Mike Ridaught
The Eastside Rams are district champions in football for the second straight season.
This year they made it look easier.
The Rams (6-3) forced a quick turnover, scored on three straight possessions in the first quarter, and beat Santa Fe on Senior Night in Alachua, 47-0, to win the Class 2S-District 7 title, again.
“It feels great, especially locking in a spot in the playoffs, that feels great,” said Eastside coach Harold “Gator” Hoskins, who is now 2-for-2 in district titles. “To go back-to-back as district champs, first time that’s happened at Eastside in quite a while, so it feels great.”
Nothing seemed to go right for Santa Fe (0-9), which fumbled the opening kickoff after winning the coin toss.
Eastside sophomore Demarco Daniels pounced on it to give the Rams the ball at the Raiders’ 25-yard line just seven seconds into the game.
“It felt great making a big play,” Daniels said. “Having an opportunity to come out here and do something good for the team, it felt good.”
Rams’ quarterback Adrian Curtis threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to senior Chris Bishop for a quick 7-0 lead less than two minutes into the game.
On Santa Fe’s first offensive possession and facing a third down, Eastside senior Jayden Manns had the first of his two sacks, forcing a punt which set Eastside up at the Raiders’ 49-yard line.
Following a 10-yard run by Curtis, he used his arm again for their second score of the night.
Curtis completed a 34-yard scoring pass to senior Tajoun Waldon for a 14-0 lead with 7:25 to play in the first quarter.
The Raiders were forced to punt and the Rams took advantage of a short field again, starting their next drive at the Santa Fe 42-yard line.
After a false start penalty that moved them back to the 47-yard line, Curtis connected with Wilson on a 42-yard pass play down to the 5-yard line.
Senior Joshua Benjamin ran it in on the next play for a 21-0 lead with 5:57 remaining in the first quarter.
After an Eastside turnover, Santa Fe turned the ball over again with a fumble, but this time Daniels took it 63 yards to the house for a scoop-and-score to make it 27-0 with 1:41 to play in the first quarter.
“Oh man, he played great,” Hoskins said. “He should have had an interception late but he had an amazing game. Young kid, and he just keeps finding ways to make plays and I’m proud of him.”
The Rams ensured a running clock with two touchdowns in the second quarter.
Curtis scored on a 2-yard run to make it 34-0 with 8:36 to play in the half. The junior also added a 10-yard run on the drive.
“Coming from P.K. I hadn’t won any games like that,” Curtis said. “I came to Eastside and won a district championship, so it’s a step in a good direction.”
Eastside ensured a running clock with its final touchdown of the half, a 2-yard scoring run by junior Corvin Byrd for a 41-0 lead at the break.
By halftime, Curtis had 166 yards and three touchdowns, senior Antonio Hubbert had 76 yards receiving on only two catches, and he just missed a 25-yard touchdown catch out of bounds on the Rams’ first play of the night.
The Eastside defense limited the Raiders to just 34 yards in the first half, which helped the Rams control the field position in the opening half.
Eastside’s first four possessions began at the Raiders’ 25, 49, 42, and 46-yard lines.
The Rams’ final score came on a 12-yard touchdown run by Hubbert with under five minutes to play.
Santa Fe has one last chance to win its first game this year in the season finale at Fort White next Friday night at 7:30 p.m.
Eastside, which won its first district title in 10 years last year, will host rival Gainesville on Friday.
Last year, the Rams defeated the Hurricanes, 36-0, for their first win in the series since 2008.
The game will be broadcast online (audio only) at Mainstreet Daily News beginning at 7:15 p.m. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 26
Trinity Catholic (Ocala) 49, P.K. Yonge 7
Union County (Lake Butler) 42, Dixie County (Cross City) 8
Friday, Oct. 27
Bradford (Starke) 42, Palatka 0
Branford 40, Bishop McLaughlin (Spring Hill) 0
Buchholz 35, Fleming Island (Orange Park) 21
Columbia (Lake City) 49, Ridgeview (Orange Park) 0
Eastside 47, Santa Fe (Alachua) 0
Father Lopez (Daytona Beach) 35, St. Francis Catholic Academy 0
Fort White 49, Hilliard 14
Hamilton County (Jasper) 27, Trenton 13
Hawthorne 55, Akelynn’s Angels Christian Academy (Winter Haven) 0
Keystone Heights 49, Joshua Christian Academy (Jacksonville) 8
Madison County 44, Chiefland 2
Newberry 35, Crescent City 6
Williston 56, North Marion (Citra) 20
Wakulla (Crawfordville) 24, Suwannee (Live Oak) 21
OFF – GHS
SSAA State Tournament
No. 1 The Master’s Academy (Oviedo) 42, No. 4 Oak Hall 36 – North Divisional playoffs
No. 10 Bell 40, No. 11 Bronson 0 – Atlantic 1A playoffs