Last year, the Gainesville football program was leaps and bounds better than they’ve been in the previous two seasons combined.
GHS, which went 1-9 in 2023 and was winless (0-10) in 2022, finished 5-5 in 2024.
The Hurricanes won their first three games of the season last year, and four of their first five, giving the program optimism heading into 2025.
“I enjoy being around this team and these players, and I’m just excited to see them get out there and compete,” said GHS coach Ian Scott, who enters his third season. “They’ve done a tremendous job getting closer and coming together as a team, and being more together and pulling for each other, and to be able to try to continue to encourage them and get them set up for success, and see them go out and compete, is an exciting thing to be a part of.”
This year’s team will be young, with only three starters returning on both sides of the ball, but Scott said, “it’s the best locker room that we’ve had since I’ve been there.”
“This is kind of what we’ve been moving towards and pushing for,” he said. “We hope they get to see the results because the process part, all of the things, all the work that you need to put in in order to be successful, they’ve done that part. Hopefully, we can see the results on the field and be able to finish this year because we got off to a good start last year, and the back half of the season was tough.”
Rising senior Jaishawn Sanford will start at quarterback after starter Nelson Tambling (1,295 yards passing, 11 TDs) transferred to Eastside this past spring.
“Jaishawn got a lot of playing time last year, so it’s not something new,” Scott said. “We’ve just got to develop behind him because you never know what could happen at that position. We’ve got some guys that are going to step up and play, I have no doubt about that, and we’ve got a team around those guys that are eager to play for each other, play together and, to me, that’s the most important thing. When you’ve got a group like that, they can achieve a lot of great things.”
Last year, Sanford, who also plays basketball, completed 17-of-31 passes for 112 yards with one touchdown and one interception and rushed for 90 yards on 22 carries (4.1 ypc) and a score. He saw plenty of varsity action because Tambling was injured throughout the season.
“The guys in the locker room believe in him,” Scott said. “We’ve just got to create some ways, so he feels comfortable just because he’s not the biggest guy, and building our offensive lineup has been a part of that, and all those things go into it. But we have every belief and confidence in him and the guys around him. It’s going to be a true team effort.”
Offensive coordinator Earnest Graham took the head coaching job at Santa Fe (Alachua), but the offense should look the same, with some wrinkles that they didn’t have last year.
It’s a cohesive unit.
“The leadership we have on the team is the best leadership that I’ve been a part of because we all want it,” said senior wide receiver Aric Welch, who will also return punts and kicks. “We all want to get to the playoffs this year.”
The defense set the tone early last year, allowing just 21 points total in their first three games. The ‘Canes allowed an average of 12 points per game through the first five games.
Senior Josef Scott, who was a linebacker last year but moved back to safety, said Gainesville’s front three (Jhamal Robinson, Trezon Richardson, Trey Calhoun) will be the key. They all bench over 300 pounds and squat over 500 pounds.
“Our strong point will be our defensive line,” said Scott, who led the Hurricanes with 56 tackles last year. “We’ve got to win the battle on the line of scrimmage, and I think if we do that, we’ll be really successful.”
The schedule is challenging with a total of seven playoff teams on the slate. Plus, GHS plays on the road for the first half of the season.
Their first home game of the season isn’t until Oct. 3 (Buchholz).
“We need to be more hungry, a little more grit,” said Robinson. “When we’re down by a point, don’t hold your head down, hold it up. Keep playing to the final whistle, like Coach Scott has been talking the last three years – keep playing, keep fighting.”
Class 4A-District 5 is loaded with 4A regional finalist Vanguard (Ocala), Leesburg, and Lecanto, all of whom made the postseason last year.
GHS was in the mix for an FHSAA playoff berth but a 24-7 home loss in the district opener against Lecanto, in which they were 0-for-6 on fourth down, and a 35-34 loss at Leesburg on Oct. 14, derailed those aspirations.
“We’re young, so we’ve got to get out to a good start,” Ian said. “Just confidence-wise for a young team, it’s going to be important that we play well early and have some success, and the belief will continue to build.”
GHS will open the season on Aug. 22 at Class 3A Aubrey Rogers (Naples), followed by a trip to 6A Davenport the following Friday.
Gainesville Hurricanes
2024 record: 5-5
Head coach: Ian Scott
Years as head coach: 3rd year
District assignment: Class 4A-District 5
Players to watch:
Aric Welch (WR, Sr.)
Josef Scott (S, Sr.)
Jhamal Robinson (NG, Sr.)
Zohnray Rochelle (HB/LB, Sr.)
Jaishawn Sanford (QB/ATH, Sr.)
Key games:
Sept. 12 at Lecanto
Oct. 3 vs. Buchholz
Oct. 9 vs. Leesburg
Oct. 24 vs. Vanguard (Ocala)
Oct. 31 at Eastside