Sports

Nassau County and Duval County school officials coordinate the pregame handshake Friday between the Fernandina Beach High School and Andrew Jackson High School varsity football teams. Nick Blank/News-Leader

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Pirates lose in thriller: Pirates drop emotionally-charged Andrew Jackson game 49-33

Nick Blank

Wednesday, October 7, 2026

A tough season for the Fernandina Beach Pirates (1-6), continued last week with a thrilling loss in Jacksonville to the Andrew Jackson Tigers (5-1).On an emotionally charged night (see A1), there was still a game to be played, even if media members showed up for other reasons.The Pirates came out...

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FBHS swim wins 8 of 11 events at Tocoi Creek

News Staff

Tuesday, October 6, 2026

The Fernandina Beach High School swim team continues its season with several first-place performances and a couple of big meets directly ahead.The Pirates put on a winning performance at Tocoi Creek on Oct. 1. The girls won in 8 of 11 of the events.

The pickleball community, friends and family honored Thad Smith, front, with a bench near Central Park’s pickleball courts last week. Photo by Nick Blank /News-Leader

The legend lives on

Nick Blank

Thursday, October 1, 2026

As the crowd awaiting Thad Smith, 91, at Central Park swells, so does the need for the group to hush and shuffle behind the pickleball court to keep it a surprise.The pickleball community, friends and family donated a bench outside the courts to Smith, raising more than $2,500 on GoFundMe after...

Jacksonville Jaguars celebrate during the Jaguars vs. Patriots game Sunday. Photos courtesy of the Jacksonville Jaguars

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Maye benched as Jags flatten Pats 35-6

Nick Blank

Wednesday, September 30, 2026

On a grueling day for the New England Patriots’ (1-2) offense, Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars recovered from their Week 2 loss to Denver with a statement defensive performance in a rout.After a scoreless 1st quarter, the Jaguars responded with two touchdowns in the 2nd and 3rd...

Fernandina Beach Pirate football faced West Nassau High School on Sept. 23 at home. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader.

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Pirates fall to Warriors 30-24; Yulee drops Ed White road contest in Week Six

Nick Blank

Wednesday, September 30, 2026

The Fernandina Beach Pirates (1-5) and Yulee Hornets (3-3) both fell on Friday night to tough opposition.While Yulee were outmatched by Jacksonville powerhouse Ed White (4-1) on the road, the Pirates kept the West Nassau Warriors (5-0-1) within a score, dropping a close contest to inter-county...

Lady Hornet seniors led the Yulee High School volleyball team to victory on senior night Thursday. Photo by Suzi Hamilton/For the News-Leader

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Senior night sting: Lady Hornets victorious in Battle of Bridge on senior night

Suzi Hamilton

Wednesday, September 30, 2026

The Lady Hornets commemorated the team’s Class of 2027 senior players with a big win over rival Fernandina Beach High School last Thursday.In their previous match up, Yulee bested Fernandina on their homecourt, this go-around Fernandina traveled across the bridge to face the Lady Hornets in...

Nassau County athletes bowl Wednesday. Photo by Suzi Hamilton/For the News-Leader

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Nassau pinfalls

Suzi Hamilton

Thursday, September 24, 2026

The first of four county-wide high school bowling tournaments were held this week in Yulee and the local schools’ coaches are focusing on building up their programs.Yulee, Fernandina Beach, Hilliard Middle Senior and West Nassau high schools competed in this season’s first Nassau County bowling...

Beckham Rohe throws a pass during the home opener at Fernandina Beach High School’s upgraded stadium. Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

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Pirates fall 42-14 in home opener at new stadium; Yulee loses

Nick Blank

Wednesday, September 23, 2026

A banged-up Fernandina Beach Pirates team (1-4) did their best to open a new stadium Friday for Homecoming but fell short to the Clay High Blue Devils’ (4-1) big-play potential.The game began with a flyover, parachute jumpers, and a ceremony with district officials and U.S. Rep. and FBHS alum Aaron...

Photo from a previous swim meet this season. Photo by Billy Skipper/For the News-Leader

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Pirates make podiums against ‘swimming powerhouses’

Ashley Chandler

Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Hundreds of high school swimmers from the region converged on Ponte Vedra Beach over the weekend to compete against each other.The Fernandina Beach High School swim teams were the only Nassau County teams to compete at the Frank Holleman Invitational over the weekend.

Fernandina Beach High School juniors John William Martin, middle, and Malik Ravenell, right, follow behind Providence senior Sean Cunningham on Saturday during the Coach Hope Memorial Invitational. The three runners finished first, second and third. Photo by Penny Glackin/For the News-Leader

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Pirates win at Coach Hope Memorial Invitational

Ashley Chandler

Thursday, September 17, 2026

Last weekend, Fernandina Beach High School hosted the 8th Annual Coach Hope Memorial Invitational at the Fernandina Beach Golf Club.