Players hung around after the game ended last Friday night, talking with family and friends on the field. They smiled. They posed for pictures. And yes, they celebrated.
All the while the marching band cranked out the music, including a fitting song in ‘All I Do is Win.’ Fitting because the Patriots won big, crushing Oviedo 49-21 in a Region 1-6A quarterfinal.
Milton’s boys basketball team won a district championship a year ago and a lot of those same players are back for the 2024-25 campaign.
The Panthers got their first look of this team in a live game this past week in a preseason tournament at home. Pace and Central also took part in the event.
Jay’s football team has raised the bar this year, recording a nine-win campaign.
Now, the fifth-seeded Royals (9-1) look to keep this special season going when they face No. 12 seed Fort White at home in a FHSAA Rural regional quarterfinal Friday night at 7 p.m.
Pace’s goal all year has been to get to the FHSAA football playoffs after being denied a trip last year.
The Patriots are there and get things rolling this week when they take on Oviedo at home Friday in a Region 1-6A quarterfinal.
Big shots, tight games, hustle plays, energy and intensity. It was all on display in a preseason tournament at Pace last week.
The host Patriots, as well as Milton, Central, Jay and West Florida Baptist all took part in a tip-off event that gave teams a chance to see how they stack up against live action.
Jay’s cross-country teams wrapped up their season at the Region 1-1A meet on Nov. 8 at the Cecil Field Golf Course in Jacksonville.
The Royals placed 12th as a team in the boys race and 14th in the girls race.
