Last week, the Gainesville Hurricanes matched its win total from the previous two seasons combined with a 38-7 win over Braden River.
On Friday night in Alachua, they doubled it.
Behind a career-high 178 yards from running back Devin Johnson and a stout Hurricanes’ defense, Gainesville defeated Santa Fe, 33-7, for its first 2-0 start since 2012. It’s also Gainesville’s first win streak since 2021.
“I’m here because this is where I went to school. I wouldn’t be doing this anywhere else,” said GHS head coach Ian Scott. “2-0 is nice, but we got eight more games. It’s a nice way to begin the season and make sure that we’re doing the right thing so that we can progress and put ourselves in a position to hopefully be competitive in our district.”
Johnson, a transfer from P.K. Yonge, has 339 yards and four touchdowns through two games after a 161-yard, two-score performance last week. Johnson was named the back-to-back Sonic Drive-In Player of the Game.
“It’s a blessing, man,” Johnson said. “I just love being able to come here and be able to contribute to the team.”
Receiver Calvin Thomas added two more scores, including an 8-yard touchdown from Jaishawn Sanford to begin the evening’s scoring. A missed extra point kept the score at 6-0.
Two drives later, Johnson scampered from 64 yards out for his first score of the night, and the extra point made it 13-0 at the end of the first quarter.
The Hurricanes continued to add to its lead with Thomas’ second touchdown, a 46-yard strike from quarterback Nelson Tambling, the duo’s second connection of the year.
In danger of going down at the half by four scores, the Raiders got a sign of life when Joseph Hayes returned an interception 20 yards for a touchdown near the end of the half.
However, it didn’t take long for Gainesville to answer. Aric Welch, who had previously had a punt return score called back, returned the second-half kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown.
“We’re trying to find different ways to get Aric in a spot where he can impact the game,” Scott said. Kickoff returns, punt returns, as a receiver. He’s an explosive athlete, and every time he touches the ball, he has a chance to go the distance.”
The Hurricanes continued its dominance with clutch defense after recovering a fumble on their own 3-yard line, and Johnson finished the night with a 19-yard score on the ensuing drive. Next week, Gainesville goes for 3-0 in a matchup against Leon (Tallahassee), while Santa Fe continues the search for its first win in two years in a road matchup against Union County in Lake Butler.
Friday, Aug. 30
Buchholz 38, Vero Beach 23
Gainesville 33, Santa Fe (Alachua) 7
Rickards (Tallahassee) 30, Eastside 23
Hawthorne 28, Newberry 27 (OT)
Crescent City 28, P.K. Yonge 14
Oak Hall 20, Bishop Snyder (Jacksonville) 7
Taylor (Pierson 16, Saint Francis Catholic Academy 6
Dixie County (Cross City) 40, Trenton 16
Union County (Lake Butler) 35, Keystone Heights 0
Franklin County (Eastpoint) 12, Bell 7
Bradford (Starke) 29, Dunnellon 14
Fort White 41, Belleview 6
Branford 28, Wewahitchka 14
Chiefland 51, Hollis Christian Academy (Jacksonville) 0
Suwannee (Live Oak) 21, Lafayette (Mayo) 13
Coffee (Douglas, GA) 40, Columbia (Lake City) 13
OFF – Williston
