The tradition continues for high school football in Alachua County.

Last Friday, Buchholz extended its streak to five straight state semifinal appearances with a 27-20 win at Citizens Field against Mandarin (Jacksonville) in the FHSAA Class 6A-Region 1 Final.

The Bobcats (12-1) will host West Broward (Pembroke Pines) at 7:30 p.m. on Friday night in the Class 6A state semifinals with a chance to advance to their first state championship game since winning the Class 4A state title in 1990.

You can watch the game online via the NFHS Network with Marty Pallman (Play-by-play) and Cam Parker (Color) calling the action.

Meanwhile, the Hawthorne football team defeated Chiefland, 36-6, in the FHSAA Rural state semifinals to advance to its sixth straight state championship game.

The No. 2 seed Hornets (10-1) will face No. 1 Blountstown (12-0) for the state title at 7 p.m. on Friday at The Range at H.G. Morse Stadium (Sumterville), which is hosted by The Villages Charter School.

Hawthorne, which defeated Blountstown, 49-0, in the 2023 FHSAA Rural state semifinals, is seeking its third state championship in the past four years.

You can listen to the game on 106.9 FM “I am Country” and audio online at IamCountryGainesville.com beginning at 6:30 p.m. with Mike Ridaught (Play-by-play) and Tori Kitchens (Color) on the call.

Tonight at 6 p.m., tune in to the Jacksonville Jaguars Coaches Show on 106.9 FM “I am Country,” followed by this Sunday’s home game against the Indianapolis Colts.

It’s a battle for sole possession of first place in the AFC South as the Jaguars and Colts enter the game with 8-4 records. The pregame show begins at noon, followed by the kickoff at 1 p.m.

Our high school basketball broadcast coverage also begins tonight as Williston hosts Gainesville High.

Join Marty Pallman (Play-by-play) and Mac McCray (Color) for this matchup of state playoff teams from a year ago. The Hurricanes edged the Red Devils, 68-66, in double overtime in last year’s meeting on Dec. 6, to snap a four-game losing streak in the series.

Coverage begins at 7:15 p.m., followed by the tip at 7:30 p.m. You can listen to the game online at Mainstreet Daily News.

“The Prep Zone” sports show resumed on Wednesday at locally-owned Sonic Drive-In of Gainesville with guest Joshua Wilson of FloridaHSFootball.com.

The show, which was hosted by Ridaught and Pallman, also featured interviews with Buchholz football coach Mark Whittemore and Buchholz defensive coordinator Chuck Bell. Topics included National Signing Day and the Bobcats’ upcoming state semifinal game. 

You can listen to the archive online at ThePrepZone.com and MainStreet Daily News.