JACKSONVILLE - Fleming Island and Oakleaf high football got their first taste of top-tier football with the Jacksonville Jaguars Nike 11 on 11 Flag Tournament played Saturday morning at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville.

Ironically, both Fleming Island and Oakleaf were one of the few non-playoff teams that got the invite to the power-packed lineup of teams at TIAA Bank Field.
With Oakleaf squaring off first with Raines, a region semifinalist last year at 10-2 with a tough 14-7 loss to Class 4A runnerup Bolles, the Knights behind duo quarterbacks Jack McKissock, a transfer from The First Academy in Orlando, and Jayven Romero, took turns finding Jordyn Price in between Raines defenders with mid-range passes that kept the ball moving. Running back Chris Foy II was effective with out-of-backfield swing passes; one for a score.
Raines, though, had their own firepower in place and answered each of the Knights' salvos with their own to snag a final play touchdown for the scrimmage win with just seven seconds on the 20-minute play clock.
For Oakleaf, the defensive secondary, which included newly transferred Kaylib Singleton from Fleming Island, got tested often but showed good defensive position despite decided height and jumping advantages.
In Fleming Island's first game, quarterback Cibastian Broughton was on target deep and mid-range with long bombs to Trace Burney landing in the end zone against Wakulla, a 35-20 win for Fleming Island, and monster running back Demhir Jackson making defenders chase the big guy on swing passes that put up 15-20 yards after the catch.
Wakulla, a deep region candidate the past three seasons; 11-1 last year and a region semifinalist, showed Fleming Island some passing efficiency of their own with crossing patterns and tough catches made despite close-quarter defense by Fleming Island defenders.
In game two, Oakleaf against Ocala Vanguard; 11-3, Final Four finisher last year, returning wide receiver Carlos Witherup showed off why he will be a valuable asset to coach Chris Foy's offense with a wicked pylon horizontal catch for a score.
For Fleming Island, Gulf Breeze was not much to handle as the Golden Eagles moved quickly to scores to set up the championship bracket.
In the championship bracket, Oakleaf was scheduled to play eventual tournament champion Mandarin after four rain delays with Fleming Island leaving when the tournament was to resume at 4 p.m. from a noon lightning delay.