GREEN COVE SPRINGS - Not only did Fleming Island wideout Brody Domenico snag five passes and score a touchdown, but also picked up a muffed fumble for the Golden Eagles who rode an aggressive offense to a 34-0 blowout win over Clay in the annual rivalry game at Clay High School on Friday.

Domenico and tailback Tim Thomas both shared the offensive load while a relentless defense did the rest as rushed for 77 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries in three quarters of action with Domenico accruing 107 yards and a score on five receptions.

“We just came out and executed,” said Fleming Island head coach Damenyum Springs. “We are pretty good when we carry out our assignments and have no turnovers.”

The Golden Eagles began the game in midseason form, driving 74 yards in eight plays on their first possession. Wideout Will Stephens gained 17 yards on the Golden Eagles’ first offensive play, quieting a partisan Blue Devils crowd. Thomas capped the drive with a sweep around left end from 14 yards out, diving over a tackler across the goal line.

With a chance to cut into an early 7-0 deficit, Clay lined up for a field goal attempt. A low snap from center bounced to Blue Devils holder D’Maurion Frazier, throwing off the timing of the kick and forcing Frazier to try to run for the first down. He was thrown for a loss by Golden Eagles outside linebacker Shaquille Magwood, turning the ball over on downs.

Domenico accounted for 60 of the Golden Eagles’ 75 yards on their second possession, catching a sideline throw for 25 yards and then scoring on a 35 yard post pattern. Quarterback Dean Hyams, who finished with 154 yards passing, connected on his first six passes as Fleming Island led 14-0 midway through the second quarter.

Hoping to get back in the game after the Clay defense forced a three and out the opening possession of the second half, a short Fleming Island punt glanced off the foot of Blue Devils upback Chris Goldstein and was recovered by Domenico at the Clay 31.

The Blue Devils’ most critical unforced error came late in the second quarter. Trying to run a trick play on which running back Al’Querious Ray would sweep right and pitch the ball to receiver Keyjuan Davis running left, Ray’s pitch was off target. Fleming Island’s Magwood swooped in and pounced on the bouncing ball at the Blue Devils’ 21 yard line. On the next play, Thomas burst through a hole up the middle and dragged Clay safety Jonathan Rouw into the end zone to give the visitors a 20-0 lead just before halftime.

“The fumble was the turning point,” said Clay head coach Jay Stilianou, who made his coaching debut after the offseason departure of Josh Hoekstra. “It was 14-0 and we had the ball. Now it is 20-0 and we are not built for that.”

Indeed, the Blue Devils struggled to mount a downfield passing threat. Griner’s nine completions garnered only 56 yards. The speedy Fleming Island defense had a lot to do with that, sacking the junior six times and blanketing his receivers. Only defensive end Zach Little, with two, had more than one sack, meaning that the pressure was coming from every direction. One of Griner’s few downfield throws was intercepted by Golden Eagles safety Devin Grind and returned 28 yards.

In the first half, Clay appeared capable of staying even with the Golden Eagles. The Blue Devils began the game by driving from their own 25 yard line to the Fleming Island 24. But after a sack of Griner by Magwood forced a fourth and fifteen, a swing pass to Ray gained only four yards and the ball turned over on downs. Clay then drained nine minutes off of the clock in moving from their own 23 yard line to the Fleming Island 20 on their second possession. Faced with nine yards to go on third down, Ray was stopped for no gain on another swing pass, leading to the botched field goal attempt.

“We were doing everything we wanted to in the first half, but came away with no points,” said Stilianou. “Offensive football is all about execution, and we are not doing the little things very well right now.”

A big play on special teams helped Fleming Island put the game away in the third quarter. Isiah Blair took a low line drive punt and, running up the middle before cutting to the left sideline, returned it 42 yards to the Clay three yard line. J.K. Kocak plunged into the end zone two plays later to put the Golden Eagles ahead 26-0. Backup running back Sam Singleton completed the scoring with a 21 yard run in the fourth quarter.

If the result was not a shock— Fleming Island has beaten their rivals four consecutive times— the severity of it was. The Golden Eagles gained 174 yards in the first half-- more than Clay would get for the game. Fleming Island held the Blue Devils’ traditionally potent running game to less than three yards per carry and made five tackles for loss.

“We have got to show up Monday ready to respond,” he said. “We have got to fix us, across the board, and it starts with me.”

The Blue Devils travel to Flagler Palm Coast on August 30. Kickoff is at 7:00 p.m. Fleming Island hosts Lake Minneola in their season opener.