Jay head volleyball coach Carey Locklin referenced a quote senior standout Aubreigh Nelson used in a previous interview about team chemistry playing a role in the Royals’ success on the court.

“It’s like Aubreigh said, these girls are playing volleyball with their best friends,” Locklin said.

Mario Hayes had some tough moments in Milton’s 52-28 win over Gulf Breeze Friday night.

As the game wore on, he searched for a way to make up for it all. The perfect opportunity presented itself in the fourth quarter.

With last week’s overtime loss to Liberty County still fresh on its mind, Jay returned home for a rivalry clash with Baker. The Royals wanted to make a statement, and they succeeded, shutting out the Gators 28-0 last Friday night.

Brooks Washington had plenty of room on a couple of his touchdown runs in the opening quarter of Pace’s win over Navarre Thursday night at Bennett C. Russell Stadium.

It’s safe to say it wasn’t a surprise to the senior quarterback.

Jay’s Presley Hawthorne is headed to the regional golf tournament for the third year in a row.

This week should have marked the final week of the regular season for high school football teams in Santa Rosa County.

Instead, some teams are using this week to make up district games that were lost due to Hurricane Isaias in early October.

Darby Godwin raised her arms in the air. Lanie Stephens slapped the floor. Carey Locklin immediately started hugging every player she could.

Those moments highlighted the pure joy the No. 1 ranked Jay Royals experienced Tuesday night after they punched their ticket to state, beating Baker in four sets to win the Rural Region 1 crown.

Pace and Jay remain in playoff contention in high school football based on the final MaxPreps rankings of October.

The Aggie Invitational at the Ashton Brosnaham Complex in Pensacola marked the end of the regular season for area cross-country teams.

Central, Jay, Milton and Pace all had runners compete at the meet on Tuesday morning.

Central and Jay competed in the District 1-1A boys golf tournament Monday at Eagle Springs.

The Jaguars took fourth (335) and the Royals finished sixth (371).