- Several high school football games were postponed or canceled due to rainstorms and lightning at the season opener in North Central Florida.
- Union County, coached by Robby Pruitt, won their SSAA opener 21-7 against Lafayette despite steady rain throughout the game.
- Notable Kickoff Classic wins included Gainesville 34-0 over Ridgeview and Buchholz rallying to beat defending state champion Lake Mary 26-17.
Area high school football teams battled the weather on Thursday and Friday with mixed results to open the 2026 season.
Rainstorms and lightning delays led to some games being postponed or canceled during the FHSAA pre-season Kickoff Classics and SSAA regular-season openers.
FRIDAY’S GAMES
Union County (Lake Butler) 21, Lafayette (Mayo) 7
The Tigers started their second stint under Hall of Fame coach Robby Pruitt with a win over the Hornets. Union County kept the ball on the ground most of the night with a steady rain falling and picked up the win in their first SSAA game.
Dixie County (Cross City) at Bell – (canceled, weather)
Bell fumbled the opening kickoff and Dixie County scored three plays later for an early 6-0 lead. With eight minutes left in the second quarter, the game was delayed due to lightning and the SSAA opener for both teams was eventually called a no-contest. Andrew Thomas will have to wait another week to win his first game after returning to his alma mater at Dixie County.
Trenton 10, Interlachen 7 (game postponed)
This SSAA opener saw host Trenton block a punt for a touchdown and a 10-0 lead. Interlachen answered before the weather postponed the game halfway through the second quarter. This game is scheduled to resume on Aug. 28 at Trenton.
Fernandina Beach 63, Keystone Heights 14
Keystone Heights’ first game under coach Cameron Porch and first SSAA game was a rough one as the Pirates pounded the hosting Indians. Fernandina Beach led 49-0 before Keystone Heights put a couple of touchdowns on the board.
Chiefland 34, Santa Fe Catholic (Lakeland) 24 (Kickoff Classic)
Chiefland scored on its first two drives for a 14-0 lead and eased past visiting Santa Fe Catholic. Chiefland opens its 2026 season next Friday night at home against rival Williston in the Levy County Cup contest.
Bradford (Starke) 46, Menendez (St. Augustine) 0 (Kickoff Classic)
The host Tornadoes cruised to a Kickoff Classic win as they blanked the Falcons in first-year coach Ross Baker’s first game at Bradford. The Tornadoes open the regular season next Friday at home against West Port (Ocala).
Fort White 41, Providence (Jacksonville) 21 (Kickoff Classic)
The Indians hit the road to Jacksonville and took care of the Stallions, who are now an independent. Fort White opens the regular season next week at home against Eastside.
Eastside at Newberry (Kickoff Classic – canceled due to weather)
The two Alachua County teams waited out a long delay before finally calling off their preseason game in Newberry. Lightning caused the original delay, and heavy rain led to the game’s cancelation. Eastside travels to Fort White to open the season, while Newberry opens at home against rival Santa Fe.
Williston at Santa Fe (Kickoff Classic – canceled due to weather)
This preseason game never kicked off and was called after an hour-and-a-half weather delay in Alachua.
Vanguard (Ocala) 24, Hawthorne 6 (Kickoff Classic)
The Knights pulled away from the defending Rural state champion Hornets in a steady downpour at Booster Stadium in Ocala. Vanguard led 6-0 at the half and pulled away in the rain in the second half. Hawthorne opens the 2026 season next week with a trip to Orlando to play Bishop Moore, while Vanguard awaits Buchholz at Booster Stadium.
Oakleaf (Orange Park) 21, Columbia (Lake City) 14 (Kickoff Classic)
The host Knights held off the Tigers in a Kickoff Classic matchup in Orange Park. Both teams face incredibly tough opening games next Friday, as Columbia travels to Bolles (Jacksonville) and Oakleaf hosts defending state champion Raines (Jacksonville).
THURSDAY GAMES
Gainesville 34, Ridgeview (Orange Park) 0 (Kickoff Classic)
The host Hurricanes waited out a lightning delay and cruised to a shutout win as first-year head coach Ashour Peera won the Kickoff Classic in his first game at Citizens Field. Gainesville, which was 2-8 in 2025, looked solid from the start and blanked Ridgeview in a game that played with a running clock in the second half. The Hurricanes open their regular season next Friday at Citizens Field against Belleview.
Buchholz 26, Lake Mary 17 (Kickoff Classic)
Visiting Buchholz rallied from a 17-7 halftime deficit to win a Kickoff Classic game on the road against defending state champion Lake Mary on Thursday. The Bobcats used an offensive line full of Division-I talent and wore down the Rams in the second half for the preseason win. Buchholz hits the road for their season opener next Friday at Vanguard (Ocala) at Booster Stadium.
Football scores
PRESEASON (KICKOFF CLASSIC)
Thursday, Aug. 13
Buchholz 26, Lake Mary 17
Gainesville 34, Ridgeview (Orange Park) 0
Friday, Aug. 14
Aucilla Christian (Monticello) 12, Branford 7
Bradford (Starke) 46, Menendez (St. Augustine) 0
Calvary Chapel (Melbourne) 32, Cornerstone Academy 6
Chiefland 34, Santa Fe Catholic (Lakeland) 24
Cocoa Beach 43, Bronson 6
Dixie County (Cross City) at Bell* – canceled (weather)
Eastside at Newberry – canceled (weather)
Fernandina Beach 63, Keystone Heights 14
Fort White 41, Providence (Jacksonville) 21
Interlachen at Trenton – postponed to 8/28*
Madison County at Suwannee (Live Oak) – canceled (weather)
Mount Dora Christian Academy 28, Oak Hall School 7
Oakleaf (Orange Park) 21, Columbia (Lake City) 14
Union County (Lake Butler) 21, Lafayette (Mayo) 7*
Vanguard (Ocala) 24, Hawthorne 6
Williston at Santa Fe (Alachua) – canceled (weather)
OFF – P.K. Yonge, Saint Francis Catholic Academy
*SSAA regular season game
