Ellis' opening pick six rolls Eagles to first win

FLEMING ISLAND — Safety Audrey Ellis set the tone 15 seconds into Thursday night, jumping a sideline route and racing untouched the other way for a pick-six that sparked Fleming Island High’s flag football team to a 29-6 victory over Global Outreach at the Nest.

The Golden Eagles, stung by a 12-6 season-opening loss to New Smyrna Beach, improved to 1-1 behind a defense that spent the evening tilting the field. Rusher Daisy Fletcher harassed the backfield, while cornerbacks Amira Martin and Micah Bussey combined on three pass breakups and a second interception that snuffed out Global’s lone serious threat.

Fleming Island led 15-0 after the first quarter and never looked back, using short fields to push the margin to 23-0 by halftime. Global avoided the shutout with a late scoop-and-score, but the Eagles answered on the next drive to close the scoring.

The win sets up a quick turnaround for Fleming Island, which traveled to face undefeated Bolles (3-0) on Tuesday, March 3. Elsewhere around the district, Middleburg and Clay remain perfect: Middleburg knocked off Gainesville 33-0 after opening with a 52-12 win over Florida Deaf, while Clay has outscored opponents 86-0 in two starts. Oakleaf also sits at 2-0, Orange Park is 3-1 behind quarterback Anna Rykalsky, and Keystone Heights is 2-0 heading into a showdown with the Raiders.