Buchholz, Eastside and GHS all have new quarterbacks this season.

Trace Johnson left the Bobcats for high school football in California, with sophomore Andrew Whittemore taking the reins. GHS quarterback Nelson Tambling is now at Eastside, and current GHS quarterback Jaishawn Sanford took over the starting role for the ‘Canes following the departure of Tambling.

There is one thing they all have in common – a season-opening win.

Despite not being able to get his team into the end zone last Thursday, Buchholz’s Andrew Whittemore contributed to the Bobcats’ 15-13 win against Class 4A regional finalist Vanguard (Ocala).

The Class 6A No. 3 Bobcats (1-0), who will host Class 7A No. 6 Vero Beach (1-0) this Friday, played without wide receiver Keil McGriff (ankle injury), and the game started over two hours late due to weather.

Defense and special teams helped the ‘Cats overcome the lengthy delay, a rainstorm and muddy field conditions in the season-opening win at Citizens Field.

A 55-yard punt return for a score by sophomore Camron Burse, a safety, and two field goals by kicker Jay Giunta from 33 and 26 yards, provided the only scoring for Buchholz.

The Knights (0-1) scored a touchdown with 1:47 left, but the Bobcats denied the two-point conversion to preserve the win.

At the end of spring, Tambling transferred to Eastside and was expected to battle sophomore Andrew “Cade” Sutherland for the starting job this fall. However, Sutherland fractured the thumb on his throwing hand and is in a cast for three weeks.

That thrust the 6’5, 235-pound senior into a starting role for at least the immediate future.

Tambling, who has an offer from Stetson, completed his first three passes for 11, 17, and 21 yards on Eastside’s second offensive possession, a four-play, 65-yard drive which ended with a 16-yard touchdown run by senior running back Kemariyon Mack.

He threw his first touchdown pass as a Ram, a 25-yard slant to senior wide receiver Marcus Coefield, for a 21-0 lead with 28 seconds left in the half. The Rams started the season with an easy 30-7 win at home.

“Nelson did a great job, delivered the ball, made some great throws,” said Eastside coach Harold “Gator” Hoskins. “I’m pretty sure he was probably about 80% completion, maybe 75. He made some great throws.”

Eastside, which is seeking its fourth straight playoff appearance, will host Rickards (Tallahassee) at 7 p.m. on Thursday.

Sanford (5’10, 174), who has Division-I offers from the University of Buffalo, Idaho State, East Carolina, and Cincinnati, among others, had the best performance of the three starters.

In a 36-2 win on Friday night at Aubrey Rogers (Naples), the senior became the first ‘Canes QB to go over 300 yards of total offense since 2018.

He finished 15-of-23 passing for 264 yards and three touchdowns. Sanford also rushed six times for 57 yards.

The Class 4A Hurricanes (1-0), who are knocking on the postseason door, are back in action at 7 p.m. this Friday at Class 6A Davenport.

Last year, Buchholz, GHS and Eastside had season-opening wins, marking the first time since Oct. 29, 2021, that the three largest Alachua County schools had all won in the same week.

However, it has been over 30 years since the “Big 3” went 2-0.

A pair of first-year coaches won their first game of the year last week.

Perhaps the best game in the area was Chiefland’s wild 36-35 win in double overtime at rival Williston to win the Levy Cup.

Trailing 35-28, University of Louisville commit Jon Adams hauled in the touchdown pass and then ran in the game-winning 2-point conversion for the Indians (1-0).

“It’s an amazing experience,” first-year Chiefland coach Cliff Harrell told Matthew Kilgore after the game. “The boys had so much adversity on both sides of the ball. Offensively, we struggled at times, defensively we struggled at times, we bowed our necks when we needed to…my offensive staff said let’s go win this right now. We score and it’s over. It’s been a late night and Jon was ready and I think he toted like six of them in the end zone to win it.”

Trenton football coach Bryant Frye also got his first win with a 26-7 win at Bell in a Gilchrist County showdown.

“It was a great start off for the season and definitely exciting to get the win against one of our biggest rivals,” Frye said. “It was a hard-fought game from both teams. We are able to make a few more plays than Bell, and that was the difference in the ball game. Getting my first win is special, but even better when you can get it from your in-county rival. We enjoyed this win for about 12 hours, and now we’re working on next week’s opponent, another rival, Dixie County (Cross City).”

Wide receiver Brant Bivens had a great game with four catches for 117 yards and a touchdown for the Tigers (1-0).

“(Quarterback) Jackson Gentry handled the offense well and was very accurate with his throws, going 5-of-8 for 129 yards and two touchdowns,” Frye said. “Wyatt Vanlandingham made plays on both sides of the ball, with a 12-yard TD on offense and a 57-yard interception for a touchdown. All of the young men played well and hopefully they are building confidence each game.”

Although it was his second stint, Oak Hall coach R.J. Fuhr’s return to the Eagles’ sideline ended with a 50-0 win at home against Bronson. OHS travels to Bishop Snyder (Jacksonville) at 7 p.m. on Friday.