipoletti is as good a coach in making lemonade.
Merritt Island comes with a 240 pound center and a senior quarterback who also plays linebacker with anothe senior. Word is the Merritt Island offensive line is the strength. Merritt Island beat Eau Gallie 33-27 with the aid of an 84 yard kickoff return for a touchdown with two minutes left in the game. That got a tie and a blocked field goal got a 10 yard touchdown pass for the overtime win. Merritt Island’s defense held Eau Gallie out of the end zone in their overtime offensive effort.
Still think Chipoletti will rebound.

SJCDS 28, Merritt Island 6