Nease didn’t downplay the desire for revenge in its playoff opener. The Panthers embraced it and used it as fuel against Oakleaf, and the result of the Varsity 4 Game of the Week was telling.

Twenty seniors walked across the field for Senior Night at Mandarin, never knowing a point during high school when the Mustangs weren’t district champions. They walked off the field Friday night never having come up empty when it comes to district titles.

The host Vikings swarmed Creekside during the opening quarter and put away the Knights in the second half of the Varsity 4 Game of the Week. The result was another running-clock Raines romp, a 51-3 non-district walkover in the Varsity 4 Game of the Week.

The ninth week of the high school football season is Friday night. Here are four games to watch followed by the next four best options. All games begin at 7 p.m. unless indicated.

The eighth week of the high school football season is Friday night. Here are four games to watch followed by the next four best options. All games begin at 7 p.m. unless indicated.

The high school football regular season is off and rolling. News4JAX Varsity 4 Super 10 is here. It will be published on Tuesday through the end of the regular season.

Week 7 of the high school football season is in the books, and it was a light Friday night around the area.

The seventh week of the high school football season is Friday night. Here are four games to watch followed by the next four best options. All games begin at 7 p.m. unless indicated.

The sixth week of the high school football season is Friday night. Here are four games to watch followed by the next four best options. All games begin at 7 p.m. unless indicated.

Houston coach Willie Fritz has seen it all in college football.

ST. JOHNS, Fla.

The first week of the high school football season kicks off Friday night. Here are four games to watch followed by the next four best options. All games begin at 7 p.m. unless indicated.

An Oregon university says Nike co-founder Phil Knight and his wife Penny Knight have pledged a record $2 billion to its cancer center.

The News4JAX Varsity 4 Super 6 girls soccer rankings will be published every Thursday during the regular season — except during Thanksgiving and Christmas week. Records are through Jan. 15 games.

Report: UCF head coach Gus Malzahn is resigning to become FSU's offensive coordinator

News4JAX sports editor Justin Barney reveals his predictions for the third round of the high school football playoffs. All game times are Friday at 7 p.m. unless indicated.

Oakleaf coach Christopher Foy wanted his team to match the way Nease played: For one another, for their coaches, a team game.

The high school football playoffs begin this week. Here is a glance of the matchups for local teams in Class 3A-7A divisions.

The high school football playoffs kick off this week and News4JAX has picked out the top 10 games in the area for the opening round. Here’s why.

High school football season is back. That means our football predictions are back, too.News4JAX sports editor Justin Barney will reveal his picks for the week each Thursday. All game times are Friday at 7 p.m. unless indicated.

Darius Johnson scored 24 points and assisted on a go-ahead slam dunk with less than a minute remaining to lead UCF to a 64-61 win over No. 13 Texas A&M.

Each senior is in the spotlight after their last football game at Ponte Vedra, with a walk down the field, lined with family, teammates and friends. But there was one senior showcased throughout Friday night’s Varsity 4 Game of the Week — Brian Case.

Varsity 4 has you covered every step of the way for Week 11 of the high school football season with two nights of action in the final full week of the regular season.

Top-ranked Raines, No. 2 Nease and seventh-ranked Mandarin all wrapped up district championships on an action-packed Friday night.

Bolles and Raines rolled in a pair of Super 10 high school football showdowns in Week 9 on Friday night.

Varsity 4 has you covered every step of the way for Week 9 of the high school football season. Check out the top four games and full schedule for this week of the season.

Varsity 4 has you covered every step of the way for Week 7 of the high school football season.

The high school football regular season cranks up in full this week and News4JAX/Varsity 4 have you covered every step of the way. We’ll have four games to watch, the next four best and the full schedule in our Thursday coverage. All game times are 7 p.m. unless indicated.

A recap of Week 1 of the high school football season and looking ahead to Week 2.

The News4JAX girls lacrosse Super 6 will be published Monday through the end of the regular season. Records are through March 3 games.

One well-placed corner kick, a fortuitous bounce and 80 minutes of intense defense delivered the Creekside girls soccer team another state championship.

Creekside used a ferocious comeback in the final 10 minutes to earn a spot in the girls soccer state championship game.

Only two girls soccer heavyweights remain standing in the state playoffs — Creekside and Ponte Vedra.

Jaylin Sellers scored 18 points, Darius Johnson added 17 and UCF erased a 16-point deficit to beat No. 3 Kansas 65-60 on Wednesday night.

