Mike Ridaught
For the second consecutive week, the Gainesville defense kept an opponent out of the end zone.
Host Trinity Catholic (Ocala) took an early 3-0 but GHS got a touchdown right before the half and held on for a 7-3 win.
“It feels good,” said Gainesville football coach Dock Pollard, who noted the Celtics won the game 38-7 last year. “To come out here and get a hard-fought victory is good. It feels good to learn how to win. It’s a process.”
Trinity Catholic took a 3-0 lead on a 33-yard field goal by Justin Arroyo with 2:23 to play in the opening quarter.
However, junior Kendrick Newton intercepted a tipped pass at the Trinity Catholic 15-yard line and returned it to the 11-yard line.
One play later, Kyree Edwards ran it in untouched from 11 yards out with 2:28 to play in the second quarter to give GHS a 7-3 lead it would not relinquish.
Newton finished with two interceptions as the Hurricanes’ defense pitched a shutout the rest of the way.
“A shout out to Ryan Nolan,” Newton said. “He put me in position for that first pick. But this feels good to get this victory.”
GHS (2-1) matched its win total of the previous two seasons. The ‘Canes were 2-4 last year and 2-8 in 2019.
“We’re feeling good,” Pollard said. “We’re feeling positive. Is it perfect? No. But I’d rather be working on getting better winning than working on getting better losing.”
The Hurricanes will travel to Matanzas (Palm Coast) next Friday for the Class 6A-District 4 opener.
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