Florida
Florida High QB Jayme Miller’s breakout season continues in playoff debut vs Baldwin
Florida High CELEBRATES first-round win of 2A playoffs vs Baldwin
Florida High defeated Baldwin 42-31 in the first round of the FHSAA Class 2A state tournament. Seminoles quarterback Jayme Miller scored four touchdowns.
He’s just a sophomore.
But that doesn’t matter.
Florida High quarterback Jayme Miller has balled out in the biggest moments of his football career thus far.
In his playoff debut, the 16-year-old diced up the Baldwin Indians’ defense with four touchdowns in the FHSAA Class 2A first round on Friday, Nov. 14.
“There were definitely nerves,” said Miller, who got his first start in August’s season opener versus Godby.
“I was a little nervous. Not as hype and energetic. Once we got things going and got momentum, I was more excited and energized.”
Behind Miller’s scores, the fourth-seed Seminoles (5-6) prevailed over the fifth-seed Baldwin (7-4) 42-31 at Mike Hickman Stadium in Tallahassee’s Southwood area. The Seminoles are a perfect 4-0 at home this season.
Miller tossed three touchdown passes, one apiece to Jaylan Lurry, Gabriel Miley, and Derrick Caldwell, and rushed 25 yards to the endzone.
Entering Friday, the young signal caller had completed 148 passes on 210 attempts for 2,122 passing yards, 19 passing touchdowns against five interceptions in 10 games. He added 37 carries for 182 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground.
“Coming out in the first half, there were a bunch of mistakes ― mental mistakes. And I came out in the second half and responded and played pretty well,” Miller recapped his performance versus Baldwin.
Florida High ends four-game losing streak in first-round triumph vs Baldwin
The Seminoles’ playoff opening victory over Baldwin ended a four-game losing streak.
Florida High hadn’t won a game since Oct. 3, a 40-38 triumph over Chiles.
The four-game skid saw Florida High fall by two or more possessions in three of those games.
“We’ve had to play through adversity all year long ― whether it’s been injuries and things that we couldn’t control,” Florida High head coach Jarrod Hickman told the Tallahassee Democrat. “The schedule’s been so challenging.”
It looked like the Seminoles turned a corner on Friday as they outscored Baldwin 28-21 in the second half. Florida High running back Mike Jones had two explosive touchdown rushes to put the game on ice.
“I’m proud of this group,” Hickman said. “It’s been the second half of some football games that we’ve had chances to win. And I certainly thought we came out and won the second half tonight, and that really helped us.”
Florida High advances to second round of FHSAA football 2A state tournament
Next for the Seminoles is a trip to Jacksonville.
They will face the Bolles Bulldogs (10-1) for the second round of the FHSAA 2A state tournament next Friday, Nov. 21, at 7:30 p.m., per MaxPreps.
“Just got to keep on,” Miller said. “I definitely think it’s winnable.”
Bolles hosted and walloped Walton on Friday, 63-13, for its eighth straight win of the season.
“Everybody knows Bolles across the state,” Hickman previewed the Sweet 16 matchup. “They’ve got an outstanding group of players, an outstanding coach, and you’ve got to go on the road. We’ve been in tough places this year. So, it’s really about us trying to come and play the best football we can play, get it to the second half, and see what we can do.”
Gerald Thomas, III is a multi-time award-winning journalist for his coverage of the Florida A&M Rattlers at the Tallahassee Democrat.
Follow his award-winning coverage on RattlerNews.com and contact him via email at GDThomas@Tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee.
Brevard County couple gets married in NICU after birth of premature twins
A Florida couple, told they may not be able to have children, welcomed premature twins and had an impromptu NICU wedding.
Provided by AdventHealth for Children
Ben and Danielle Cassidy were told they likely wouldn’t be able to have children.
But this year they will celebrate Mother’s Day just months after having an impromptu wedding in the AdventHealth for Children hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit shortly after Danielle gave birth to twins prematurely — a week before the Palm Bay couple was scheduled to get married.
Both babies, Joshua and Rhett, are doing well despite arriving nine weeks ahead of schedule on Jan. 19, 2026, just one day after their scheduled baby shower. With a proper wedding out of the question with two premature babies in the NICU, a nurse took action.
Issabel Kenkel, the nurse behind the ceremony, said she was already in wedding planning mode for her own upcoming nuptials when she found out the Cassidy family’s ceremony would be interrupted.
