Fernandina Beach high school

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...

Fernandina Beach High School and Andrew Jackson High School football players greet each other at midfield, exchanging handshakes before Friday’s game. photo by Nick Blank/News-Leader

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FBHS, Andrew Jackson reach across aisle

Nick Blank

Wednesday, October 7, 2026

On Friday, it was always going to be more than a game.Players in white and blue from Nassau and players in red from Duval formed two lines and completed a symbolic gesture prior to a football game in Jacksonville.The game occurred without incident and players repeated the goodwill after a bruising,...

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.

Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Home sweet home

Ashley Chandler

Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Fernandina Beach High School officially opened operations at its upgraded stadium and facilities last week for the Pirates’ varsity football home opener.

First Missionary Baptist Rev. Dr. Darien K. Bolden Sr. led a gathering Tuesday at the church to discuss an incident that occurred at an FBHS volleyball game last week involving a Black baby doll. Photo by Nick Blank/News-Leader

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Faith leaders unite, call for action after incident at FBHS volleyball game

Nick Blank

Friday, September 18, 2026

Fernandina Beach and Jacksonville pastors united at First Missionary Baptist Church on Tuesday to condemn an alleged racist incident at volleyball games in the city last week.Footage on social media showed a student in the bleachers at the FBHS vs. Andrew Jackson volleyball game on Sept. 10 holding...

Fernandina Beach High School

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NCSD apologizes for racially charged incident

Nick Blank

Tuesday, September 15, 2026

The Nassau County School District said Tuesday that students will undergo training after an investigation into “racially offensive behavior” that occurred at a volleyball game in Fernandina Beach on Thursday night.The game occurred between Fernandina Beach High and Andrew Jackson High School, which...