Oak Hall advances to state championship; Buchholz, Hawthorne, Suwannee win regular season finales

Oak Hall 34, Merritt Island Christian 12

This past Friday night, despite playing without three starting offensive linemen, the Oak Hall football team eased past visiting Merritt Island Christian 34-12 in the Class 2A 8-man state semifinals. 

Junior tailback Carter Coleman led the way on the ground with 136 yards on only 12 carries.  The top-seeded Eagles, who improved to 9-0, will take on 8-1 All Saints Academy (Winter Haven) in the state title game this Saturday, Nov. 14, at Bryant Stadium in Lakeland. 

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Suwannee 35, Baker County 32

The Suwannee Bulldogs scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to rally past the Baker County Wildcats 35-32. After taking a 14-8 first quarter lead, the Wildcats went on an offensive flurry to lead 24-22 at halftime, and then 32-22 after three quarters.

But the Bulldogs, who have relied on its defense with three straight shutouts in its last three games, scored two touchdowns to edge Baker County in the final quarter.

With the win, Suwannee improves to 7-2. It plays Parker of Jacksonville in the playoffs next Friday. Baker fell to 7-2 on the season.

Hawthorne 39, Tavares 0

The Hawthorne Hornets shook off a 29-0 loss against Zephyrhills last week by scoring 20 first half points and sailing past the Tavares Bulldogs 39-0 Thursday to close out its regular season.

The Hornets added two touchdowns in the third quarter, and one more in the final period and finished the year with a 6-2 record. Tavares fell to 3-4 on the season.

The Hornets open their post season campaign against the Chiefland Indians on Wednesday.

Buchholz 53, Santa Fe 0

The #12-ranked Buchholz Bobcats put on an offensive show in unraveling the Santa Fe Raiders 53-0 to end their regular season with an exclamation point. Buchholz scored 43 first half points and never looked back, finishing its regular season with a 6-1 record.

Santa fell to 2-5.

The Bobcats open their playoff season in a rematch next Friday against Creekside High from St. John’s. Buchholz defeated the Knights last week 49-27.

Santa Fe plays the Gadsen County Jaguars next Friday to open its postseason.

Gainesville 37, Eastside 7

The Gainesville took a 16-0 lead into halftime, and relied on a stingy defense to shutdown the Eastside Rams 37-7 in the final regular season game for both teams Friday night. Gainesville scored two touchdowns in the final quarter to put the game out of reach.

Eastside finishes the regular season at 1-7. It plays Dunnellon next week in the playoffs. Gainesville improves to 2-3 and plays Mainland of Daytona Beach in the playoffs next week.

Columbia 41, Englewood 7

The Columbia Tigers won their second straight game and advanced to the next round of the playoffs with a 41-7 win against the Englewood Rams.

The Tigers took a 14-7 halftime lead and then blew the game open with 20 third quarter points. The win improves Columbia’s record to 2-5. Englewood’s season ends with a 2-6 record.

The Tigers play Ponte Vedra in the next round of the playoffs next Friday.

Williston 35, Chiefland 6

The Williston Red Devils closed out its regular season with a 35-6 victory over the Chiefland Indians Friday night.

Williston heads into the playoffs with a 3-6 record and plays Ft. Meade in the first round of the postseason. Chiefland falls to 1-7 and travels to Hawthorne to play the Hornets.

Union County 42, Keystone Heights 20

The Union County Bears scored 28 halftime points and cruised to a 42-20 win over Keystone Heights. 

The Indians took a 14-7 lead in the first quarter, but Union County’s offensive onslaught included seven touchdowns.

Keystone Heights fell to 6-2 on the season. They travel to Bradford next week in the first round of the playoffs. Union County improves to 6-3. The face the Bell Bulldogs in the first round of the playoffs next week.

Bronson 38, Crescent City 8

The Bronson Eagles took a 20-8 lead into the fourth quarter, and then blew the game open with 18 points in the final period to defeat the Crescent City Raiders 38-8. The win gives Bronson a 6-4 record and advances them to the next round of the playoffs against Wildwood next Friday.

Crescent City ends its season winless at 0-8.

Trenton 35, Lafayette 21

The Trenton Tigers scored 28 first half points and then held on to defeat the Lafayette Hornets 35-21 in the regular season finale for both teams.

The win evens Trenton’s record at 5-5. They open their playoff campaign at Newberry next week. Lafayette falls to 5-4. They play Hilliard in the playoffs next week.

South Sumter 41, PK Yonge 7

The South Sumter Eagles scored 29 first half points and rolled past the PK Yonge Blue Wave 41-7 in the regular season finale for both teams.

The loss drops PK Yonge to 3-7 on the season. South Sumter is 2-4.

High School Football On Local Radio

Join Sunstate for the Friday Night High School Football Game Of The Week live starting at 7 pm when the Buchholz Bobcats take on the Creekside Knights in the first round of the playoffs this Friday night, only on 106.9 I Am Country!

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