Wednesday, 7-8 p.m. – “The Prep Zone” Sports Show (broadcast from Sonic Drive-In on 39th Avenue in Gainesville)
Join Marty Pallman and his guests – St. Francis Catholic Academy football coach Scott McDaniel and members of the Wolves’ football team.
Radio: “I am Country” 106.9 FM Gainesville
‘Live’audio: https://streamdb6web.securenetsystems.net/cirrusencore/WPLL
The Sonic Drive-In Player-of-the-Game for Friday, September 11, was Brent King of the Gainesville football team.
King accounted for both touchdowns as GHS defeated Santa Fe (Alachua) on the road, 14-0, to spoil the Raiders’ Senior Night.
The junior quarterback scored on a 53-yard scoring run to give GHS a 7-0 lead with a minute left in the opening quarter. He accounted for 83 yards on the drive.
“Brent King is a dynamic player that just needs more reps at QB,” said Pollard, who spent the last two seasons as Santa Fe’s coach. “Once he finds his groove he will be good for us at GHS.”
Then, late in the second quarter, he tossed a 37-yard TD pass to fellow junior Ryan Nolan to make it 14-0 at the half.
King finished with 75 yards passing on the drive as he also hit Nolan for a 38-yard completion to complete a 3-play, 78-yard scoring drive.
“He was shifty,” Santa Fe first-year coach Jared Allen of King. “He played really well despite being a little guy. He’s a baller.”
Gainesville (1-0) will host Seminole (Sanford) on Friday, September 18.
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.
We are recognizing the top athletes from the Class of 2021. It will include athletes from the following counties: Alachua, Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Levy, Marion, and Union.
Name: Najhay Calhoun
School: Santa Fe High School (Alachua)
What sports will you participate in during your senior year? Football
What position(s) will you play? DT
Stats: 56 tackles, 4 sacks, 1 safety
Achievements (Academic and/or Athletic): Gainesville Sun Second Team All-Area
Favorite high school sports moment so far: “Playoff game against Dunnellon.”
Favorite quote: “A tackle isn’t going to make itself.”
What are you looking forward to most about your senior year: “Go deep in the playoffs.”
Goals for your senior season: 60+ tackles, 10 sacks, and a TD
College offers, interest, or commitments? Holds offers from Austin Peay, Morehead St, Tennessee St., & Southeast Missouri.
Marty Pallman joined Jeff Cardozo on The Tailgate (WRUF-98.1 FM & 850 AM) on Thursday, September 10, for ThePrepZone.com Sports Report presented by SunState Federal Credit Union. Here is a recap of the interview:
Football
Hawthorne beats Newberry 20-14 in week one as Hornets quarterback Chaz Mackey, a transfer from North Marion, throws a six-yard touchdown pass to tight end Max LaCava with 3 minutes left. Hawthorne avenges an overtime loss to Newberry a year ago and is back in action this Friday night against a first- year program from Jacksonville, Zarephath Academy. Newberry returns to action against rival Trenton at home this week. Trenton and P.K. Yonge engaged in a scoreless slugfest for three quarters but then combined for 46 points in the fourth period, heading to overtime tied at 23-all. In OT, the Blue Wave turned the ball over on an interception and the Tigers kicked a field goal for the 26-23 win and improved to 1-0 on the season while dropping P.K. to 0-1. All the Gainesville city schools get their seasons started this Friday night. Buchholz, which dropped a kickoff classic game to Jacksonville Trinity Christian last Friday night, hosts Orange Park Oakleaf at Citizens Field to open their 2020 season. Eastside begins the Alex DeLeon era at city rival P.K. Yonge as the Rams start their season against the 0-1 Blue Wave. And Dock Pollard coaches his first game with Gainesville High against his old team, Santa Fe, in Alachua on Friday night. Santa Fe dropped their first game under new coach Jared Allen last week at Suwannee. Other games of note this week include Saint Francis at Aucilla Christian, Dixie County at Union County and Keystone Heights at Bradford. Bradford dropped their season opener at Baker County last week. It’s the season opener for the other three teams.
Volleyball
High school volleyball season also officially started last weekend, with most teams starting in the last few days. Gainesville won their opener on Tuesday night against city rival P.K. Yonge in three sets. Meanwhile last year’s state runner-up Santa Fe is off to a 3-0 start with a four-set win over Buchholz on Tuesday and a straight set victory against Jacksonville Bishop Kenny last night. Buchholz is 1-1 after being Newberry, last year’s 1A state runner-up, in their opener last Friday, and then suffering the setback to Santa Fe. And Oak Hall, under first-year head coach Perry McDonald, who formerly coached P.K. Yonge, has started 2-0 and knocked off Bell in five sets on Tuesday.
