LOCAL SPORTS

For the fourth time in four years since taking over as the head coach at Bolles, Matt Toblin is preparing for a final four game. This time, the most successful program in the history of high school football all in Florida will play the role of the underdog.

After upsetting AFC North-leading Baltimore, the Jaguars travel to Detroit to face the Lions in search of their first winning streak of the season.

For the first time since 2016, two of the most storied high school football programs in northeast Florida will meet when Raines faces Bolles in the regional finals.

Ten games into Doug Pederson's first season, the Jaguars' head coach seems prophetic. When hired, he said it would not be an overnight fix. While the team has shown improvement, it has been a slower-than-hoped-for process.

Among the playoff games on Friday, Baldwin hosts Baker County in the 2S regional semi-final. The meeting is a rematch of a game won by the Indians 30-7 earlier in the season. That game was part of a historic season for Baldwin, who had not beaten Baker County since 1968 and had never won a district championship in football. They accomplished both feats this season.

Entering their bye week at 3-7, there are major improvements for the Jaguars to make. But the team is staying positive as they look to finish the season strong after the break.

After snapping a five-game losing streak, the Jaguars' "So what? Now what?" mantra will be put to the stiffest test of the season as Jacksonville travels to Kansas City to face Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday.

Jordan Travis threw three touchdown passes, Trey Benson ran for 128 yards and two scores as Florida State became bowl-eligible with a 45-3 rout over Miami. The Seminoles (6-3, 4-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) outgained the Hurricanes (4-5, 2-3) 456-188 and were never threatened after a 31-3 lead at halftime. Travis completed 10 of 12 passes for 202 yards before being removed early in the fourth quarter. Florida State exceeded 200 yards rushing for the fourth straight game with 225. Miami quarterback Tyler Van Dyke re-aggravated an injury to his right throwing shoulder early in the second quarter. He returned for the next drive but left for good after another errant pass missed its target.

Doug Pederson believes the Jaguars' trade for suspended wide receiver Calvin Ridley will make the team better. Eventually. Pederson said that he won't know for sure until the league clears the former Falcons' first-round pick to return to play.

Facing a five-game losing streak, Jaguars' head coach Doug Pederson called for the team to avoid trying to take short cuts to win a game.

Wuerffel played in four games in the rivalry, two in Jacksonville, one in Gainesville, and one in Athens while the Gator Bowl was being renovated prior to the first season of the Jaguars. Wuerffel says he thinks the game should stay where it is.

The Jacksonville Icemen opened the sixth season of the franchise with a resounding 5-2 victory over the Orlando Solar Bears Saturday at the Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena.

After more than a decade of struggles, Jackson is contending again. If the Tigers beat Raines a week from Friday, they’ll clinch the district title for the first time since 2009.

The Jaguars spent more money in free agency this offseason than any team in NFL history ever has. They are looking for a good return on their investment and Friday’s preseason matchup with the Cleveland Browns offered a first look at several new additions.

The Jaguars play their first home game of the preseason on Friday when they host the Cleveland Browns. After losing to the Las Vegas Raiders 27-11 in the Hall of Fame game, the Jaguars will roll out most of their starters on Friday. Here are four big things I’ll be watching for in the game.

At the AAU National Championships and Junior Olympics, 8-year-old Josalyn Glover of Kingsland, Georgia, nearly broke the national age group record in the 400 meters as she won the title during the meet at North Carolina A&T in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Fleming Island running back Sam Singleton posted on his social media that he is "100 percent committed" to the Noles. Singleton is ranked among the top 250 players in the country and was among the last remaining uncommitted top local prospects. He'll be heading to Tallahassee next year.

There is always a lot of anticipation for the start of training camp at any level — high school, college or pro. But when there is a new coaching staff, the anticipation is heightened. On Tuesday, the Gators players reported to the first Billy Napier-led training camp.

Three draft picks are listed as starters on the Jaguars' first official depth chart of the season, released in advance of Thursday's Hall of Fame Game.

No player in Jaguars' history is more closely linked to Tony Boselli than Mark Brunell. On Saturday, the two will once again be on stage together when Brunell presents Boselli for enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

In the history of the Jacksonville Sharks, the team has won three championships. One in the Arena Football League and two since joining the National Arena League. The team now stands two wins away from another title.

The No. 1 seeded Jacksonville Armada hosted and defeated No. 4 Pensacola FC in the NPSL Gulf Coast Conference Semifinals Wednesday night, 7-2.

