Saturday, 11:45 a.m. (PREGAME) – High School Football, Noon (KICKOFF)
Join Marty Pallman (Play-by-play) & Davis Johnson (Color) for this Class 5A-Region 2 Play-In Game. Eastside defeated Dunnellon, 31-21, on Oct. 23, 2014, and has won three straight in the series.
By Cam Parker
Twitter – @camparker25
In a rematch of an October 30th matchup, Buchholz defeated Creekside 46-13 on Friday night at Citizen’s Field.
The Bobcats (7-1) dominated on all three sides of the ball, scoring touchdowns on offense, defense, and special teams.
From the first drive of the game, the Bobcat offense rolled behind star running back Quan Smith, who started the scoring off with a 36-yard reception on a screen pass from quarterback Creed Whittemore.
Smith would have three total touchdowns in the game: two receiving and one rushing.
Two plays later, the Bobcat defense would start their own domination after Damien Curtis intercepted a pass at the Creekside 36-yard line. From there, the Bobcat offense would quickly score on a Smith one-yard rush to put Buchholz up 12-0 with 7:24 left in the first quarter, eerily similar to the 21-0 lead Buchholz had when they previously met Creekside.
After forcing a three-and-out, Whittemore would find Smith for another 36-yard touchdown pass. This time, on a fourth and six, during which Whittemore bobbled the snap, picked up the ball, and delivered a strike down the middle of the field.
“We’re not satisfied until we get a ring,” said Smith, who was also named the Sonic Drive-In Player of the Game.
After this, the Bobcat special teams would also get in on the action, blocking a punt that rolled through the back of the endzone for a safety, which put them up 21-0 at the end of the first quarter.
This domination would carry over to the second quarter for Buchholz, as they forced a fumble and recovered the ball at the three-yard line. However, a penalty would move them back to the 22-yard line.
This did not stop the offense, though. After a fumbled snap and incomplete pass that set up a 3rd-and-26, Whittemore would have his third touchdown pass of the night. This time, he found Quan Lee for a 38-yard, leaping touchdown catch.
On the ensuing drive, back-to-back sacks by Gavin Hill and Matt Clayton would end the half with the Bobcats leading 28-0.
This first-half domination would continue into the second-half, as Buchholz safety Donny Hiebert intercepted a pass on the third play of the half. This set up a 36-yard field goal by Hunter Smith.
Three plays later, the Bobcat punt return team would block their second punt of the night. A block by Clayton would be caught by Jacarree Kelly and returned for the touchdown. From here, the Creekside offense, led by running back Preston Strope, would show some life with an 80-yard touchdown run by Strope to put them on the scoreboard.
However, the Bobcat defense would also find the endzone on Creekside’s next drive, after Jaterrye Curtis recovered a fumble in the endzone for a touchdown, making the score 44-7. Buchholz would convert the two-point conversion when kicker Hunter Smith picked up the fumbled snap and ran in for the 2-point conversion.
“Special teams wins,” said Buchholz coach Mark Whittemore. “We knew we were going to have to play a clean special teams game. We went above and beyond the call of duty. Our punter did really well, and the blocked punts go without saying. We’re where we need to be.”
The final score of the night would be from Creekside wide receiver Brandon Mcmillan, who caught a 65-yard pass from back-up quarterback Maxwell Robinson with 5:05 to play in the game.
Next week, Buchholz, which is now riding a 7-game win streak, travels to Navarre in the 7A-Region 1 quarterfinals, while Creekside finishes the season at 5-4.
The Sonic Drive-In Player-of-the-Game for Friday, November 13, was Quan Smith of the Buchholz (Gainesville) football team.
The senior helped lead Buchholz to a 46-13 win against visiting Creekside (St. Johns) in a Class 7A-Region 1 Play-in game.
Smith had two touchdowns receiving and one rushing in the first quarter as the Bobcats (7-1) won their seventh consecutive game.
