- P.K. Yonge football team won their first game of the 2026 season 68-0 against First Coast Christian, breaking an 18-game losing streak.
- First-year head coach Israel Wilcox said the team is young but improving and aims to build a strong program and develop student-athletes.
- Sophomore Deandre Johnson scored multiple touchdowns and freshman Hobby Hall led the defense in the game on Oct. 4, 2026, marking the first win since Oct. 4, 2024.
We are back at locally owned Sonic Drive-In (Archer Road) for “The Prep Zone Sports Show” with the P.K. Yonge football team on Wednesday.
The program, which airs from 6-7 p.m., will include first-year head coach Israel Wilcox and members of the Blue Wave football team, who won their first game of the season last Friday with a dominating 68-0 win at First Coast Christian (Jacksonville).
Sophomore Deandre Johnson had an 8-yard rushing touchdown, a 45-yard receiving touchdown, a 20-yard receiving touchdown and a 45-yard pick-6.
Freshman Hobby Hall led the Blue Wave (1-5) defense with a sack, three tackles for a loss and a fumble recovery.
“It was a big win for us, especially because it had been a while,” said first-year PKY head coach Israel Wilcox. “We came into this game after 18 straight losses, but I’m a praying man, and I truly believe we just have to trust the process.”
It was the program’s first win since a 47-0 victory at West Oaks Academy (Orlando) on Oct. 4, 2024. Last year, the Blue Wave finished 0-10 under then head coach Willie Jackson.
“I’m so happy these young men finally had the opportunity to taste victory,” Wilcox said. “They’ve been working extremely hard to find their identity, both individually and as a team.”
Heading into last Friday’s game, P.K. Yonge had been outscored 217-27 through five games.
“In the games leading up to this win, we started to see something different,” Wilcox said. “We opened one eye and realized that we could actually play this game with more effort, more competitiveness and more heart. In this last game, we opened both eyes. This win was big—not just for the kids, but for our fans, our supporters, our school and everyone who has continued to believe in us.”
Wilcox said the victory also showed just how young they are.
“We are the youngest team in the area, but the great thing about being young is that we get to grow together with our program,” he said. “We’re building something special—something that has the potential to become one of the biggest and strongest programs around.”
P.K. Yonge will seek its first two-game winning streak in two years.
“Our mission is bigger than football,” Wilcox said. “We want to give these kids the opportunity to become true student-athletes, develop as young men, and earn the chance to play at the next level.”
Wilcox said his staff has been “working extremely hard to build the right chemistry with a new coaching staff while finding the right personnel and putting the pieces together with such a young team.”
“It takes time, patience, commitment, and belief, but we are getting stronger as a unit every day,” he said.
Wilcox said to make no mistake about it, they are coming full steam ahead.
“So, if you’re going to try to take us down, it will not be without a fight,” he said. “You better do it this year, because we’re coming. We’re not going backwards. We’re coming like a full wave rolling in with the high tide.”
Join Mainstreet Daily News Sports Director Mike Ridaught for the show online at Mainstreet Daily News and The Prep Zone.
Weather permitting, we will also have a pair of football broadcasts this week.
On Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Santa Fe (Alachua) will travel to Eastside for an Alachua County showdown and Class 3A-District 5 game.
The visiting Raiders (5-1, 1-0), who lost at home to Buchholz last week, can set up a district championship game against Dunnellon the following week with a win.
The host Rams (1-6) lost at home to Bradford (Starke), 53-13, ensuring head coach Harold “Gator” Hoskin’s first losing season. Last week, Eastside was penalized 14 times for 100 yards, while Bradford had 15 penalties for 150 yards.
Join Marty Pallman (Play-by-play) and former University of Wisconsin football player/coach Mac McCray (Color) beginning at 7:15 p.m. on MDN.
Friday’s radio broadcast features a Sunshine State Athletic Association (SSAA) showdown between host Branford and Trenton. The visiting Tigers (5-1), who have won four straight games, have lost four in a row in the series to the Bucs (6-2).
Join Mainstreet Daily News Sports Director Mike Ridaught (Play-by-play) and former Gator football player Hank Rone (Color) for all the action.
Coverage begins at 7 p.m. on 106.9 FM “I am Country,” followed by the kickoff at 7:30 p.m. In addition to radio, audio coverage of the game is available at IamCountryGainesville.com.