The calendar says Oct. 21 and that means several sports are wrapping up and their playoffs are either already in play or about to be.
From Pop Warner to Middle School to High School, playoffs are underway as teams make that push towards winning a state title.
Title bout set
If you missed how Oakleaf came back from behind in the fourth quarter to stun Lake Asbury in the closing minute you missed a unbelievable fourth quarter.
Fortunately, you can see the winning touchdown here and read all bout it below.
Devin Outlaw powers his way for the winning score with about a minute left in the game give Oakleaf a come from behind 41-40 win over Lake Asbury. @DuvalSports @JonBCPress pic.twitter.com/7rMK9Bffyo
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) October 17, 2018
Oakleaf stuns Lake Asbury in closing minute to win county title | Northeast Florida Sports Jacksonville https://t.co/QHM0l22MBX
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) October 17, 2018
Oakleaf will try to capture its fourth North East Florida Athletic Conference title in the last five years with a win over host Bradford County.
Its first year in the league, the Bradford County Tornadoes will look to win its first title in its first year.
Spiking the competition
Since the first day of conditioning, the goal for every volleyball team is to make it to Fort Myers and play for a state title.
For 22 area teams that dream is still alive as the playoffs begin this week with first round games Tuesday and Wednesday at various campuses.
Last year, the area had three teams in the state finals, with both Christ’s Church and Ponte Vedra winning their first state titles, while Union County finished as state runner-ups. Bishop Kenny and Bartram Trail also had nice runs advancing to the state semifinals and Elite 8 respectively.
This season could see a similar result, with multiple teams advancing to the Final Four and winning state titles.
Oct 23
4A: #12 Trinity Christian (14-13) at #11 Gainesville PK Yonge (6-8)
4A: #17 Tallahassee Maclay (11-16) at #3 Providence (18-9)
3A: St. Johns Country Day (9-10) at #17 Tallahassee John Paul (13-12)
2018 Volleyball District Runner-Up!
Tough loss tonight in the district championship to an outstanding CCA team, but we are advancing to regionals, Oct 23 and are in the Sweet 16. We will be prepared for our next opponent and leave it all on the court. pic.twitter.com/0cWNg3z9Ly— SJCDS Athletics (@sjcdsathletics) October 19, 2018
3A: #6 Rocky Bayou (23-2) at #2 Christ’s Church (20-6)
2A: Beaches Chapel (14-4) at #8 Aucilla Christian (15-4)
2A: #17 Tallahassee Community Christian (12-14) at #9 Eagle’s View (18-9)
1A: #19 Union County (9-14) at #5 Bell (23-3)
1A: #13 Lafayette (13-9) at #14 Hilliard (18-5)
🏐District Champs! Volleyball girls defeat Union County in a great game! Also had support from some 🏀 guys! pic.twitter.com/la9cBbfYhE
— HMSHS Athletics (@HMSHS_Athletics) October 19, 2018
Oct 24
8A: #7 Fleming Island (23-3) at #18 Fletcher (20-7)
8A: Atlantic Coast (10-9) at #9 Bartram Trail (17-9)
D I S T R I C T C H A M P S ‼️
🏐@BartramVball
🏆🐻 🆚 🦅
☑️ 27-25. 26-24. 25-14.#GoBears pic.twitter.com/tdnodfcZfD— Bartram Trail Athletics 🐻 (@bt_athletics) October 18, 2018
7A: #9 Ocala Forest (17-8) at #15 Middleburg (15-11)
7A: #11 Nease (19-11) at Ocala Vanguard (21-4)
6A: #22 Baker County (16-5) at #6 Bishop Kenny (16-11)
6A: #10 Stanton (18-4) at #24 Ridgeview (11-12)
https://twitter.com/RHS_volleyball_/status/1052753044020948992
6A: #21 Belleview (14-10) at #2 Ponte Vedra (23-4)
🏐 @PVSharksVB is the 2018 District 5-6A volleyball champion after a 25-16, 25-21, 27-25 win over Menendez.
