By Beth Jones
School bells rang again Monday for students, and the Pirates are capping off the first week of school with the season’s first football game on Friday night. The Fernandina Beach High School varsity football team travels to Mount Dora for a preseason Kickoff Classic. Game time is 7:30 p.m.
“We’re just ready to get the season started,” said Blake Willis, second-year head football coach at FBHS. “It’s a little crazy having our first game coinciding with the first week of school. I feel like we’re ready though.
“Camp went well for the most part. This time of the year is always a little crazy, with the heat and thunderstorms, but we got most of the work in that we had planned.”
The Pirates went 6-7 overall last season, their first in the Sunshine State Athletic Association. FBHS made its first playoff appearance since 2020, losing to Frostproof in the championship game.
Spring went well for the Pirates, too; they defeated Paxon 42-14 during the spring game in May. Over the summer, the team added enough players to dress a junior varsity squad this fall.
“We have some increased numbers, which have allowed us to bring back a JV schedule,” Willis said. “That is huge for the development of the younger guys.”
Willis said his staff has grown, too.
“I actually have a full staff, and some position actually have two coaches,” he said.
Willis is excited for his second season at the helm of Pirate Nation.
“We’re just trying to build on the success we had last year, while still trying to establish the culture that will allow for us to not only have success this season, but for future seasons, as well,” he said.
Willis invites the community to come to a game this season.
“We think it will be a good one,” he said. “Y’all come out and see the Pirates on a Friday night this fall. You won’t be disappointed.”
The Pirates open the regular season at home Aug. 22 with Hilliard. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
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2025 Fernandina Beach Pirates Football Schedule:
Aug. 15: at Mount Dora Christian
Aug. 22: vs. Hilliard
Aug. 29: at Wolfson
Sept. 5: vs. Duval Charter
Sept. 12: vs. Fort White
Sept. 19: vs. Alachua Santa Fe
Sept. 26: at West Nassau
Oct. 10: at Yulee
Oct. 17: at Clay Oct. 24: vs. Impact Christian Academy
bjones@nassaunewsline.net
