Newberry blanks Santa Fe in home win

Newberry's Kaleb Woods (2) runs the ball against Santa Fe on Friday.
Newberry's Kaleb Woods (2) runs the ball against Santa Fe on Friday.
Photo by Seth Johnson

Friday night’s matchup between Newberry and Santa Fe completely belonged to the Panthers, which accomplished its third-straight shutout win with a 49-0 victory at home. 

Not only does Friday’s win give Newberry a 4-2 record and 3-0 start in district play, it also sets the Panthers up for a chance to win 2A-District 5 against Bradford next week. The Tornadoes moved to 6-0 and 3-0 in district play with a 41-0 win over Palatka. 

“Obviously you want to go in with a little bit of confidence, but we don’t want to fall for the fool’s gold,” said Newberry head coach Ed Johnson. “We know we got to come out and play completely different against a really good, well-coached Bradford team.”

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Newberry's Hayden Moore (14) catches pass for a touchdown against Santa Fe's Malcolm Merriex (19) on Friday.
Photo by Seth Johnson Newberry’s Hayden Moore (14) catches pass for a touchdown against Santa Fe’s Malcolm Merriex (19) on Friday.

Newberry quarterback Collin Dunmore only played two drives with two passing attempts, which included a 40-yard touchdown pass to Hayden Moore on the Panthers’ first offensive play. 

Meanwhile, running back Kaleb Woods rushed for 125 yards and two scores, which included a 6-yard scamper on the game’s second drive and a 71-yard touchdown to give the Panthers a four-touchdown lead. 

“Finally playing healthy,” Johnson said of Woods. “Good to see him get some long runs. It goes back to our o-line. They’re playing a lot better than we were early in the year, creating some gaps and he’s taking advantage of them.”

Backup quarterback Kobe Johnson threw for two more scores, one to Trenton Campbell at the end of the first half and another to Javeon Long early in the fourth quarter. 

With a 36-0 lead into the halftime break, thanks to Johnson’s 5-yard pass to Campbell, Newberry sealed a running clock. 

Newberry's Lionel Walker (23) runs the ball down to the 2-yard line against Santa Fe on Friday.
Photo by Seth Johnson Newberry’s Lionel Walker (23) runs the ball down to the 2-yard line against Santa Fe on Friday.

Backup running backs Jamarcus Wimberly and Lionel Walker each added a score, as well, with Wimberly’s coming from over 70 yards out in the second quarter. 

Walker’s came on the game’s final play from three yards out. 

Defensively, Newberry dominated by holding Santa Fe to around 20 yards of total offense, mostly due to quick three-and-outs, a one-play drive with an interception by Jakarus Randolph and only one drive in the second half due to a running clock. 

“We really want to pride ourselves on not just [Ohio State commit] Jarquez Carter, [Miami commit] Mykah Newton, they get a lot of pub, but we feel like we got 11 really strong, solid guys on our defense that all play their role,” Johnson said.

Santa Fe was without a multitude of starters including quarterback Jadathon Bryant, running back Asaph Bryant and receiver Tyler Gentry due to injuries. 

The Raiders (0-6) will continue the search for their first win in two seasons with a home matchup against Keystone Heights next Friday. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.

Kickoff next Friday between Newberry and Bradford is at 7:30 p.m.

Santa Fe defenders combine for a stop against Newberry on Friday.
Photo by Seth Johnson Santa Fe defenders combine for a stop against Newberry on Friday.

Monday, Sept. 30
Newberry 32, Palatka 0
Williston 38, Trinity Catholic (Ocala) 7
P.K. Yonge 37, Central Florida Christian Academy (Ocoee) 7
Nease (Ponte Vedra) 20, Buchholz 17 OT

Thursday, Oct. 3
Eastside 14, Dunnellon 12

Friday, Oct. 4

Buchholz vs. Gainesville, postponed due to weather. Will be completed at 6 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 7.
Hawthorne 39, Zephyrhills Christian Academy 14
Newberry 49, Santa Fe (Alachua) 0
P.K. Yonge 47, West Oaks Academy (Orlando) 0
Oak Hall 50, Interlachen 28
Bell 51, Bronson 0
Bradford (Starke) 41, Palatka 0
Branford 34, Trenton 20
Chiefland 48, Dixie County (Cross City) 0
Bolles (Jacksonville) 42, Columbia (Lake City) 17
Fort White 32, Lafayette (Mayo) 21
West Nassau (Callahan) 42, Keystone Heights 10
Union County (Lake Butler) 47, Zarephath Academy (Jacksonville) 14
Williston 36, Belleview 6
Taylor (Pierson) at St. Francis Catholic Academy, not reported

Santa Fe's Lance Brooks (35) brings down a Newberry ball carrier on Friday.
Photo by Seth Johnson Santa Fe’s Dontrell Ford (35) brings down a Newberry ball carrier on Friday.
Santa Fe's Sam Szabo (22) on a kickoff return against Newberry on Friday.
Photo by Seth Johnson Santa Fe’s Sam Szabo (22) on a kickoff return against Newberry on Friday.

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Tiffney Cooper

Sante Fe #35 is Dontrell Ford not Lance Brooks..

C.J. Gish

Thank you. We will make the correction. The MaxPreps roster said it was Lance Brooks.