By Chrissy Voltoline
Contributing Writer
Twitter – @chrissyvolt
VIDEO: Click here to watch the game via the NFHS Network
Buchholz (Gainesville) Bobcats
Coach: Mark Whittemore
Record: 6-2
Key Players: Terrance Young (Sr., SS), Blake Mitchell (Sr., WR), Edward Cason (Sr., RB), Jakhai Mitchem (Sr., SB), Trent Whittemore (Sr., WR, FS), Isaiah Michel (Sr., WR), Camden Orth (Sr., QB), Terrell Jackson (So., WR), Noah Keeter (Sr., DE, TE), Roderick Jackson (Sr., WR), Samuel Holmes
Outlook: The Bobcats look promising in its mission to capture a second district 3-7A title in three years. After recording nothing but Ws in the result column the past five weeks, the ‘Cats trumped yet another district foe, Oakleaf (Orange Park), last Friday, 42-29. A name now familiar to more than just city rivals is Camden Orth. Orth controlled the field once again when the Bobcats took on Oakleaf. Orth threw three touchdown passes while recording one himself to help lead his team to another victory. Senior Jakhai Mitchem and Trent Whittemore were also on top of their game. Mitchem recorded 152-rushing yards and Whittemore recorded 126 receiving yards. On the defensive side of the ball, junior Corbin Grantham had 18 total tackles and senior Terrance Young recorded 14 tackles total for his team. The Bobcats have a big task ahead of them this Friday in their quest of a district title. The ‘Cats will travel to Bartram Trail (St. Johns) for a district match-up at 7 p.m.
Bartram Trail (St. Johns) Bears
Coach: Darrell Sutherland
Record: 5-3
Key Players: Harry Bowker (Sr., CB, QB), Devin Ellison (Sr., RB), Griffin Helm (Sr., SB, WR), Gunnar Hitzeman (Sr., WR), AJ Jones III (So., RB), Chase Ruskin (Sr., SS, OLB), Trevez Johnson (Jr., CB, WR), Will Greig (Jr., K, P) Zach Rhodes (Jr., WR)
Outlook: The Bears went toe-to-toe with the state-ranked Cocoa Tigers last week in a non-district game, but fell short by just three points. Junior Will Greig and senior Harry Bowker put the team on their back, recording a combined 28 points for their team. Bowker scored three rushing touchdowns while Greig had a night with 100% accuracy on four extra-point attempts and two field goals. The Bears will now have to take on the Buchholz Bobcats on Friday in a district match. The Bobcats are currently undefeated in District 3-7A. If the Bears want to change that, they will have to rely on more than their kicker to knock off the ‘Cats from their clean sheet.
