Buchholz, Columbia, Hawthorne, and Union County still alive in state playoffs

Buchholz 35, Navarre 21

The Buchholz Bobcats kept their streak alive and continued its storybook season with a 35-21 win over the previously undefeated Navarre Raiders in the second round of the Class 7-A playoffs Friday night.

Quan Lee had two touchdowns and Quan Smith had a 55-yard scoring run as the visiting Bobcats (8-1) built a 21-0 lead.

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In the third quarter, Buchholz put the game out of reach with another touchdown. Navarre answered with two second half scores, but never got closer.

The Bobcats advance to play the the Niceville Eagles in the 7-A Region 1 semifinals Friday night.

Wildwood 49, Newberry 16

It was thrilling, had its ups and downs, but the rollercoaster ride finally ended for the Newberry Panthers.

After losing its opening game to Hawthorne, the Panthers ran off seven straight wins over the course of several weeks, and also included cancelled games, bouts with COVID, and come-from-behind victories. But the ride ended abruptly when the Wildwood Wildcats put on an offensive show, defeating the Panthers 49-16 Friday night in the second round of the Class 1-A playoffs to end their season.

The Wildcats jumped out to a 24-0 lead and cruised to a 49-16 win at Newberry, ending the Panthers’ season at 8-2. Wildwood (9-1) will host Hawthorne in this Friday’s Class 1A Region Final. 

Hawthorne 12, Fort Meade 7

In a defensive slugfest that was scoreless heading into the final quarter, Hawthorne advanced in Class 1A with 12-7 win against Fort Meade.  Jamal Neely had a 4-yard touchdown reception and Dre Lawrence had a 19-yard scoring run for the Hornets.

The win gives Hawthorne an 8-2 record on the season. They face the Wildwood Wildcats next week in the Class 1-A Region 4 finals.

Columbia 28, Seabreeze 14

The Columbia Tigers are choosing a good time to peak.

After five straight losses to begin a COVID-plagued season, the Tigers have won four straight games, three of them in the postseason, to vault into the conversation for a state championship.

The Tigers scored two second quarter touchdowns to take a 14-0 lead into halftime, extended it to 21-0 in the third quarter, and held on to defeat the Seabreeze Sandcrabs 28-14 in the second round of the postseason Friday night.

Columbia is now 4-5 on the season, and faces the Mainland Buccaneers next Friday night in the Class 6-A Region 2 semifinals.

Union County 47, Fort White 0

The Union County football team advanced with a 47-0 win at Fort White.  The Tigers (8-3) will host 3-time defending 1A state champion Madison County (9-2) this Friday night.  Bradford’s (5-6) season ended in Class 4A with a 9-6 loss at South Sumter (Bushnell).  And in 6A, Columbia (Lake City) (4-5) moved on with a 28-14 win against Seabreeze (Daytona Beach).

The Union County Tigers scored 12 points in the first half and then blew the game open with three third quarter touchdowns and cruised to a 47-0 win over the Fort White Indians in the second round of the Class 1-A playoffs Friday night.

After a 42-20 win over Keystone Heights last week, the Tigers are 7-3 on the season, and move into the Class 1-A Region 2 finals against the winner of the Hilliard-Madison County game next Friday night.  

Fort White ends its season with a 2-7 record.

Pine Forest 21, Suwannee 20

The Suwannee Bulldogs rallied twice from touchdown deficits, and managed to take a 20-14 in the fourth quarter, but a decisive touchdown and extra point by the Pine Forest Eagles proved to be the winning score as they advanced in the playoffs Friday night with a 21-20 win.  

After a scoreless first quarter, the Eagles were first on the board with a second quarter touchdown, but Suwannee tied it at 7-7 before halftime. Pine Forest took a 14-7 lead in the third quarter, but the Bulldogs answered again, equalizing with a touchdown that ended the period with a 14-14 tie.

The loss ended Suwannee’s season with an 8-3 record.

South Sumter 9, Bradford 6

The South Sumter Raiders defeated the Bradford Tornadoes 9-6 Friday night in the second round of the Class 4-A playoffs Friday night.

In an odd and low scoring first half, South Sumter managed only a safety to take a 2-0 lead. In the third quarter, both teams scored touchdowns, extending South Sumter’s lead to 9-6 heading into the fourth quarter, but Bradford could get no closer.

The Tornadoes end their season with a 5-6 record.

* * * * * 

The winner of this Friday’s Hawthorne-Wildwood game will host either Union County or Madison County in the state semifinals. This Friday, Union County (8-3) will host the 3-time defending state champions after going on the road to shut out Fort White, 47-0.  Madison County (9-2) pounded Hilliard 48-7.  Madison County shut out Union County 49-0 in last year’s region final.

* * * * *

Only five of the eight FHSAA state football champions from last year will have a chance to defend after last year’s 5A state champion lost this past Friday.

Defending 5A champ Miami Northwestern lost at American Heritage (Plantation), 12-3, so there will be a new state champion in Classes 8A, 5A, and 4A.  Miami Columbus and Booker T. Washington (Miami) opted out in Classes 8A and 4A, respectively.

Among the state champions who have a chance to repeat are St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) in Class 7A.  Aquinas defeated Lehigh, 50-14, to advance.  The Raiders will host Manatee (Bradenton) this Friday in the regional semifinals.

Defending 6A state champion Miami Central also advanced.  The Rockets cruised to a 42-16 win against Lely (Naples).  Miami Central will travel to Naples this Friday.

Class 3A champ Chaminade Madonna (Hollywood), which won its 3rd straight title last year, advanced with a 38-6 win against Calvary Christian (Fort Lauderdale).

Class 2A Champagnat Catholic (Hialeah) defeated Moore Haven, 55-12, and 3-time defending 1A state champion Madison County advanced with a 48-7 win against Hilliard.

High School Football On Local Radio

Join Sunstate for the Friday Night High School Football Game Of The Week live starting at 7 pm when the Buchholz Bobcats take on the Niceville Eagles in the Class 7-A Region 1 semifinals this Friday night, only on 106.9 I Am Country!

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