The Sharks (23-4) have won eight straight district titles and 64 straight district matches.
Menendez (19-8) advances to the Region 2-6A playoffs as well. pic.twitter.com/o4OKqcMSul
— Will Brown (@wwbrown19) October 19, 2018
6A: #14 Menendez (19-8) at #3 Santa Fe (22-5)
5A: Pierson Taylor (23-5) at #25 Episcopal (14-11)
Back to back district champs!!! #EaglePride pic.twitter.com/lQQikBOI6s
— Episcopal Eagles (@EpiscopalEagles) October 19, 2018
5A: Bolles (12-15) at #24 Newberry (19-8)
Tipping it off
For the first time ever, high school basketball was on display around town Friday as the Inaugural High School Basketball Media Day presented by the CSI Companies was held at River City Brewing Company.
Around 60 boys and girls teams from around the surrounding counties participated in the day long event.
Among the teams on hand were Raines, Ribault, Jackson, Providence, Bishop Kenny, Bishop Snyder, Orange Park, Fleming Island, Bartram Trail and West Nassau.
More from today’s High School Basketball Media Day pic.twitter.com/bBCNxEP08t
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) October 19, 2018
More from High School Basketball Media Day pic.twitter.com/QvbsYhvV2F
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) October 19, 2018
Deebo Coleman from @Athletics_WNHS is rated No. 21 player in the country in the 2021 class and has offers from Kansas, Georgetown, Iowa State, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia Tech, UNF and Campbell. Coleman was on hand at today’s Media Day. @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/lObfo4lDMH
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) October 19, 2018
In addition to the teams talking to the various media outlets, a press conference was held prior to the event announcing the Inaugural Fortega High School 912 Basketball Invitational Dec 13-15 at Episcopal. The initial tournament will feature Bolles, Bishop Kenny, Providence, Ribault, Ponte Vedra, First Coast, Orange Park and host Episcopal. The semifinals will be broadcast live on the CW Network and the tournament final will be televised live on WJXT Channel 4.
Inaugural Fortega High School 912 Basketball Invitational will be held Dec 13-15 at Episcopal. Field will include Bolles, BK, Providence, Ribault, Ponte Vedra, First Coast, Orange Park and host Episcopal. @DuvalSports @AlanVerlander
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) October 19, 2018
Teeing it off
Area golfers, battled it out earlier this week at district tournaments, trying to advance to regional tournaments this coming week.
Creekside, Bartram Trail and Nease were big winners all advancing to regional play as well as individual Jayden Williams from Lee.
The CHS Girls Golf made regionals by placing 3rd at districts today! The scores are posted below. Way to go, Knights!
Jada Lee – 98
Jadyn Fields – 104
Courtney Wassmer – 108
Katie Anderson – 112
Alaina Hansen – 128 pic.twitter.com/aDUs30pyA6— Creekside Athletics 🛡⚔️ (@CreeksideATH) October 17, 2018
Congratulations to Logan Underwood on his commitment to continue his education and golf career at UNF next season!!! Shoutout also for the best score at districts today with a 69!@wwbrown19 pic.twitter.com/OB27G9SqEu
— Nease Athletics (@NeaseAthletics) October 16, 2018
DISTRICT CHAMPS‼️ #GoBears#EverythingSchool pic.twitter.com/I5CiOGHUiE
— Bartram Trail Athletics 🐻 (@bt_athletics) October 16, 2018
DISTRICT CHAMPS‼️#GoBears#EverythingSchool pic.twitter.com/DW9NCH5gju
— Bartram Trail Athletics 🐻 (@bt_athletics) October 15, 2018
On to regionals🔥🏌🏻♂️🐍🎈 made it through districts. @DuvalSports @dreamkingfilmz
— Stanley Earl. (@_4jayden) October 15, 2018
Trick or Treat
Columbia (7-1), Baker County (6-2) and Trinity Christian (9-0) became the first area football teams to clinch playoff berths with wins Friday night to clinch district titles. None were easy though as all three were put to the test.
