KNIGHTS

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.

An FBI informant in a Mississippi group in the 1960s witnessed both evil and ineptitude.

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.

(1) Ponte Vedra, (14-0, Class 5A)Notable wins: Bartram Trail, Bishop Kenny, Creekside, Fleming Island (twice), Fletcher, Florida High, Mandarin, Middleburg, Ridgeview, Santa Fe. (2) Creekside (13-1, Class 6A)Notable wins: Bartram Trail (twice), Bishop Kenny (twice), Bolles, Florida High, Ridgeview (twice), Santa Fe, Trinity Christian. (5) Fleming Island (13-6, Class 6A)Notable wins: Bartram Trail, Bishop Kenny, Mandarin (twice), Middleburg, Ridgeview (twice). (6) Bishop Kenny (10-7, Class 4A)Notable wins: Bartram Trail, Episcopal, Fleming Island, Middleburg, Providence, Ridgeview, Yulee. (3) Fletcher (15-2, Class 6A)Notable wins: Bolles, Mandarin, Middleburg (twice), Ridgeview, Sneads, Stanton, Yulee.

(2) Fleming Island (4-0), Class 7ALast week: d. Creekside, 26-23. (3) Bolles, (3-1), Class 4ALast week: d. Palatka, 49-0. (4) Baker County (4-0), Class 5ALast week: d. Westside, 35-6. On the bubble: Clay (3-0, Class 5A); Flagler Palm Coast (2-1, Class 8A); Fletcher (3-1, Class 7A); Hilliard (5-0, Class 1A); Sandalwood (3-0, Class 8A). GEORGIAFriday, Oct. 9Benedictine (5-0) at Ware County (4-0), 7:30 p.m.Charlton County (2-2) at Clinch County (1-1), 7:30 p.m.*Coffee (3-1) at Camden County (4-1), 7:30 p.m.Glynn Academy (2-2) at Brunswick (2-2), 7:30 p.m.*Pierce County (4-0) at Fitzgerald (4-0), 7:30 p.m.

N4J pick: Clay 30, Eastside 14. Friday, Oct. 2Baker County (3-0) at Westside (2-1), 6 p.m.: Wolverines have won two in a row, but Wildcats are suffocating teams on defense. Bradford (1-3) at Madison County (3-1), 7:30 p.m.: I’d probably take Madison County at home over a small college team. Union County (2-1) at Hamilton County (1-2), 7:30 p.m.: Tigers win big here. N4J pick: Union County 33, Hamilton County 14.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A glance at scores from around the area in Week 4 of the high school football season. Bolles (2-1) edged Creekside 24-21 last year. (1) Bolles, (2-1), Class 4A: LOST to Creekside, 31-24 (OT)2. (8) Baker County (3-0), Class 5A: OFF5. GEORGIAThursday, Sept. 24Brunswick 41, Northeast Macon 12Friday, Sept. 25Camden County 24, Marietta 21McIntosh County 29, Charlton County 21Ware County 45, Thomson 12Off: Glynn Academy, Pierce County.

Bishop Snyder (1-2) at Branford (2-0), 7:30 p.m.: Tough matchup for the Cardinals here. Bradford (1-2) at Suwannee (2-1), 7:30 p.m.: I like the Bulldogs at home in this one. Columbia (0-0) at Trinity Christian (0-1): One of the best games of the week. University Christian (1-1) at Oakleaf (1-1): Depth of the Knights is too much for UC in this one. GEORGIAThursday, Sept. 24Brunswick (1-2) at Northeast Macon (1-0), 7:30 p.m.Friday, Sept. 25Marietta (1-1) at Camden County (2-1), 7:30 p.m.McIntosh County (0-2) at Charlton County (2-0), 7:30 p.m.Ware County (2-0) at Thomson (3-0), 7:30 p.m.Off: Glynn Academy, Pierce County.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The third installment of the News4Jax Super 10 poll for the 2020 high school football season. (NR) Baker County (2-0), Class 5ALast week: d. Orange Park, 49-0. Dropped out: University Christian (0-1, Class 2A), lost to Clay. On the bubble: Baldwin (1-0, Class 1A); Bradford (1-1, Class 4A); Creekside (0-1, Class 7A); Flagler Palm Coast (0-0, Class 8A); Fletcher (1-0, Class 7A); Ponte Vedra (1-0, Class 6A); Raines (0-1, Class 5A); Sandalwood (0-0, Class 8A); University Christian (0-1, Class 2A); Westside (0-1, Class 5A); West Nassau (2-0, Class 4A). GEORGIAFriday, Sept. 18Benedictine (2-0) at Brunswick (1-1), 7:30 p.m.Camden County (1-1) at Raines (0-1), 6 p.m.Charlton County (1-0) at Long County (0-1), 7:30 p.m.Claxton (1-0) at Pierce County (2-0), 7:30 p.m.Glynn Academy (1-1) at Winder (1-0), 7:30Off: Ware County.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The first full week of high school football is here. After a light slate of games last week, football cranks up in full force this week, with a full schedule and a load of marquee games to choose from. Bartram Trail at Creekside: One of the few rivalry games of the true opening week of games matches the Super 10 No. Bolles at Trinity Christian, 7:30 p.m.: This is usually the game to set your calendar by. GEORGIAFriday, Sept. 11Glynn Academy (1-0) at Camden County (0-1), 7:30 p.m.McIntosh County Academy (0-1) at Brunswick (0-1), 7:30 p.m.Richmond Hill (1-0) at Ware County (1-0), 7:30 p.m.Wayne County (1-0) at Pierce County (1-0), 7:30 p.m.OFF: Charlton County (1-0).

