FLEMING ISLAND - Clay High running back Connor Beck’s 25-yard run and Andrew Riddling’s 29-yard field goal gave Clay an 11-6 lead over host Fleming Island in a game that was suspended due to lightning at the 7:44 mark of the third quarter on Friday, Oct. 9.

The county rivals will resume play on Nov. 4, with the Blue Devils in possession at the Golden Eagles 7 yard-line.

The contest is critical for a playoff position in the very competitive District 4-4A. Clay entered the game at 4-2 overall and 1-1 in district play, while Fleming Island entered at 3-3 and 2-0 in the district.

Beck’s touchdown run came on a third down at the Fleming Island 25. Needing eight yards for a first down, Beck took a handoff from Blue Devils quarterback Landon Martin and headed off right tackle. Both Golden Eagles inside linebackers blitzed up the middle and penetrated the Clay backfield, but they were too late to stop Beck. When he found a hole, there was no one to stop him. The junior sped away from lone safety Brady Digman into the right corner of the end zone. The run capped a seven-play, 80-yard drive.

Clay head coach Jeff Gierke caught the Golden Eagles off guard by going for two after the Beck TD. Martin rolled right and found sophomore tight end Wyatt Rapoza on a crossing route to put the Blue Devils ahead, 8-0, with 7:42 remaining in the first half.

Fleming Island responded with a lengthy drive of its own. Quarterback Greyson Critch converted three third down passes to Ryan Siliac, Gavin Boysen and Chase Donaldson - the last that gave the Golden Eagles a first down at the Clay 8 yard-line. Two plays later, Digman fell across the goal line from the 2 to pull the Golden Eagles within two points.

Fleming Island head coach Tom MacPherson elected to try to match Clay’s two-point conversion, a decision that backfired when Critch’s slant pass to Siliac was broken up by Clay’s MiKeise Battle.

Kamari Davis, who ran for 128 yards on eight carries in the first half, put Clay back into scoring position when he bolted off of the right side for 68 yards on the first play of the Blue Devils’ ensuing possession.

Fleming Island cornerback Braylon Reed chased Davis down at the 10 yard-line to save a touchdown. Davis left the game with leg cramps one play later, and the short drive sputtered when Martin fumbled a snap and had to fall on the loose ball. Riddling drove a perfect kick over the crossbar in the light rain on the final play of the half.

Both offenses moved the ball. Clay turned to their ground game by rushing for 181 yards on 20 carries in just two quarters. The Blue Devils squandered a chance to score on the game’s opening possession when they elected to go for it on fourth-and-six from the Fleming Island 8. The Golden Eagles’ Levi Cox and Landon Howard stopped Martin after a two-yard gain.

The Golden Eagles found more success through the air with Critch completing eight-of-nine passes for 92 yards. Fleming Island also missed on a chance to score on its opening drive. Having secured three first downs to reach the Clay 37, the Golden Eagles were called for holding, unnecessary roughness and a false start on their next series that stalled the drive.

Fleming Island hurt itself with nine penalties for 90 yards in the first half. The Golden Eagles committed two more personal fouls on Clay’s first possession of the second half, giving the Blue Devils a first down at the 7 yard-line when play was suspended.

Broncos up 15-13 at halftime; game resumes Nov. 4

By Chapman Sellars, Correspondent

MIDDLEBURG - Middleburg High football's dominant running game propelled them to a first half lead, but Orange Park was not going down easy as some area football game finishes were postponed to Nov. 4.

For the Broncos, Orange Park, a historical thorn in the Broncos' side, used a third-and-10 pass play that turned into a 50-yard score by wide receiver Amare Bellamy.

Middleburg's defense struck back quickly with freshman defensive lineman Jamarian Lane forcing a fumble at the Raiders' 12. That set up a touchdown by Broncos running back Khaden "KK" Robinson. A two-point conversion left Middleburg with a slim 8-7 lead.

After a solid 59-yard Orange Park drive on their third possession, the Raiders faced a fourth-and-goal, thanks to Broncos linebacker Jaylen Wolosuk's relentless pass rush that stalled the drive. Again, the Middleburg defense forced a turnover-this time a strip-sack.

Immediately following the turnover, Middleburg’s offense picked up 86 yards on the ground across five consecutive carries - all by Robinson - who scored his second touchdown to extend the lead to 15-7 late in the first half. A theme all year for Middleburg has been capitalizing on turnovers, and they successfully did that.

Not to be outdone, it was Orange Park’s turn to answer - and they did. After a few positive plays and a penalty on Middleburg, the Raiders had the ball near midfield with just more than a minute left in the half. Orange Park quarterback Daeveon Williams was able to find Bellamy on a third-and-long to keep the drive alive.

On the next play, with just 40 seconds remaining in the half, Williams dropped back, scanned the field, and let one fly deep down the sideline to Jaden Fields. He then laid out for an exceptional 43-yard touchdown.

After a failed two-point conversion, the score was 15-13.

An aggressive thunderstorm locked down the game at halftime for more than 90 minutes, and the contest was subsequently cancelled with hopes of being rescheduled.

Orange Park’s Amare Bellamy racked up more than 100 receiving yards in the first half, while Robinson had nearly 100 rushing yards on just seven carries.

Both players will look to add to their performances on Nov. 4.