Fleming Island High School- Spring Football was in the air in Clay County at the NEFAC Football Jamboree, featuring several Junior High Football teams in the area. Wilkinson, Orange Park, Green Cove, Lake Asbury, Lakeside, Bradford, and Oakleaf Junior Highs all participated in the jamboree. Each team would compete in two quarters of play, showcasing some of the best athletes in Clay and Bradford counties. Check out our recap of the jamboree below.
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5:00pm Wilkinson Eagles vs Orange Park Wildcats
Orange Park Junior High came out low in numbers, but extremely high on talent and showcased that talent early versus Wilkinson. #4 QB Tavien Wilkerson hit #6 Maurice Evans on a go route for 80 yards on the first play of the jamboree, electrifying the big crowd on hand. After stopping Wilkinson on the next drive, Orange Park’s #5 Terrance Johnson rolled for 60 yard around the right side for the touchdown putting the Wildcats up 11-0. Wilkinson made great plays as well. #9 Johnny Lay broke a long run for the Eagles coming up just short of a touchdown on their first drive of the game. However on their last offensive drive #34 Rashawn Floyd took one to the house. Final Score Orange Park-11 Wilkinson-8
5:30pm Wilkinson vs Green Cove
Playing in their second quarter Wilkinson came out slow, and just like any Cougar would they jumped right on them and took advantage. The Green Cove Cougar’s #2 Kade Frew took the direct snap to the left and met the Wilkinson defense head on. He broke several tackles and raced down the left sideline for an apparent score, however an unnecessary roughness penalty took the touchdown off the board. It wouldn’t take Frew long to find the end zone again as he took the direct snap 10 yards for the score. The stud hit of the day came on the next drive as #20 Dedric Walker of Green Cove simply alienated the ball carrier for Wilkinson on a run to the right. The hit erupted the crowd on and with a course of “ooohhhs”. Walker then showed his offensive talent, lining up at Quarterback and tossing a long bomb to #5 De’Maurion Frazier for the Cougars second score.
Final Score: Green Cove -14 Wilkinson-0
6:00pm Wes Whiddon Scholarship Ceremony
The 2017 recipients of the Wes Whiddon Scholarship
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6:30pm Lake Asbury Tigers vs Green Cove Cougars
Next, Green Cove would try their hand at the defending Clay County Middle School Runner Ups Lake Asbury. They would find a much tougher opponent with the Tigers as Lake Asbury limited the play makers from Green Cove to zero points. Lake Asbury’s high powered offense found it hard getting around the fast play makers of Green Cove as well. Playmakers #3 Quarterback David Ford and #8 RB Chris Goldstein couldn’t find room to shake loose on offense. Instead, it was a defensive battle that showcased big hitting by Green Cove’s #12 Donnie McClain and Lake Asbury’s #62 Donovan Wimberly. The game would end in a draw.
Final: Lake Asbury- 0 Green Cove- 0
7:00pm Lake Asbury Tigers vs Lakeside Gators
Lake Asbury would get another chance to get a “W” in the win column, this time against the Lakeside Gators. The Gators were a bit undersized compared to other teams, but they were extremely well coached and disciplined on both sides of the ball. Lakeside’s #29 Mitchell Jean-Francois made a nice long run and was tackled at the one yard line just short of a score. Jean-Francois followed the big blocks of #24 Tuisano Miika, as the Gators drove the ball deep into Lake Asbury’s territory. However on the next play, the Gators would fumble the ball and it was recovered by Lake Asbury. The Tiger’s “Iron Man” #44 Julian Mitchell would test their tenacity when he broke the longest run of the game. Backed up at their own one yard line, he bounced off the pile in his own end zone and rumbled 52 yards before bulldozing over the Lakeside defender who made the touchdown saving tackle. The game would end in a tie.
Lakeside Gators-o Lake Asbury Tigers-0
7:30pm Bradford Hurricanes vs Lakeside Gators
Lakeside’s size would be tested against Bradford who boasted the biggest team of the night size wise. Bradford also boasted the biggest player of the jamboree in defensive end Donviontae Thompson #36. Thompson absolutely terrorized the Gators offensive line, pressuring the quarterback, and clogging running lanes. He would end the quarter on a big sack fumble getting his team the win over Lakeside. Quarterback #18 Ronnie Ellis led the offensive attack for the Hurricanes.
Winner: Bradford
8:00pm Bradford vs Oakleaf
The biggest team of the jamboree would now face their biggest test of the jamboree as they took on the defending Clay County Middle School Champions Oakleaf Yellow Jackets. Oakleaf came out sloppy in their first couple of drives. They committed several illegal procedure penalties backing them up most of the game. Bradford was unable to capitalize on good field position as Oakleaf’s defense stifled the Hurricanes. #7 Dylan Stubbs brought the hat against Bradford, leading a defense that yielded zero points. The game would end in a 0-0 tie
Bradford-0 Oakleaf-0
8:30pm Orange Park vs Oakleaf
In the final game of the jamboree, Oakleaf would face the team that started it all Orange Park Junior High. It proved to be a great match up from schedule makers as both teams featured several play makers. 
The quarter would go back and forth with both teams making plays on defense. Oakleaf’s #22 Ashton Newton made tough stops at the middle linebacker position, while Orange Park’s #33 Aaron Mings ran sideline to sideline making several tackles. Yet late in the quarter Oakleaf’s running back #28 Christian Ellis ignited a scoring drive by converting a tough 15 yard run up the middle breaking several tackles. Next it was #2 Myron Thomas turn as he ran around the right end for a 15 yard gain. Not to be out done, #27 Donovan Shannon rumbled round the left side for a 15 yard gain and putting the ball inside the 10 yard line. With the running game clicking, Thomas wold take the ball himself around the right end again for the game deciding touchdown.
Final: Oakleaf-7 Orange Park-0
Check out the complete photo gallery of the jamboree below
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