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1. Correspondent photos by Jessica Mullanax

Middleburg football has a chance at a program-altering game with a road trip to two-time defending state champion Hawthorne to open their 2023. A win here is huge for momentum to get follow-up last year’s historic playoff run.

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Fleming Island’s captains; from left, Braden Cunningham, Cibastian Broughton, Sebastian Cruz and David Smith look to put the Golden Eagles back on a playoff path, but first a rivalry game with Clay High Is on the table.

.3 and 4 (next to each other). Orange Park second-year coach Marcus Wimberly got stung by the high-powered Bolles team in the preseason and steps into a high-powered home opener for Oakleaf and their new coach Chris Foy. One has to win to start on good foot for 2023; the other has to get answers for a better second year.

5. Ridgeview High coach Bryan Arnette needs a jolt with a win to offset back-to-back 2-8 seasons now that team has been the same faces for the past three years.

Game of the Week: Clay at Fleming Island: It is the big one and for a good reason. Both teams looking to rebound from no-playoff 2022. Quarterbacks are both solid; Rapoza and Broughton. Running backs to Fleming Island: Tyler Beverly vs. Chandler Thomas. Wideouts to Clay: Payton Dykas is simply the best in area but Trace

Burney is a burner, maybe Kaylib Singleton speed out there too. Defense, the Shark vs. Omar..That will be worth a ticket.

At Fleming Island, new coach Chad Parker wants to get on the W board in the rivalry. Parker dominated Westside; 27-0 at the half before lights went out, 35-6 final, in preseason play with explosive plays.

From Clay, Kennard has been in the game and knows the emotions. Clay got banged by Bishop Kenny with little offensive production.

Of course, with a rivalry game, none of the preseason matters.

Middleburg at Hawthorne: State champs again for game one for Wolfe. Learned to start fast from slow starts last year. Jenkins on the outskirts in green space. Look for Boyd or Fryer to go 70 on the first handoff to set Hawthorne back then let Cruce, Cody, Carter dominate the line this year. Vondarious Lane, brother to All Stater TJ Lane Rb, with 60 yard interception return. See Lee Wardlaw's Middleburg vs. Episcopal recap.

Orange Park at Oakleaf: New coach at Oakleaf Chris Foy has pushed the program to new level of team discipline, great linebacker duo, could be a game-changer. Raiders have speed to burn, young QB. Bolles is unfriendly to Raiders in new house; 80-yard opening kickoff score, have to find offense and hold on to the ball. See Orange Park vs. Bolles recap by Mike Zima.

Menendez at Ridgeview: Arnette has size this year. Get a quick win, and gain momentum. Get the ball to JJ and let him run like a truck.

Ridgeview had a solid game; traded scores, against a much-improved Keystone Heights team and looks to get more than one win this season. See Ray Dimonda's Keystone Heights vs. Ridgeview recap.

Out of County: Baker County at Bradford: Both teams are to be loaded and looking forward to Clay County visits. First game to see firepower then our guys can adjust. Bradford returns a ton and visits Middleburg and Oakleaf in season. Edge Bradford. Season. Edge Bradford.