**Tune in to our weekly radio interviews talking high school sports on ThePrepZone.com Sports Report presented by SunState Federal Credit Union on WRUF-98.1 FM & 850 AM in Gainesville every Thursday at 4 p.m. on “The Tailgate” with Jeff Cardozo & Gainesville Sun columnist Pat Dooley.**
Find out what’s going on daily in high school sports with ThePrepZone.com Sports Report Presented by SunState Federal Credit Union. The 1-minute high school sports vignette is produced by Mike Ridaught and airs ‘live’ every weekday morning between 7:50-7:55 a.m. on “106.9 (FM) I am Country” in Gainesville. The reports are archived for 30 days here.
If you live in the Tri-County area (Gilchrist, Levy & Dixie County), tune in to ThePrepZone.com Nature Coast Sports Report presented by SunState Federal Credit Union on Country Legends Radio. The 2-minute high school sports vignette is produced by Ridaught and airs every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 7:28 a.m. and repeating at 5:28 p.m. on 93.1 FM & 940 AM in Chiefland/Trenton & 96.3 FM & 1240 AM in Cross City. Listen Live Here.
We are recognizing the top athletes from the Class of 2021. It will include athletes from the following counties: Alachua, Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Levy, Marion, and Union.
Name: Hunter Cornwall
School: Hope Christian Academy
What sports will you participate in during your senior year? Football, basketball, & baseball
What position(s) will you play? QB & FS (football)
Stats: Last year as a junior, Hunter racked up over 1,000 yards in just five games at quarterback
Achievements (Academic and/or Athletic): 3x player of the game in Football and 4x player of the game in basketball as a junior
Favorite high school sports moment so far: “First pick-six against Countryside.”
Favorite quote: “A wise man once said nothing at all.”
What are you looking forward to most about your senior year: “Winning and finishing what I started.”
Goals for your senior season: “To win.”
College offers, interest, or commitments? Interest: Troy, Auburn, Stetson, University of Miami
Friday, 7 p.m. (PREGAME) – High School Football, 7:30 p.m. (KICKOFF)
Gainesville at Santa Fe (Alachua)
Join Michael Knauff (Play-by-play) & Conlan Birdsall (Color) for this Alachua County showdown. Gainesville High is coached by former Santa Fe football coach Dock Pollard. Jared Allen is the new coach of the Raiders.
Radio: “I am Country” 106.9 FM Gainesville
‘Live’ audio: https://streamdb6web.securenetsystems.net/cirrusencore/WPLL
Wednesday, Sept. 9 (7-8 p.m.) from Sonic Drive-In on 39th Avenue in Gainesville
Join Marty Pallman & Corey Davis and their guests – Bell volleyball coach Drue Barry and the Lady Bulldogs.
Radio: “I am Country” 106.9 FM Gainesville
‘Live’ audio: https://streamdb6web.securenetsystems.net/cirrusencore/WPLL
We are recognizing the top athletes from the Class of 2021. It will include athletes from the following counties: Alachua, Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Levy, Marion, and Union.
Name: Taylor Kendrick
School: P.K.Yonge DRS
Sports: Football & Track
Positions: Running back & inside linebacker (football) 100m & 200m (track)
Stats: 40: 4.8 Vert: 26.5 bench:270 squat: 500
Achievements: Honorable mention (All-Area)
Favorite high school sports moment: “When we were in the first round of the playoffs during my sophomore year, and I forced a fumble on the first drive of the game.”
Favorite coach saying: “Treat everyday/game like it’s your last.” – Coach Marcus McDonald
What are looking forward to most about senior year: “Being able to play, especially during a time like this where we’re in a pandemic. We’re blessed to even play ONE game.”
Goals for senior year: “My Goals for senior year is to be the best player I can be for my team, and to win a state championship.”
College offers: Carthage College, Albright College, Defiance College
College interest: Air Force Academy, University of South Florida (USF), Alabama A&M
The Sonic Drive-In Player-of-the-Game for Friday, September 4, was Chaz’ Mackey of the Hawthorne football team.
Mackey, a transfer quarterback from North Marion High School, threw two TD passes, including a 6-yard scoring pass to junior tight end Max Lacava with 3:25 to play in the game as Hawthorne rallied for a 20-14 win against Newberry in the season opener for both teams.
The junior QB was playing with a heavy heart after his dad passed away on August 15.
“He missed one day of practice and texted me why he missed (funeral arrangements),” said Hawthorne coach Cornelius Ingram. “That tells you what kind of guy he is. He played well for his first start. I’m excited. He was definitely fun to watch.”
Mackey also had the first touchdown of the game.
His 30-yard scoring toss to a wide open Johnquavis Jones gave the Hornets (1-0) a 6-0 lead, after the PAT failed, with 6:52 to play in the opening quarter.
“It feels good,” said Mackey, who noted that he talked to his dad before the game so he knew he was there. “Our team fought through adversity and came up with a win.”
Newberry scored 14 points in a span of 18 seconds late in the second quarter to take a 14-12 lead at the half.
Senior Kobe Delima scored on a 4-yard run for the Panthers (0-1) and senior Makai Johnson connected with Leontre’ Robinson on a 16-yard scoring pass as the horn sounded for a 14-12 lead at the half.