You knew Clay was going to give Baker County everything they could handle, as the two have become huge district rivals over the last couple years; but nobody could have expected what actually happened.
Baker County trailed 17-0 to Clay with about a minute before halftime before rallying back to stun visiting Clay 27-24 to win its third consecutive district title.
The spark was a block punt just before half that not only put the Wildcats on the scoreboard but gave them plenty of momentum going into the locker room.
My 5 year old caught this on his mama’s phone during the @BCWildcatFB game. Let me know if you guys need an intern @BrentASJax @ByCoreyDavis @DanHicken pic.twitter.com/TJO9kT4vYd
— JackBaker (@BakerJB3) October 20, 2018
Fletcher gave host Columbia all it could and then some in a 21-20 loss in Lake City Friday in the Jungle.
The Senators had two opportunities to knock off Columbia in the final minute but came up short both times. Devon Lingle’s 11 yard touchdown pass cut the lead to 21-20 with .36 seconds left, however the Senators decided to go for two and Lingle’s pass fell incomplete.
Fletcher successfully converted an onside kick at midfield but a Lingle pass intended for Jeremiah Payton was dropped with 9 seconds left, allowing Columbia to win its first district title since 2015.
Ahead only 14-0 at the half against host Ponte Vedra, Trinity responded with 21 consecutive second half points to pull ahead 35-0 midway through the fourth quarter in a 35-7 win over the host Sharks.
Several teams can join them locking up playoff bids by winning district titles this week including: Mandarin, Buchholz and Ribault.
Mandarin (5-3, 3-0) hosts Palm Coast (7-2, 2-1) Thursday in the Corral with a chance to win District 1-8A with a win. A loss coupled with a Deland win over Sandalwood opens up the door for a three-way tie between Mandarin, Palm Coast and Deland , which would then be settled by the power rankings.
Buchholz (6-2, 3-0) can clinch 3-7A title with a win over Bartram Trail (5-3, 2-1) Friday, however a loss coupled with a Oakleaf win over Creekside would create a three-way tie between Buchholz, Oakleaf and Bartram Trail for the title, which would be broken by the power rankings.
Ribault (4-4, 3-0) can clinch District 3-5A with a win over Yulee (2-6, 2-1) Thursday, however a loss creates a three-way tie with Suwannee for the title, which would be broken by the power rankings.
Nease surprise win over St. Augustine Friday has thrown District 4-6A into a mess and likely into a unexpected three-way tie. If Ed White, Nease and St. Augustine all win the three would tie for the title and the district would be broken by the power rankings.
THE WEEK AHEAD
Monday
Middleburg at Ed White, 6 p.m.
The Press Box Show at Zaxby’s on University Blvd., 7:30-9 p.m.
Tuesday
High School Volleyball First Round, 7
Oakleaf at Bradford (NEFAC title), 6
Wednesday
High School Volleyball First Round, 7
St. Johns County Middle School football quarterfinals, 5
Thursday
Deland at Sandalwood
Palm Coast at Mandarin
Providence at Atlantic Coast
Lee at Fletcher
Columbia at First Coast
Nease at Englewood
Stanton at Paxon
Yulee at Ribault
Parker at Westside
Episcopal at Wolfson
West Nassau at Jackson
Friday
Buchholz at Bartram Trail
Creekside at Oakleaf
Ed White at Fleming Island
St. Augustine at Middleburg
Deltona at Matanzas
Trinity at Bishop Kenny
Bolles at Ponte Vedra
Baker County at Ridgeview
Clay at Palatka
Orange Park at Menendez
Bradford County at Hamilton County
Raines at Lincoln
Keystone Heights at Interlachen
Fort White at Newberry
Halifax at Eagles View
Hawthorne at Hilliard
Aucilla at St. Johns
Deltona Trinity at St. Joseph
Christ’s Church at Cedar Creek
Sunday
Pop Warner City Championships at TIAA Stadium, all day