On the Bobcats’ first possession, facing a 3rd-and-11, Smith caught a screen pass from sophomore quarterback Creed Whittemore and outran the Knights’ secondary for a 36-yard touchdown pass just two minutes into the game.
Following an interception by senior D.J. Curtis, Smith ran it in from a yard out to give Buchholz a 12-0 lead with 7:24 to play in the first quarter.
He scored his third touchdown on the Bobcats next possession.
On 4th-and-7, Smith hauled in an over-the-shoulder 36-yard touchdown pass from Whittemore for a 19-0 lead with 4:40 to play in the opening quarter.
“We’re really playing well,” Smith said. “But we’re not satisfied until we get the ring.”
Buchholz will travel to Navarre for a regional quarterfinal next Friday.
Every game The Prep Zone will recognize a Player-of-the-Game. The recipient receives a $10 gift certificate courtesy of Sonic Drive-In of Gainesville & Ocala.
Here are the current standings, followed by this week’s games and last week’s results:
Joshua Wilson (FloridaHSFootball.com): 82-23 (.781)
Mike Ridaught (The Prep Zone): 80-25 (.762)
John Patton (Ocala Star-Banner): 78-27 (.743)
Corey Davis (Gainesville Sun): 77-28 (.733)
Marty Pallman (The Prep Zone): 75-30 (.714)
Tyler TenBieg (The Prep Zone): 68-37 (.648)
Friday, Nov. 13
8A-Region 1 Play-In Game – Mandarin (Jacksonville) (3-5) at Sandalwood (Jacksonville) (6-2) (Monday)
8A-Region 1 Play-In Game – University (Orange City) (4-3) at DeLand (3-2)
7A-Region 1 Play-In Game – Creekside (St. Johns) (5-3) at Buchholz (Gainesville) (6-1)
6A-Region 1 Play-In Game – Ponte Vedra (5-4) at Columbia (Lake City) (2-5)
6A-Region 1 Play-In Game – New Smyrna Beach (4-4) at Matanzas (Palm Coast) (5-3)
5A-Region 1 Play-In Game – Raines (Jacksonville) (3-6) at Westside (Jacksonville) (5-3)
5A-Region 3 Play-In Game – Bishop Moore (Orlando) (4-2) at Nature Coast Tech (Brooksville) (7-0)
4A-Region 2 Quarterfinal – Bolles (Jacksonville) (6-2) at The Villages (6-0)
4A-Region 2 Quarterfinal – West Nassau (Callahan) (4-6) at Fernandina Beach (6-3)
SSAC 8-man State Championship Game (at Bryant Stadium, Lakeland) – Oak Hall (Gainesville) (9-0) vs. All Saints Academy (Winter Haven) (8-1) (Saturday)
Mike Ridaught (8-2)
Bolles – X
Baker County – X
Oakleaf
Fletcher
DeLand
Union County
East Ridge
Creekside
Bronson
Williston
John Patton (8-2)
Bolles – X
Baker County – X
Oakleaf
Fletcher
DeLand
Union County
East Ridge
Creekside
Bronson
Williston
Marty Pallman (7-3)
Bolles – X
Baker County – X
Oakleaf
Mandarin – X
DeLand
Union County
East Ridge
Creekside
Bronson
Williston
Corey Davis (9-1)
Bolles – X
Suwannee
Oakleaf
Fletcher
DeLand
Union County
East Ridge
Creekside
Bronson
Williston
Joshua Wilson (3-7)
Bolles – X
Baker County – X
Oakleaf
Mandarin – X
DeLand
Keystone Heights – X
South Lake – X
Creekside
Crescent City – X
Chiefland – X
Tyler TenBieg (6-4)
Bolles – X
Suwannee
Clay – X
Mandarin – X
DeLand
Keystone Heights – X
East Ridge
Creekside
Bronson
Williston
Friday, 7 p.m. (PREGAME) – High School Football, 7:30 p.m. (KICKOFF)
Creekside (St. Johns) at Buchholz (Gainesville)
Join Mike Ridaught (Play-by-play), Kevin Gatti (Color), & Cam Parker (Stats/Halftime/Postgame) for this Class 7A-Region 1 Play-In Game. This is the second meeting between the Bobcats and Knights this season. Buchholz won at Creekside, 49-27, on Oct. 30. The winner will travel to Navarre on Friday, Nov. 20, for the regional quarterfinals.
