Mike Ridaught
On Friday night at Citizen’s Field, a pair of Gainesville turnovers led to 10 first half points as visiting Lincoln (Tallahassee) eliminated GHS, 34-7, from the Class 6A state playoffs.
The visiting Trojans (9-2), who entered the game as the No. 6 seed in Class 6A-Region 1, got an interception from Jordan James, which was returned to the GHS 40-yard line.
That led to a 38-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Perry Fisher, a Maryland commit, to Juvon Pettway for a 7-0 lead with 7:54 to play in the opening quarter.
Following turnovers by both teams, Gainesville had the ball at the Lincoln 47-yard line with 1:28 to play in the first quarter and down just one score.
However, Gainesville fumbled the football and Lincoln’s Terrell Dudley recovered at the Lincoln 26-yard line.
That led to a 23-yard field goal by Crete Carter, who added a 24-yard field goal with 19 seconds left in the second quarter and a 13-0 lead at the half.
Gainesville’s only score came on an 8-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Shamon Coleman to senior wide receiver Brent King with 6:50 to play in the game.
Fisher added a 2-yard scoring run and a 48-yard touchdown pass in the second half as the Trojans extended the lead to 27-0 at the end of the third quarter.
The Hurricanes ended the season with an 8-3 record, its most wins in a season in four years, the Class 6A-District 4 championship, and a home playoff berth in head coach Dock Pollard’s second season.
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