Mike Ridaught
On Thursday night the Buchholz and Columbia (Lake City) football teams were fortunate to play their scheduled game, a 31-14 win for the host Bobcats.
But on Friday night, Mother Nature had her way in Alachua County and throughout the region as several games involving area teams had their game postponed or rescheduled.
Gainesville’s game at Citizen’s Field against Vanguard (Ocala) was moved to Saturday at 11 a.m. However, the game will now be played at Booster Stadium in Ocala.
P.K. Yonge’s home game against Eastside was also moved to Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 9:30 a.m.
In other games outside the county, Williston’s home game against Hamilton County (Jasper) was postponed, along with Bradford’s (Starke) game at Baker County (Glen St. Mary). However, those games have not been rescheduled as of yet.
Hawthorne (1-0) did open the season with a 24-7 win at Middleburg, while Bell defeated Trenton, 20-7, to hand Cameron Porch his first loss as Tigers’ coach.
And after a weather delay, Newberry rallied from a 27-13 deficit at home to defeat Santa Fe, 34-27, handing new Raiders’ head coach Joe Szymanski his first loss at his alma mater.
After a two-hour weather delay, play between Oak Hall and St. Joseph only lasted one quarter with Oak Hall up 6-0 before officials called the game due to inclement weather.
Sophomore quarterback Dakota Brower led the Eagles across the 50-yard line on the first drive of the game but threw an interception to the Flashes’ Jack Tittler, who brought the ball back to the Eagles’ 20-yard line.
However, the Flashes would fumble the ball three plays later.
Oak Hall running back Briggs Copeland ran for a 65-plus-yard touchdown a few plays later for the game’s only score. Oak Hall would not convert the two-point attempt, putting the score at 6-0 before the end of the first quarter.
The game will not be made up on Saturday due to much of the St. Joseph roster having the SATs that morning. It is unclear whether the two teams will make up or finish the game in the future.
However, according to Oak Hall head coach R.J. Fuhr, “I think they are calling it a win. Their coach said nice win to me and our director of the SSAC said ‘then it’s a win.'”
Friday, Aug. 26
Anclote (Holiday) 14, Bronson 6
Bradford (Starke) at Baker County (Glen St. Mary) – postponed (TBD)
Chiefland 47, Crescent City 7
Branford 31, Eagle’s View Academy (Jacksonville) 8
Eastside 48, P.K. Yonge 21 (Saturday)
Georgia Christian (Valdosta, GA) 12, Riverside Christian (Trenton) 12
Hawthorne 24, Middleburg 7
Indian Rocks Christian (Largo) 48, Saint Francis Catholic Academy 0
Oak Hall School 6, St. Joseph Academy (St. Augustine) 0 – Game ended due to lightning in 2nd quarter
Flagler Palm Coast 38, Suwannee (Live Oak) 10
Vanguard (Ocala) 68, Gainesville 0 (Sat.) – at Booster Stadium (Ocala)
Bell 20, Trenton 7
Lafayette (Mayo) 22, Dixie County (Cross City) 0
Hamilton County (Jasper) at Williston – postponed (TBD)
Newberry 34, Santa Fe (Alachua) 27
Shorecrest Prep (St. Petersburg) at Countryside Christian – no report
Taylor County (Perry) 22, Fort White 17
University Christian (Jacksonville) 33, Union County (Lake Butler) 14
OFF – Keystone Heights
—Cam Parker contributed to this report.