Football Recap: Clay Triumphs

While Clay's win against Fernandina Beach wasn't quite the blowout it was the last time the pair played, they still came out on top. In a tight matchup that could have gone either way, the Blue Devils made off with a 35-34 victory over the Pirates. The high-flying offensive performance was a huge turnaround for the Blue Devils considering their seven-point performance the game before.

Landon Martin

Rushing Yards

10/17/25 vs Fernandina Beach	269
10/10/25 vs St. Augustine	-24
09/26/25 vs Ridgeview	93
09/19/25 @ First Coast	67
09/12/25 @ Tocoi Creek	33
+ 3 more games

It was another big night for Landon Martin, who rushed for 269 yards and three scores while picking up 7.9 yards per carry, and also threw for 200 yards and a pair of TDs on only 19 passes. With that strong performance, he is now averaging an impressive 103.5 rushing yards per game. Daylen Brown was Martin's top target, picking up 77 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

They were just one part of a punishing run game: Clay was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 328 rushing yards. That's the most rushing yards they've posted since back in September of 2024.

Several Pirates players turned in solid performances despite ultimately coming up short. Perhaps the best among those players was Ian Miller, who threw for 260 yards and three TDs. Miller's passing game has become a key predictor of Fernandina Beach's success: the team is 4-2 when his passer rating is 100 or higher, but only 1-2 otherwise. The team also got some help courtesy of Aydin Poe, who picked up 123 receiving yards and a pair of scores.

Clay's win bumped their record up to 2-6. As for Fernandina Beach, they are on a four-game losing streak that has dropped them down to 5-4.

Coming up, Clay is taking a road trip to square off against Columbia at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. The Tigers' defense has only allowed 10.1 points per game this season, so the Blue Devils' offense will have their work cut out for them. As for Fernandina Beach, they will be playing in front of their home fans against Impact Christian Academy at 7:00 p.m. on Friday.