Radio: “I am Country” 106.9 FM Gainesville
Top 10 shakeup in regional all-classification rankings as high school football season heads into opening round of playoffs
GAINESVILLE — It’s finally playoff time for the football teams in The Prep Zone Power Poll.
But first there were some surprises for some of the top 10 teams in the final week of the regular season.
Not for the Bartram Trail (St. Johns), which finished the regular season as the unanimous #1 team.
The Bears finished the regular season 8-1 by rallying past Raines (Jacksonville), 42-26. The win was the fifth in a row for the Bears, whose only loss this season came to nationally-ranked American Heritage (Plantation).
Bartram Trail received all nine first-place votes once again. The Bears have a bye this week before opening play in the 8A regional quarterfinals on November 20 against #4 Oakleaf (Orange Park).
Oakleaf (6-3), which knocked off previously undefeated then-#5 Clay (Green Cove Springs), 41-14, in the final regular season game, was awarded a win in their play-in game by forfeit over Nease (Ponte Vedra) this week, and now moves on to play the top-ranked Bears in the 8A playoffs next week.
Moving up to #2 is Trinity Christian (Jacksonville). The Conquerors (7-1) closed out the regular season with their seventh straight win, 29-6 at Ribault (Jacksonville).
Trinity Christian opens up play in the Region 1-3A quarterfinals this week at #16 Baldwin (8-0). Trinity’s only loss this season came in the opening week to #7 Bolles (Jacksonville).
Dunnellon also moves up a spot to #3 after the Tigers finished off an unbeaten regular season with a 35-0 pasting of West Port (Ocala). Dunnellon (6-0) plays at Eastside (Gainesville) in a 5A-Region 2 play-in game moved to Saturday afternoon due to Tropical Strom Eta.
Rounding out the top five is Vanguard (Ocala).
The Knights (5-1), whose only loss came on the final play of the game at Dunnellon, closed out the regular season with a 30-0 blanking of Belleview. Vanguard hits the road to open the postseason this week at Crystal River.
The big mover this week is Mainland (Daytona Beach).
The Bucs (6-1) knocked off then-#2 Bolles 7-3 last Thursday at Daytona Stadium and are up five spots to lead off the second five at #6. Mainland hits the road to open up play in the 6A-Region 1 playoffs against Gainesville at Santa Fe High School in Alachua.
With the loss, Bolles drops five spaces to 7th. The Bulldogs (6-2) look to rebound as they open in the postseason in 4A at #14T The Villages.
Robert E. Lee was off last week and moves up to #8. The Generals (5-1) host Fort Walton Beach in their Region 1-6A playoff opener.
Rounding out the top 10 is Madison County at #9 and Buchholz (Gainesville) is 10th.
The Cowboys (7-2) host Dixie County (Cross City) in a 1A playoff opener, and Buchholz, which is up two spots and into the top 10 for the first time this season, hosts RV Creekside (St. Johns). The Bobcats won at Creekside 49-27 just two weeks ago.
Both Clay and Baker County (Glen St. Mary) fell out of the top 10 from a week ago. The Blue Devils (7-1) suffered their first loss of the season at Oakleaf and fell from 5th to 11th, while Baker County (7-2) dropped from #6 all the way to #13 after losing late at home to then-#16 Suwannee (Live Oak).
With the win Suwannee (7-2) moved up to #12.
There is only one new addition to the poll this week and that is #20 St. Augustine. The Yellow Jackets (6-2), who won at Palatka 51-8, replace Creekside, which was 20th a week ago.