The Jacksonville Armada U-23 will open the post-season Wednesday evening with something to prove. Despite a regular season that resulted in 11 wins, no losses, and one draw, the best record of the 95 teams in the National Premier Soccer League, the Armada U-23s still remember how last year ended.

After earning a spot on Team USA, former Bartram Trail swimmer Morgan Ray arrived at the Paraswimming World Championships in Portugal only to test positive for COVID-19. After being cleared on Wednesday, he was in the pool for the first time at the meet and nearly broke an American record.

After a miserable 2020 season that included 15 straight losses and an even worse 2021 under Urban Meyer, the Jaguars' new head coach knows that he has to build trust first. He took two more steps on Thursday.

How do you honor a man who has made a major impact on your life? If you are former Bolles football player Tommy Murphy, you name a racehorse after him.

The Florida Gators softball season will be remembered as a success, but one that came up just short of a fairy tale ending.

Of the eight teams to make it to the Womens' College World Series, the Florida Gators have the most all-time appearances there--11. But in the previous 10, Florida hosted their Super Regional. This year, they had to go on the road and win 2 of three in Blacksburg against Virginia Tech. Thursday evening, they'll begin their world series run against Oregon State.

Former Jaguars' kicker Mike Hollis, 50, will make his return to pro football Friday when he kicks for the Jacksonville Sharks in a National Arena League game against the San Antonio Gunslingers.

After being played after on New Year's Eve last season, the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl will kick off a day earlier this season.

Thursday is a big day for Clay County high school softball as both Clay High and Middleburg High School will play in separate State Final Four games.

This week in the waters of the St. Johns River, a national championship in sailing was on the line in the Thistle class. Over 50 sailing teams from across the country have been in Jacksonville all week competing.

Dozens of coaches and student-athletes from 17 Gateway Conference schools were honored Monday night at the Florida Theater.

A month after the move was rumored, the Jaguars have officially hired Ethan Waugh as assistant general manager, reuniting Waugh with Trent Baalke.

The season is on the line for the Jacksonville Icemen Wednesday night after losing a 2-0 decision to the Florida Everblades on Tuesday.

After winning the ASUN conference championship, the #17 JU Dolphins are looking to take it to the next level in the NCAA tournament, starting Friday.

The Jaguars signed free agent quarterback E.J. Perry on Thursday, adding depth behind Trevor Lawrence.

The man known as "Mr. Patton Park" to thousands of soccer players, coaches and parents, Randy Powell, passed away Tuesday night after a battle with Leukemia. Powell did everything at Patton Park, the city-owned soccer complex on Hodges Blvd. since it opened in 2000.

After winning a playoff series for the first time, the Jacksonville Icemen now know who they will face in the next round of the ECHL's Kelly Cup playoffs.

Bolles' boys' lacrosse is making a return trip to the state semi-finals while Episcopals' girls have made the Final Four for the first time in program history.

Jaguars' left tackle Cam Robinson made it official, signing his new three-year contract with the Jaguars, a deal worth as much as $54 million.

How did the Jaguars do in the draft? Let’s get my draft grade out here first and then talk about why. I’m giving the Jaguars a B. It was darn-near professional. That’s a step forward after what we’ve seen in the recent past.

Something special seemed to be in the air for Jacksonville-area runners who enjoyed great days at the Boston Marathon.

Doug Pederson threw out the first pitch at the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp game Tuesday evening and he also threw out some thoughts on the draft and building a winning culture.

One of the best high school basketball players from the Jacksonville area of the past decade is coming back to the Sunshine State. Alex Fudge announced Wednesday that he’s leaving LSU and transferring to Florida.

The Jaguars announced that left tackle Cam Robinson has signed his franchise tender on Wednesday. That means no long-term deal, yet. They can still negotiate until July 15.

One year after shopping in the bargain bin, the Jaguars have made a big slash in free agency.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of The Players Championship moving into it’s permanent home at TPC Sawgrass. In 1982, Jerry Pate fired a final round 67 to beat Brad Bryant and Scott Simpson by two strokes, taking home $90,000 and a set of wet clothes after he dove into the water at 18 in celebration of his win.

47 of the top 50 players in the World Golf Rankings will descend on TPC Sawgrass to compete for one of the biggest championships in golf. It's the week of The Players, and there are some changes this year.

If there’s anyone who knows how the body responds to running the River Run, it’s Page Ramezani. Not only does Ramezani hold records at five ages at the Gate, but he also is a cardiologist at the Florida Heart Clinic.