Cam Parker
After being shut out last week, Dixie County found themselves on the other side of a blowout as the Bears defeated Trenton, 46-0, behind a four-touchdown performance from senior quarterback Bret Nettles.
Dixie County head coach Brock Canaday earned his first career win as a head coach.
“I’m proud of my team and my staff,” Canaday said. “Last week against Lafayette, we were a timid football team. Definitely were not physical against the run or establishing a run game. And, that was our main focal point this week in practice. For that to actually come to fruition on this game night makes me proud of them, and it just goes to show that when everyone gets on the same page and has a common goal, you can turn it around in the right direction.”
The Bears blocked a punt on the game’s first drive and scored on the ensuing possession, their first score of the season.
In the second quarter, Dixie County opened up the playbook with a handoff-pitch-pass trick play that ended with Nettles finding Jaydon Waugh in the endzone for the game’s second touchdown.
On their following drive, Nettles would use his legs, rushing for over 50 yards on the drive and scoring on a short run to put the score at 14-0.
“Bret does a great job of running our offense,” Canady said. “Having a guy back there that knows the ins and outs makes things a little bit easier to coach. I’m glad to see him have success tonight because he deserves it.”
Trenton would cross the 50-yard line with a chance to score before the half, but in a moment of confusion, eighth-grade quarterback Lukys Benson took a knee rather than spiking the ball, keeping the score at 20-0 in favor of Dixie County.
To start the second half, Nettles found Waugh for the second time through the air, this time a 51-yard touchdown pass with 10:47 left in the quarter.
Waugh would make an immediate impact defensively on the next drive with an interception, leading to Nettles’ third touchdown pass of the night, this time to junior Luke Nessmith, putting the Bears up 33-0. Waugh would have another interception on the very next drive, but the Bears weren’t able to capitalize.
“For Jayden, a first-year football player at the high school level, extremely pleased with him,” Canaday said. “The going got tough for him at times this week at practice, but he chose to stick it out, and I’m thrilled that it paid off tonight with his performance.”
Dixie County would put the score at a running clock in the fourth quarter behind two touchdown runs from running back Andrew Pleasant.
Nettles, who also kicked in the game, finished with three passing touchdowns, a rushing touchdown and four PATs. He was named the Sonic Drive-In Player of the Game.
Trenton turns their attention to next week as they host Newberry (2-0) while Dixie County looks to defend home field against Williston (1-0).
Thursday, Sept. 1
Eastside 26, Keystone Heights 0
Impact Christian Academy (Jacksonville) 38, Riverside Christian (Trenton) 22
Friday, Sept. 2
Bradford (Starke) 35, Baldwin 0
Wewahitchka 38, Bell 8
Oak Hall School 49, Bishop Snyder (Jacksonville) 12
Bishop Moore (Orlando) 49, Gainesville 17
Santa Fe Catholic (Lakeland) 43, St. Francis Catholic Academy 8
Branford 54, Bronson 0
Union County (Lake Butler) 31, Columbia (Lake City) 27
Dixie County (Cross City) 46, Trenton 0
Lanier County (Lakeland) 17, Santa Fe (Alachua) 14
Newberry 34, Fort White 17
P.K. Yonge at Hawthorne, PPD COVID
Buchholz 45, Riverview (Sarasota) 6
Suwannee (Live Oak) 41, Hamilton County (Jasper) 0
Chiefland 45, West Oaks Academy (Orlando) 0
Williston 42, Weeki Wachee 0