The Prep Zone Power Poll ranks the top 20 high school football, volleyball, basketball, baseball & softball teams (regardless of FHSAA classification) across 26 counties in North Florida (Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Citrus, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Hernando, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Levy, Madison, Marion, Nassau, Putnam, Sumter, St. Johns, Suwannee, Taylor, Union & Volusia counties). It is voted on weekly by sportswriters and sportscasters and it is powered by Anytime Fitness of Gainesville.
THE PREP ZONE POWER POLL – 2020 FOOTBALL POLL #10
(School, followed by classification, first-place votes, current record, and total voting points)
1. Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (8A) (9) (8-1) – 180
2. Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (3A) (7-1) – 170
3. Dunnellon (5A) (6-0) – 160
4. Oakleaf (Orange Park) (8A) (6-3) – 142
5. Vanguard (Ocala) (5A) (5-1) – 135
6. Mainland (Daytona Beach) (6A) (6-1) – 128
7. Bolles (Jacksonville) (4A) (6-2) – 126
8. Robert E. Lee (Jacksonville) (6A) (5-1) – 104
9. Madison County (1A) (7-2) – 197
10. Buchholz (Gainesville) (7A) (6-1) – 95
11. Clay (Green Cove Springs) (5A) (7-1) – 85
12. Suwannee (Live Oak) (5A) (7-2) – 72
13. Baker County (Glen St. Mary) (5A) (7-2) – 68
14T. Fleming Island (Orange Park) (7A) (6-2) – 61
14T. The Villages (4A) (6-0) – 61
16. Baldwin (3A) (8-0) – 45
17. Fletcher (Neptune Beach) (7A) (6-1) – 40
18. Nature Coast Tech (Brooksville) (5A) (7-0) – 34
19. Lake Minneola (Minneola) (6A) (6-1) – 25
20. St. Augustine (6A) (6-2) – 24
Also receiving votes: Trinity Catholic (Ocala) (3A) (4-3) – 12; Creekside (St. Johns) (7A) (5-3) – 11; Flagler Palm Coast (8A) (4-3) – 8; Newberry (1A) (7-1) – 5; Hawthorne (1A) (6-2) – 3; Hilliard (1A) (7-0) – 3; DeLand (8A) (3-2) – 1.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – In consideration of Hurricane Eta and the effects on our state, the FHSAA has adjusted the schedules for the 2020 Girls Volleyball State Championships. Here is the schedule:
Class 7A
Lyman (Longwood) vs. Lake Nona (Orlando), Nov. 15, 7 p.m.
Class 6A
Leon (Tallahassee) vs. Mater Academy (Hialeah Gardens), Nov. 14, 7 p.m.
Class 5A
Ponte Vedra vs. Jensen Beach, Nov. 14, 1 p.m.
Class 4A
Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville) vs. Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale), Nov. 15, 1 p.m.
Class 3A
Trinity Catholic (Ocala) vs. Westminster Christian (Miami), Nov. 14, 4 p.m.
Class 2A
St. John Paul II (Tallahassee) vs. Lake Worth Christian, Nov. 14, 10 a.m.
Class 1A
Sneads vs. Newberry, Nov. 15, 4 p.m.
Wednesday, 7-8 p.m. – “The Prep Zone” Sports Show (broadcast from Sonic Drive-In on 39th Avenue in Gainesville)
Join Mike Ridaught & Marty Pallman as they talk high school sports. Their guests for this week include Newberry football coach Ed Johnson and members of the Panthers’ football team. They’ll preview the high school football playoffs, including Newberry’s Class 1A playoff game against Trenton.
Radio: “I am Country” 106.9 FM Gainesville
‘Live’ audio: https://streamdb6web.securenetsystems.net/cirrusencore/WPLL
By Cam Parker
Twitter – @camparker25
On Friday night at Citizen’s Field, Gainesville High beat Eastside by a score of 37-7.
It was the 12th straight win in the series for the ‘Canes.
The win was not pretty, as both teams combined for 30 penalties, but a stout defense and a strong run game by Gainesville led them to the win over their city rivals.