Tuesday was also the first day of school in Clay County and at Oakleaf High School, coach Frank Garis said he knew his guys would be excited for practice this afternoon. Yesterday, the first day is always hectic, but it is good to have the kids around. I think the kids are excited [to be back in class] but more excited today because they are back in school and seen some people they havent seen in five or six months. The Knights, just like many other high school football teams here in Florida were permitted to begin holding their first practices of the year on Monday. With such a short time frame to prepare for their first game, Garis said he wants to keep things simple for his players.

Dubais long-haul carrier Emirates said Sunday, May 31, 2020, that it fired an undisclosed number of employees as the coronavirus pandemic has halted global aviation. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili, File)DUBAI Dubai's long-haul carrier Emirates said Sunday it fired an undisclosed number of employees as the coronavirus pandemic has halted global aviation, becoming the latest Mideast airline to shed staff over the outbreak. The carrier said it would treat fired staff with fairness and respect, without elaborating. Previously, Abu Dhabi-based Etihad and Doha-based Qatar Airways similarly fired staff as countries shut down their airspace as the virus spread. Dubai International Airport, the worlds busiest for international passengers that's home to Emirates, has been operating at a fraction of its usual pace.

But long before Quarterman became a fourth-round draft pick of the Jaguars last Saturday, he was helping lay the foundation at Oakleaf High School. “We stuck him in, welcome to high school football, you’re playing against some good teams. “It really was welcome to high school football moment. You knew in eighth grade that this kid was going to be a great football player. The local kid returns home to play with a team he grew up watching, and the Jaguars drafted a steal.

N4J pick: Buchholz 28, Creekside 21Paxon (2-6, 0-3) at Ribault (3-4, 1-2), 6 p.m.*: Trojans continue climb back to .500. N4J pick: South Sumter 29, Bradford 22Clay (0-8, 0-3) at Ridgeview (1-7, 1-2)*: Panthers get the edge in this Clay County battle. N4J pick: Ridgeview 19, Clay 14Columbia (6-2, 1-1) at Middleburg (2-6, 0-2)*: Tigers end their two-game losing skid. N4J pick: Wolfson 32, Pine Ridge 1Eagle's View (4-5) at Halifax Academy (3-6): Warriors get one on the road. N4J pick: Lee 36, Gainesville 7Lighthouse Private Christian (3-4) at St. Joseph (3-4): Flashes get back to .500.

And Atlantic Coast was left with one young team growing in confidence. Stingrays quarterback Ridge Jacobs completed two more scoring passes as Atlantic Coast broke out with a 20-point third quarter. It was sweet for Atlantic Coast (2-5, 1-2), which had been so close at times this season. It turned out to work in our favor.It woke up Atlantic Coast, which was all or nothing on offense. That set up Alves field goal to start the fourth, giving Atlantic Coast a 23-20 edge.

Atlantic Coast's Stingrays defeating Creekside's Knights in a close game of 23-20 during week 8's "Game of the Week."

Atlantic Coast's Stingrays defeating Creekside's Knights in a close game of 23-20 during week 8's "Game of the Week."

