We are headed into week three of the high school football season, yet you can almost count the number of undefeated teams on one hand.
This past Friday night the Gainesville football team defeated Santa Fe (Alachua), 33-7, on the road to move to 2-0 on the season. It’s the first time that the Hurricanes have started the season with consecutive wins since 2012.
GHS, which defeated Braden River (Bradenton), 38-7, in the home opener, has a chance to continue the streak this Friday at Leon (Tallahassee). The Class 5A Lions (0-2) have been outscored 77-13 by Tallahassee schools St. John Paul II and Godby. They also lost at Rickards (Tallahassee), 42-13, in the Kickoff Classic.
Rickards handed Eastside its first loss of the season, 30-23, last week in Tallahassee. The Rams (1-1) didn’t go down without a fight, scoring all 23 points in the second half behind the passing of freshman Andrew Sutherland (172 yards, TD) and rushing of junior Kamariyon Mack (9-72, TD) and senior Corvin Byrd (11-44).
The loss prevented the big three from going 2-0 for the first time in over 30 years as Class 6A No. 3 Buchholz was able to rally past Class 7A No. 9 Vero Beach, 38-23, with 21 points in the fourth quarter.
The Bobcats (2-0), who defeated Vanguard in Ocala in week one, will play Eastside this Friday night at Citizens Field. You can listen to the game online at Mainstreet Daily News beginning at 7:20 p.m. Kickoff is at 7:35 p.m.
Last year Buchholz blanked Eastside, 35-0, to win for the 10th straight time in the series.
Hawthorne survived a scare as Newberry rallied from a 21-10 deficit in the fourth quarter to send the game into overtime.
The Hornets (2-0) defeated the Panthers, 28-27, when Newberry quarterback Collin Dunmore was stopped just short of the goal line on a game-winning 2-point conversion. It was the 27th consecutive win for the two-time defending 1R state champions.
Florida High (Tallahassee) will host Hawthorne this Friday night. The host Seminoles are 0-2 with losses at Dunnellon (21-14) and at Thomas County Central in Georgia (63-28).
The remaining undefeated teams are Chiefland, Union County (Lake Butler) and Bradford (Starke).
The Indians (2-0), who knocked off Williston in the season opener, cruised past Hollis Christian Academy (Jacksonville), 51-0, at home. They should have no problem on the road this week at 5A Belleview (0-2), which has been outscored 82-9 by Eastside and Fort White.
Union County (2-0), which stopped a 2-point conversion in a 14-13 win at 3A Yulee in week one, imposed a running clock on 2A Keystone Heights last Friday in a 35-0 win.
The Tigers (2-0), who look for another state title run after recent near-misses, will play their home opener this Friday night against winless Santa Fe.
Bradford defeated Dunnellon, 29-14, last week and the Tornadoes edged Baker County (Glen St. Mary), 13-7, on the road in week one.
The Tornadoes (2-0), who were in the state championship game last year, host a tough South Sumter (Bushnell) team this Friday night.