“We expected a tough game,” said Newberry coach Ed Johnson. “There were a lot of positives and negatives. We’ll try and get it cleaned up for next week’s game (home vs. Trenton).”
Hawthorne will be off next week. The Hornets will travel to Middleburg on Friday, Sept. 18.
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.
Last year’s top-ranked team, Madison County, starts on top of regional football rankings as long-awaited 2020 season gets underway
GAINESVILLE — So much has happened since the 2019 high school football season wrapped up last December in Florida.
The COVID-19 pandemic shut down schools and high school sports back in March, and all football teams missed spring practice as well as most of summer workouts.
The 2020 season will be like no other, with no district play and every team making the playoffs if they choose to opt in.
As for The Prep Zone Power Poll, the Madison County Cowboys, who are vying for their fourth consecutive 1A state title, start as the top-ranked team in the all-classification regional rankings.
The Cowboys, who finished last season atop the poll, received four of the nine first-place votes to edge #2 Bolles (Jacksonville) by two points.
Madison County opens up play Friday night at home against Jefferson County (Monticello).
Bolles, who lost the 4A state title game to Booker T. Washington (Miami) last season, receives four first-place votes as well in just missing out on the top spot.
The Bulldogs open their season next Friday against #9 Trinity Christian (Jacksonville).
Bartram Trail (St. Johns) is 3rd, followed by Vanguard (Ocala) at #4 and Robert E. Lee (Jacksonville) rounds out the top five.
Vanguard won’t start its season until September 25th and Marion County schools will only play other county schools this season to help mitigate COVID-19.
Leading off the second 10 is Trinity Catholic (Ocala), who is once again being led by head coach John Brantley.
Brantley led the Celtics to a state title and two championship game appearances in his first tenure with Trinity Catholic.
Fleming Island (Orange Park), who was 10-1 and advanced to the second round of the playoffs a year ago, starts the 2020 season at #7, followed by North Marion (Citra) at No. 8.
Rounding out the top 10 is Trinity Christian followed by #10 Columbia (Lake City).
It’s been a rough offseason for the Tigers’ program, as an assistant coach died from COVID-19 and head coach Brian Allen stepped away from the program to help take care of his daughter who is at high risk from the virus.
Columbia won’t start play until September 25 at Trinity Christian and as of now only has four games scheduled, but they round out the top 10 in the preseason.
Leading off the second 10 is 8A Oakleaf (Orange Park), who despite a 7-3 mark missed the playoffs in 2019. The Knights are ranked 11th to start this season and received the final first place vote.
Oakleaf opens their 2020 season at Buchholz (Gainesville) on September 11.
The Prep Zone Power Poll ranks the top 20 high school football, 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 #1 (PRESEASON)
(School, followed by classification, first-place votes, final 2019 record, and total voting points)
1. Madison County (1A) (4) (12-2) – 165
2. Bolles (Jacksonville) (4A) (4) (11-2) – 163
3. Bartram Trail (St. Johns) (8A) (11-1) – 161
4. Vanguard (Ocala) (5A) (9-3) – 149
5. Robert E. Lee (Jacksonville) (6A) (9-4) – 117
6. Trinity Catholic (Ocala) (3A) (8-4) – 103
7. Fleming Island (Orange Park) (7A) (10-1) – 96
8. North Marion (Citra) (5A) (9-3) – 94
9. Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) (3A) (5-6) – 91
10. Columbia (Lake City) (6A) (8-4) – 88
11. Oakleaf (Orange Park) (8A) (1) (7-3) – 68
12. Dunnellon (5A) (9-2) – 65
13. Raines (Jacksonville) (5A) (6-5) – 63
14. University Christian (Jacksonville) (2A) (11-2) – 60
15T. DeLand (8A) (7-3) – 57
15T. South Sumter (Bushnell) (4A) (9-3) – 57
17. Flagler Palm Coast (8A) (8-3) – 55
18. Mainland (Daytona Beach) (6A) (7-5) – 40
19T. Bradford (Starke) (4A) (6-6) – 26
19T. Lafayette (Mayo) (1A) (9-2) – 26
Also receiving votes: Lake Minneola (6A) (9-4) – 25; Newberry (1A) (9-2) -25; Episcopal (Jacksonville) (3A) (10-2) – 23; Ponte Vedra (6A) (7-3) – 13; Springstead (Spring Hill) (6A) (9-2) 13; St. Augustine (6A) (6-5) – 9; Terry Parker (Jacksonville) (5A) (7-3) – 9; Mandarin (Jacksonville) (8A) (7-4) – 7; Westside (Jacksonville) (5A) (8-3) – 7; Sandalwood (Jacksonville) (8A) (3-5) – 6; Hawthorne (1A) (8-4) – 5; The Villages (4A) (8-3) – 4; Chiefland (1A) (8-5) – 3; Forest (Ocala) (7A) (3-7) – 2; Menendez (St. Augustine) (5A) (7-3) – 2; West Nassau (Callahan) (4A) (8-3) – 2.