News4JAX sports editor Justin Barney will reveal his high school football picks for the week each Thursday.

The high school playoff field is set.

The high school football regular season is in the books. While we won’t know the playoff bracket until Sunday morning, quite a few teams made their closing pitch for the postseason.

It’s the final — and biggest week of the high school football regular season. Plus, three area volleyball teams are headed to the state final four. Talk about a big week in the high school world.

It’s Week 11 of the high school football season. We’ve got a look at the top four games, the next four options and other games where playoff implications are big. Plus, the full schedule for teams in north Florida and south Georgia are below.

The final week of the high school football season is here, and the bubble watching has begun.

It’s Week 10 of the high school football season. We’ve got a look at the top four games on Thursday and Friday night, the next four options and the full schedule for teams in north Florida and south Georgia.

It’s Week 9 of the high school football season. We’ve got a look at the top four games, the next four options and the full schedule for teams in north Florida and south Georgia.

3 key takeaways from the state’s football scene -- and a glimpse at what’s to come next week.

It’s Week 8 of the high school football season. We’ve got a look at the top four games, the next four options and the full schedule for teams in north Florida and south Georgia.

3 key takeaways from the state’s football scene -- and a glimpse at what’s to come next week.

It’s the second week of the high school football season. We take a look at the top four games, the next four options and the full schedule for teams in north Florida and south Georgia.

Fairleigh Dickinson became the second No. 16 seed in history to win an NCAA Tournament game, stunning top-seeded Purdue 63-58 behind 19 points from Sean Moore and a relentless, hustling defense.

The News4JAX girls lacrosse Super 6 will be published Monday through the end of the regular season with the exception of March 13. Records are through March 5 games.

The Oakleaf girls basketball team’s second trip to the state semifinals ended in difficult fashion.

After Oakleaf lost in the playoffs last season, it didn’t take long for the leaders on the girls’ basketball team to start working toward a better season. Now, the Knights are back in the final four.

The Bishop Kenny, Oakleaf, Providence, Ridgeview and St. Johns Country Day’s girls basketball teams all stamped their tickets to the third round of the state playoffs on Tuesday night.

Nease quarterback Marcus Stokes, once a Florida commit, signs with West Florida.

The News4JAX Super 6 boys basketball rankings will be published each Wednesday during the regular season. Records are through Jan. 17.

The News4JAX Super 6 boys basketball rankings will be published each Wednesday during the regular season. Records are through Jan. 3

Riley Leonard threw for 173 yards and ran for two touchdowns, and Duke wrapped up an impressive first season under Mike Elko with a 30-13 victory over UCF in the Military Bowl.

Three key takeaways from the state’s football scene this past weekend -- and a glimpse at what’s to come next week.

Three key takeaways from the state’s football scene this past weekend -- and a glimpse at what’s to come next week.

Creekside held its own with vaunted rival Bartram Trail for the opening 22 minutes of Friday night’s playoff game.

Three key takeaways from the state’s football scene this past weekend -- and a glimpse at what’s to come next week.

The opening night of the state playoffs in the area are done and what a night it was.

Three key takeaways from the state’s football scene this past weekend -- and a glimpse at what’s to come next week.

Three key takeaways from the state’s football scene this weekend.

It’s Week 9 of the high school football season. We take a look at the top four games, the next four options and the full schedule for teams in north Florida and south Georgia.

Three key takeaways from the state’s football scene this past weekend.

It’s Week 8 of the high school football season. We take a look at the top four games, the next four options and the full schedule for teams in north Florida and south Georgia.

Mandarin’s offense was moving the ball, and Creekside’s running game had difficulty finding room. But one thing didn’t just tip the field for the Knights, it moved the ball all the way down the field — Creekside’s special teams.

In the driving rain on Thursday night, the Creekside football team muscled up and won its biggest game of the season.

The Border Classic presented by Baker’s Sports puts high school football in the spotlight this week, with seven games over three days. All games will be streamed on News4JAX+ and select games will be broadcast live on WJXT Channel 4. We look at the matchups.

It’s Border Classic week as News4JAX and WJXT head to the Peach State for seven games of high school football action.

Creekside handled Nease 62-41 in the News4JAX Football Friday Game of the Week. Photograpger Kevin Nguyen captured the game in photos.

Nicky Williams rushed for five touchdowns in the News4JAX Game of the Week, while quarterback Wilson Edwards threw for three more, as host Creekside used a 21-point third-quarter outburst on the way to a 62-41 victory over Nease in a St. Johns County showdown.