After turning the ball over on downs for their first drive, Gainesville defensive back Arnold Strachen, an Eastside transfer, intercepted a pass that put the ‘Canes at the Rams’ 25-yard line. This led to a 12-yard touchdown run by Kyree Edwards.
“It feels good,” said Edwards, who would also be named the Sonic Drive-In Player of the Game. “Now, on to playoff week. It is the biggest opportunity right there, so we got to chase that.”
The ensuing kickoff would be bobbled and recovered by the Rams inside their own five-yard line, which would end in a disaster for the Rams.
After two false starts and a negative two-yard run that put them just outside the goal line, Rams running back Keonte Macon would be tackled in the end zone by a swarm of Canes for a safety.
That put Gainesville up 9-0 at the end of the first quarter.
A few drives later, Gainesville quarterback Shamon Coleman would find tight end Dallas Figueroa for a 23-yard reception to put the Hurricanes inside the 25-yard line. Two plays later, Coleman would hit Brent King on a slant route for a 17-yard touchdown to make the score 16-0 in favor of the ‘Canes.
After an Eastside punt and a turnover on downs by Gainesville, the Rams’ offense would finally show signs of life after a long drive that put them at the Cane 30-yard line. However, a deep throw towards the end zone was intercepted by Tajawuan Welch.
Gainesville would drive the ball down the field and set themselves up for a 40-yard field goal attempt. However, the kick was short, which kept the score at 16-0 at the end of the half.
To start the second half, the stout Cane defense forced a quick three-and-out and gave the offense the ball at the Ram 33-yard line. A few plays later, a John Cooper 10-yard run on fourth-and-one put the ball inside the 15-yard line. From here, Ryan Nolan would score the Canes’ third touchdown of the night on a one-yard run.
Once again, Eastside would find a little bit of life after recovering a muffed punt. The next play, quarterback Holden Johnson would find Micah Hudson for a 23-yard completion to set the Rams up in great field position. However, the Gainesville defense would step up when they were needed the most and made a huge stop on fourth down to give the ball back to the offense.
Gainesville’s offense would not capitalize off of this. Eastside defender Artrayul Goss would intercept a pass and return it for a touchdown. This was the Rams’ only touchdown of the night.
The Canes’ offense would not let this mistake hold them back, as on the next drive, Kyree Edwards would take the handoff for 57-yards and put the ball at the one-yard line. The next play, Nay’Ron Jenkins would finish the drive with a touchdown rush.
The offense would continue rolling from here. After forcing another turnover on downs, John Cooper would punch in the final score of the night with a seven-yard touchdown rush.
Coach Dock Pollard praised his team for their improvement, after only practicing seven times last month due to COVID-19 issues.
“It feels good,” he said. “We just haven’t had a lot of time together. We’re not an accomplished football team just because we won tonight. What happened was we saw a team finally getting the reps. We’re getting better because we’re getting reps.”
Next week, which marks the start of the FHSAA state playoffs, Gainesville (2-3) will host on Mainland (Daytona Beach) at Santa Fe (Alachua) in the Class 6A playoffs, while Eastside (1-7) hosts Dunnellon on Thursday night in Class 5A.
The Sonic Drive-In Player-of-the-Game for Friday, November 6, was Kyree Edwards of the Gainesville football team.
Edwards helped lead the Hurricanes to a 37-7 win against rival Eastside. It was the 12th straight win in the series for GHS (2-3).
Following an interception by Eastside transfer Arnold Strachan at the Rams’ 25-yard line, the sophomore scored the first points of the game on a 12-yard run to give GHS a 7-0 lead with 2:31 to play in the opening quarter.
In the second half, after Eastside (1-7) scored to make it 23-7, Edwards ripped off a 57-yard run to the one-yard line. Nay’ron Jenkins ran it in on the next play as the ‘Canes quickly seized the momentum back with a 30-7 lead early in the fourth quarter.
For a recap of the game, click here.
Every game The Prep Zone will recognize a Player-of-the-Game. The recipient receives a $10 gift certificate courtesy of Sonic Drive-In of Gainesville & Ocala.