It was an exciting night of football once again in Northeast Florida as several teams rolled up big yards and big wins to roll up the night. We take a look at a few games, recapping the victories for Baldwin, Jackson, Oakleaf, and Creekside.
Baldwin 54 West Nassau 12
Baldwin improved to 7-1 on the season, defeating West Nassau 54-12 to win district 2S-5. Baldwin completes the district sweep going 4-0 against opponents. They defeated Fernandina Beach 28-0, Baker County 30-7, Yulee 20-17, and now West Nassau to secure the top spot and a playoff birth.
Baldwin scored twice on special teams when senior King Grant returned a punt for a touchdown, and Octavious Barnes scored on a kickoff return for a score. Quarterback Jalen Hitchens has led all year with a passing for 481 yards passing, and 637 yards rushing, and 10 total touchdowns before their game against West Nassau. He continued that offensive performance Friday night scoring, scoring multiple times as he and wide receiver Jahad Miller (254yds 3 Rec TDs) have put together a great season.
On defense, players like Cortez Martinez and Adrian Yeartie have been big time players to which Coach Robert Shields credits as one of the main reasons for the team’s success this year. Yeartie leads the team with 5 sacks. Martinez has 4 interceptions on the year. While Leon Kirkland leads the team with 5 interceptions this season.
Shields had to pay up to a promise he made to his team. He promised them that if they won the district, that he’s shave his head. Well, let’s just say, he pulled up to the scene with his celing missing.
Jackson 21 Baker County 14
Fred Gaines scored two touchdowns one from the air and the other on the ground, as the Jackson Tigers continued their prowl over the area defeating Baker County Friday night. King Johnson also scored twice, tossing a touchdown and running for another in the contest.
Jackson (7-1, 1-0) Baker County (5-3,2-1)
Player Profile: LB- Grayson Howard, Jackson
Oakleaf 27 Madison County 21
Taylor Bradshaw said he was going to have a big game, and boy did he. The talented senior scored two touchdowns on offense and added an interception on defense as well to help his team take home the victory. Quarterback Drew Ammon tossed three touchdowns in the contest.
Oakleaf (4-4,1-2) Madison County (2-6, 0-0)
Player Profile: RB, Devin Outlaw, Oakleaf
Creekside 38 Fleming Island 35
Quarterback Wilson Edwards ran for an early score, and also tossed a late touchdown to wide receiver Ashton Reynolds with :34 seconds to play to lift Creekside over Fleming Island. Fleming Island’s Cibastian Broughton tossed three touchdowns, two of them to running back Sam Singleton in the loss.
Player Profile: DL, Gabe Isbell, Fleming Island
Creekside (6-2, 2-2) Fleming Island (4-3,0-3)
Photo gallery by Heather Isbell
