The Yulee Hornets have carried the momentum of a successful 2025 season into the opening weeks of 2026.
After winning eight games and earning a spot in the FHSAA Class 3A playoffs last season, Yulee has started the new campaign 2-0 with impressive road victories over Baldwin and First Coast. The Hornets have scored 58 points through two games while allowing only 27.
The early success has come with a mixture of experienced players and young talent, including freshman quarterback Liam Hice-Jones, who has quickly established himself as one of the team’s key offensive players.
Hornets Roll Past Baldwin
Yulee opened the season Aug. 21 with a convincing 42-14 victory over Baldwin.
The Hornets fell behind 7-0 after the first quarter, but the response was immediate. Yulee scored 21 points in the second quarter, added another 14 in the third and finished with seven more in the fourth.
Hice-Jones led the way through the air, completing 21 of 28 passes for 236 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Junior athlete Tre Vazquez was a major factor on the ground, rushing for 96 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries.
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Running back Duke Johnson has been the work-horse on the ground with 34 carries for 155 yards and a touchdown. on the ground Senior Pete Kuhlman also made his presence felt, catching four passes for 76 yards and a touchdown.
The performance showed that Yulee could respond to adversity and put together four quarters of football.
Defense, Poise Lift Yulee Past First Coast
The second game was much different.
Yulee traveled to First Coast on Aug. 28 and came away with a hard-fought 16-13 victory. Rather than relying on an explosive offensive performance, the Hornets had to make plays in a tight game.
Hice-Jones completed 8 of 15 passes for 95 yards, while freshman running back Duke Johnson carried 22 times for 68 yards. Kuhlman caught four passes for 50 yards.
The victory was particularly important because it demonstrated that Yulee can win in different ways. After scoring 42 points against Baldwin, the Hornets held First Coast to 13 points and found a way to close out a competitive road game.
Through two games, Hice-Jones leads the Hornets with 331 passing yards, while Johnson has rushed for 155 yards. Kuhlman is averaging 63 receiving yards per game.
Linebacker Jaison Brown is averaging 11 tackles per game. Senior linebacker JJ Etienne has already recorded an interception, while defensive lineman Kobina Wallace has 1.5 sacks.
2025 Set the Foundation
The current 2-0 start is even more significant when viewed against what Yulee accomplished last season under Head Coach Kyle Dougherty.
The Hornets went 8-3 in 2025, won their first seven games and reached the FHSAA Class 3A playoffs. Yulee closed the regular season with an 8-2 record after defeating Menendez 36-12.
The playoff appearance was Yulee’s second postseason berth in three seasons. Although the Hornets’ season ended with a 24-16 loss to West Florida in the regional quarterfinals, the 2025 campaign marked a major step forward for the program.
Senior quarterback Jackson Visconti was one of the leaders of that team. In the playoff loss, he threw for 389 yards and a touchdown, while Jayden Timmon, Tre Vazquez and others helped lead an offense that had already shown plenty of explosiveness during the regular season. Defensively, JJ Etienne recorded 10 solo tackles and two assists in the playoff game.
Now, several of those returning players are helping establish the culture for a new group.
A Team With Bigger Goals
The Hornets’ 2-0 record is more than just a fast start. It is evidence that the progress made in 2025 has carried over.
Hard-fought team win.
— Jaison Brown ‘28 LB (@Jaison_Brown09) August 31, 2026
18 tackles | 1 TFL | 2 QB Pressures @CoachDOnofrio @malcolmfolkk @JW13_@cpnechodom @MattCaruso04@TheCribSouthFLA @Kelly_Nick6 @coachKosi@JaxonYork02 @TaylorBrownFAU@CoachButterECU @EricJosephsRU @skwilliamsjr@AWarren36 @CoachMJacobs34 @JSacca19… pic.twitter.com/gbL4k43tiC
Yulee has already shown both sides of its identity: the ability to score in bunches and the toughness to win a defensive battle. With Hice-Jones gaining experience, Johnson and Vazquez providing production in the running game, Kuhlman serving as a reliable target and veterans such as Etienne anchoring the defense, the Hornets have plenty of pieces to build around.
The next challenge comes Friday, Sept. 4, when Yulee returns home to face rival Fernandina Beach. The Hornets enter the matchup 2-0 and looking to extend their unbeaten start.
For Yulee, the message is clear: 2025 proved the Hornets could compete. The opening two games of 2026 suggest they are ready to take another step.