Atlantic Coast's Stingrays defeating Creekside's Knights in a close game of 23-20 during week 8's "Game of the Week." Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A glance at three of the top high school football games on the First Coast in Week 8. Mandarin (3-3, 1-1) at Oakleaf (5-1, 1-0), 7 p.m.*: A major District 1-8A clash. An Oakleaf pass rush, led by star end Chantz Williams, will try and make reigning Mr. Football Carson Beck as uncomfortable as possible. Parker (3-2, 2-0) at White (3-3, 1-1), 6 p.m.*: This is a much different position for the Braves to be in at this point of the season. They've won three straight entering Week 8, including an OT victory over Atlantic Coast and a 20-13 win at Baker County in that stretch.

I can't penalize Fleming Island for a loss in an abbreviated match. (2) Ponte Vedra (15-4), Class 5ANotable wins: Bartram Trail, Bishop Kenny, Creekside, Divine Savior, Episcopal, Fletcher, Fort Myers, Menendez, Middleburg, Nease, Pine Crest, Providence. 1, but kept them here by virtue of their 2-1 loss to Fleming Island on Sept. 28. (5) Ridgeview (15-5), Class 5ANotable wins: Bolles, Father Lopez, Fletcher, Hilton Head Christian (South Carolina), Mandarin, Middleburg, Oakleaf (twice), St. Augustine, Yulee. 1 Fleming Island in a 3-2 loss, but that alone tells me that Ridgeview's season is not a fluke.

Knights in shining armor descended on the Belmonte Castle in Cuenca, Spain, for the fourth annual National Medieval Combat Tournament. Participants from places like France and Russia, donned in full body armor, recreated medieval battles from the 1500s. The National Artistic Treasury declared the site of the battle, Belmonte Castle, a historic monument by decree in 1931. Belmonte Castle will also host the competition for the second time in 2020. RELATED STORIESBabies Crawl to Victory in Annual Race in LithuaniaBackpack-Clad Penguin Delights Visitors at China's Annual Ice FestivalDogs Strut Their Stuff in Rio de Janeiro's Annual Pup Parade

CLAY COUNTY, Fla. - A hoax shots-fired call halted the football game Friday night at Oakleaf High School, authorities said. The Clay County Sheriff's Office told News4Jax that someone called 911, saying shots had been fired, but law enforcement at the stadium said shots were never fired. After deputies confirmed that no shots had been fired, the game resumed about 9:40 p.m. The Knights were hosting Ed White High School Commanders on what was already a somber night around Clay County. UPDATE: @ccsofl tells me someone called 911 saying shots fired.

Bartram running back Eric Weatherly (21) breaks a tackle at the end of the first half and scores a touchdown against Creekside on Saturday night. "The defense has been getting after it in practice, and the special teams have been playing well," Bartram coach Darrell Sutherland said. "We had some new kids on special teams who had only one day of practice because of injuries last week. "I did not do a good job with the special teams this week, and that cost us dearly. But the special teams and defense more than made up for that.

A glance at notable high school football games in Week 3. Due to Hurricane Dorian, games this week are Friday, Saturday, Monday and Tuesday. Creekside (2-0) at Bartram Trail (2-0), Saturday, 6 p.m.: An excellent St. Johns County rivalry, although it's been one-sided in its brief history. Venice (1-1) at Trinity Christian (1-1), Friday, 7:30 p.m. : Talk about a heavyweight clash falling out of thin air. When Duval County Public Schools canceled games this week involving its teams, that left the Conquerors with an open date on an already brutal schedule.

Ponte Vedra is atop the News4Jax Super 6 volleyball poll for the third straight week. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The News4Jax Super 6 volleyball poll will be published each Wednesday through the end of the regular season. (NR) Mandarin (6-0), Class 7ANotable wins: Christ's Church, RidgeviewThe Mustangs make their Super 6 debut following an unbeaten start, with a 3-1 win over previously ranked Christ's Church on Aug. 31 as their headliner. They stay in the Super 6 this week over Christ's Church. Dropped out: Christ's Church (3-1, Class 2A), Middleburg (1-3, Class 5A).

Just three years removed from a winless season in 2011, the Knights defeated visiting Fletcher 28-7 Friday night to finish undefeated in District 3-7A and claim the program's first district title. Johnson tossed a 32-yard touchdown pass to junior Marcus Johnson in the second quarter to tie the game at 7. In the second quarter, Jordan Johnson powered in on a QB sneak to pad Oakleaf's lead to 21-7. Jordan Johnson finished 15 of 26 for 242 yards, and Marcus Johnson had seven catches for 119 yards. Senior Sean Pruitt added some cushion for the Knights with another pick 6 late in the fourth quarter.