Eight area softball teams, half of those from Clay County, are heading on to the third round of the state playoffs.

Brenna Robinson never expected anything like this. The Creekside defender and All-News4JAX girls soccer player of the year, never envisioned her final season playing out like a movie.

The News4JAX Super 6 softball rankings will be published each Monday through the end of the regular season. Results are through March 27 games.

After this week, the News4JAX Super 6 girls lacrosse rankings will be published weekly through the end of the regular season. Records are through March 22 games.

CJ Fleming scored a career-high 27 points, Dylan Penn added 22 and Division I newcomer Bellarmine defeated Jacksonville 77-72 in the Atlantic Sun Conference tournament, handing the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament to regular-season champion Jacksonville State.

Avery Robinson scored a pair of gorgeous goals and the Creekside defense kept Cypress Bay off-balance as the Knights won the Class 7A girls soccer state championship 3-1 on Friday afternoon at Spec Martin Stadium.

UCF’s long wait for another shot at Florida is over.

Mandarin’s Gage Hulbert won a state title in the 100 fly and Creekside’s Grace Gavin added to the Knights’ sterling tradition by winning an individual title in the 100 back in the Class 4A state tournament.

Huddle up! Here’s a look back at this weekend on the gridiron, with three key takeaways from the state’s football scene.

It’s Week 8 of the high school football season. A glance at the top four games this week, the next four and the full schedule.

Huddle up! Here’s a look back at this weekend on the gridiron, with three key takeaways from the state’s football scene.

The high school football season is rolling along. The big story Friday night — the unbeatens are fewer than they were before the night started.

It’s Week 3 of the high school football season and quite a few teams look to stay unbeaten. Here’s a glance at our top four games of the week and the next four.

Creekside coach Sean McIntyre was preaching offensive efficiency this week. Score when opportunities are presented. The Knights did that very well.

Oakleaf marched up and down the field with its powerful offensive line and ground game taking control and knocked off Orange Park 42-21 in a rainy finale of the WW Gay Mechanical Contractors Bold City Showcase at Bolles on Saturday night.

It wasn’t easy. It wasn’t pretty. But it was a promising start for the Creekside football team in the WW Gay Mechanical Contractors Bold City Showcase.

With their game back on this year — Creekside faces Ribault in the second of three games in the W.W. Gay Mechanical Contractor, Inc. Bold City Showcase at Bolles — it was quite the relief.

A Clay County football rivalry is headed out of town … just for a night.

Spring football is in full swing and the News4Jax sports team is making stops at high schools across the area in its annual Spring Swing tour. One of today's stops: Creekside.

The best season in Oakleaf girls basketball history finished two wins short of a state championship. The Knights started fast but cooled off after that in a 69-52 loss to Tampa Plant in the Class 7A state semifinals at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland on Friday afternoon. Nyla Jean led Plant with 26 points. AdOakleaf guard Taliah Scott had 26 points and Fantasia James added 15. Both of those players are sophomores and return in 2022 to try and help to Knights contend for a state championship.

When the season was paused, and eventually canceled due to COVID-19, our Super 6 looked like this — Ridgeview, Oakleaf, West Nassau, Episcopal, Bartram Trail and Atlantic Coast. Glance: The Knights are always a pick to land high in the Super 6 and they open 2021 in a familiar position. Ridgeview (1-1, Class 4A)Notable win: Atlantic Coast. Episcopal (1-0, Class 3A)Notable win: Atlantic Coast. Others: Baldwin (3-0, Class 3A; Clay (1-0, Class 4A); Creekside (1-2, Class 6A); First Coast (3-0, Class 6A); Fletcher (1-1, Class 6A); Keystone Heights (1-1, Class 3A); Mandarin (1-1, Class 7A); Middleburg (1-0, Class 5A); Paxon (2-1, Class 4A); Providence (0-1, Class 3A).

(AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)ABU DHABI – In spite of the surging coronavirus pandemic, major arms makers descended Sunday on a convention center in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, hoping to make deals with militaries across the Middle East. The UAE unveiled $1.36 billion in local and foreign arms deals to supply its forces with everything from South African drones to Serbian artillery. Significant national pavilions were absent, including the United States, the world’s largest arms exporter. Ad“The threats are obvious lately,” said Walid Abukhaled, CEO of Saudi Arabian Military Industries Company, a holding company owned by the country’s sovereign wealth fund. “If Iran goes into a major rearmament program or starts to flex its muscles, that’s where missile defense and air defense systems come in,” he said.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Tuesday night is the second round of the girls high school basketball state playoffs. St. Augustine beat Ponte Vedra 47-29 in the regular season, and then edged the Sharks 49-45 in the district championship. The Trojans won 51-50 in OT this season, 44-38 last season, 54-50 in 2019 and 52-39 in 2018. That sets up a rematch of the district championship game, won 46-35 by the Christians. C/F Jaidy Mejia (11.2 ppg) and G Laura Gonzalez (10.2 ppg) lead NFEI.

New Tennessee NCAA college football head coach Josh Heupel, left, shakes hands with University of Tennessee athletics director Danny White after being presented a jersey speaks during an introductory press conference at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021. (Caitie McLekin/Knoxville News Sentinel via AP, Pool)Josh Heupel believes he can win quickly at Tennessee and position the football program for long-term success. Heupel was introduced Wednesday as the program's 27th head coach and fifth, not counting interim or acting coaches, since the end of the 2008 season. New athletic director Danny White said Tennessee ran an “exhaustive nationwide search” led by the same search firm that helped land White. White was hired last week to replace the retiring Phillip Fulmer and hiring a new coach was his first task.

N4J pick: Bartram Trail 31, Oakleaf 30. N4J pick: Sandalwood 23, FPC 21. N4J pick: St. Augustine 33, Escambia 31. Baker County (7-2) at Raines (4-6), 7 p.m.: The Vikings defense against the Wildcats offensive front. N4J pick: Snyder 28, Out-of-Door 20..

Flagler Palm Coast’s Cronk, the reigning News4Jax swimmer of the year, defended her crowns in the 200 free and the 100 free. On the boys side, Creekside (192.5) finished as state runner-up to Oviedo (216) and led a strong showing from St. Johns County programs in the pool. The Knights had a state champ in the 200 free relay event and the Bears had gold in the 200 medley relay. The Fleming 200 free relay team was state runner-up, with Maryn McDade joining the Grimms and Johnson on the team. McDade also had a third in the 50 free (23.84) and a third in the 100 free (52.50).

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Only two volleyball programs from St. Johns County are left standing in the Class 5A-7A state playoffs. Bartram Trail bounced Mandarin 3-1 in Region 1-7A and nationally ranked Ponte Vedra swept Ridgeview in Region 1-5A on Wednesday night. Those teams join Bishop Kenny (Region 1-4A), Christ’s Church (Region 1-2A) and Union County (Region 3-1A) in advancing to Saturday’s regional final for a berth in the state final fourPonte Vedra (24-0) knocked off Ridgeview 25-14, 25-19, 27-25. In Region 1-7A, Bartram Trail (14-7) knocked off Mandarin 3-1 to advance to Saturday’s regional final against Lyman. In Region 1-6A, Creekside’s season ended with a 20-25, 25-23, 20-25, 25-17, 15-10 loss to Leon.

(3) Trinity Christian (5-1), Class 3ALast week: d. Lee, 14-6. (6) Baker County (6-1), Class 5ALast week: d. West Nassau, 28-12. This week: vs. Gainesville (1-2), 6 p.m.Glance: Generals struggled offensively against Trinity last week and haven’t faced the best competition outside of that. Dropped out: Sandalwood (5-1, Class 8A), lost to Mandarin, 29-12; Fletcher (4-1, Class 7A), have missed last two weeks due to COVID-19. On the bubble: Fletcher (4-1, Class 7A); Hilliard (6-0, Class 1A); Ponte Vedra (5-2, Class 6A); St. Augustine (4-2, Class 6A); Sandalwood (5-1, Class 8A), Suwannee (6-2, Class 5A).

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The first night of high school volleyball playoff action is in the books and five local teams are moving on. The Mustangs (11-9) advanced to the Oct. 28 regional semifinal at Bartram Trail. Bartram Trail 3, Sandalwood 0The Bears (13-7) swept the Saints 25-18, 25-23, 25-11 to advance to the regional semifinals on Oct. 28. The 18-25, 25-18, 25-18, 25-17 win sends the Knights (17-2) to the second round on Oct. 28. Tallahassee Leon 3, Fleming Island 2The Golden Eagles pushed host Leon to the limit, but couldn’t get over the hurdle in a 26-24, 23-25, 25-22, 22-25, 14-16 loss.