“I couldn’t just let them do something small. They needed decorations and something fun, so I spoke to the music therapist and the chaplain,” Kenkel said. In short order, a wedding was being planned for their hospital room and the couple was saying their vows in the company of their safely delivered newborns.
“When we found out we could request staff members to be on our team, that’s when we requested Issabel and having that kind of consistency from someone who has such a big heart and is so kind,” Danielle said.
The hospital ceremony was all the more special because of the Cassidy family’s own health struggles.
“I have five autoimmune diseases and didn’t really think I would have kids. It’s been a rough journey. When Ben and I met, we were floored at how much a miracle it was to have kids,” Danielle said.
Ben, who battled and beat cancer, said he was worried that his prior treatment would result in negative health outcomes for his future children. Having twins for him was an unexpected blessing.
“When we found out we were pregnant, we found it so shocking. We said, wouldn’t it be great if it was twins? It filled out our hopes and dreams list,” Ben said. “They’ve been miracles for sure.”
The Cassidy couple said there was so much fear and uncertainty when their twins were born nine weeks early. Being able to get married right away just made them feel all the better about the future.
“It was nice getting married because we didn’t have to wait any longer to make it official. It made it that much harder for her to get rid of me,” Ben said.
“The unknown made it scary,” Danielle added. “We had no idea how long we would be in the hospital. Our wedding was going to be at the beach with immediate family and parents. Having NICU babies, we realized we’d never be able to get to the beach. It was really special having the people who care for our babies be part of the ceremony.”
The couple hadn’t even planned to have a band at their wedding ceremony and now the hospital’s music therapist was performing live for them and the chaplain was conducting the ceremony, something nurse Kenkel said was just part of her job.
“The babies are going to have the best outcomes if the families are taken care of and going home happy,” she said. “Being in the NICU is already so stressful. This is just one more thing I could do to take care of my patients.”
Tyler Vazquez is the Growth and Development Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Vazquez at 321-480-0854 or tvazquez@floridatoday.com. X: @tyler_vazquez.
The Vero Beach Police Department took a man into custody May 8 in connection with a threatening phone call directed toward a business.
The agency received information at 5:21 p.m. May 7 about a threatening call to Thrive IRC Inc. at 2300 5th Ave. in Vero Beach, according to a news release. The call included someone threatening to come to the business with an AK rifle and “light the building up.”
Detectives began investigating the threat and identified Michael Sean O’Brien, 27, of Vero Beach, as the person associated with the phone number used during the call.
O’Brien was taken into custody at about 3:30 p.m. May 8 without incident. He was charged with the false report concerning the use of firearms in a violent manner, which is a second degree felony, according to the news release.
O’Brien was booked in the Indian River County Jail at 6:13 p.m. May 8 but was released at 1:36 p.m. May 9 after posting the $5,000 bond, according to the jail website.
No additional information was available the afternoon of May 9.
Olivia Franklin is TCPalm’s trending reporter. You can contact her at olivia.franklin@tcpalm.com, 317-627-8048 or follow her on X @Livvvvv_5.
Charmaine Hickey, of Lang Realty in Port St. Lucie, was named in KNOW Women’s “100 Women to KNOW in America” list.
A Treasure Coast woman was named in a “100 Women to know in America” list for 2026.
KNOW Women is a global media company dedicated to giving women leaders connections and visibility. The company released a list of “100 Women to know in America” for 2026 to highlight the most influential women in business and leadership.
Charmaine Hickey, who works for Lang Realty in Port St. Lucie, was on the list.
“Charmaine’s recognition on a national stage like this comes as no surprise,” said Scott Agran, president of Lang Realty in a news release. “Her leadership, integrity, and commitment to both her profession and her community exemplify what this award stands for. She represents the very best of our industry.”
Hickey holds many industry designations and is known for her expertise in complex real estate transactions, as well as her client-first approach defined by honesty, patience and attention to detail, according to the news release.
Her community involvement includes serving on nonprofit boards, mentoring emerging leaders and supporting initiatives focused on education, women, families and youth.
“I am truly honored to be recognized among such an inspiring group of women,” said Hickey in the news release. “This award reflects not just individual achievement, but the power of community, mentorship, and lifting others as we grow. I’m grateful to be part of a network of women who are building meaningful impact every day.”
To see the full list go to theknowwomen.com.
Olivia Franklin is TCPalm’s trending reporter. You can contact her at olivia.franklin@tcpalm.com, 317-627-8048 or follow her on X @Livvvvv_5.
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