Mike Ridaught
If you love high school sports you’ve come to the right place.
We’ve got your covered with our expanded multimedia platforms to include radio, print and online access.
In addition to our weekly articles at Mainstreet Daily News, we launched our first print edition on June 29. Click here to find a list of box or rack locations where you can pick up a free newspaper.
On August 1, we resumed ThePrepZone.com Sports Report, a 1-minute high school sports vignette which airs live every weekday morning on the radio around 7:50 a.m. on 106.9 FM “I Am Country.”
This fall will mark the second straight year that we will broadcast high school football on the radio, as well as online at MainstreetDailyNews.com.
The Stephenson’s Septic Tank Services High School Football Game of the Week will air every Friday night on 106.9 FM with streaming audio available online at IAmCountryRadio.com.
Plus, we will have an audio Game of the Week every Friday on Mainstreet. Our first football broadcasts of the year are next Friday, Aug. 26.
Our radio broadcast will hit the airwaves from Citizen’s Field as Gainesville High School hosts Vanguard (Ocala) in an Alachua County vs. Marion County showdown.
Last year GHS won its first district title in seven years. The Hurricanes look to build on last year’s success.
“Interesting game,” said Vanguard coach Edwin Farmer. “Gainesville High School is like a rivalry game. It’s always been that way.”
Farmer said he remembers being the defensive coordinator and it always being a hard game at the hedges, and “trying to find a way to win a football game at Citizens Field.”
“It’s always a difficult task,” he said. “You’ve got to come in ready to play. Gainesville is a good team that we have early to get us started for the season.”
In 2021, Vanguard advanced to the Class 6A-Region 2 Final before falling at home by two points, 28-26, to Jones (Orlando).
Meanwhile, our first audio Game of the Week will be an Alachua County showdown as Eastside travels to P.K. Yonge.
The visiting Rams have a new coach in Harold ‘Gator’ Hoskins. The Eastside alum is looking to turn program around.
The host Blue Wave graduated 16 seniors from last year’s 8-4 playoff team and have a roster loaded with youth.
Our radio coverage will also included a weekly high school sports show.
Join myself and Marty Pallman for “The Prep Zone” sports show at Sonic Drive-In of Gainesville every Wednesday from 7-8 p.m. on 106.9 FM.
The one-hour show, which features a different high school sports team each week and interviews with local coaches and athletes, makes its debut on Wednesday, Aug. 24.
Among our guests last year were three team state champions—the Santa Fe volleyball team, Bradford (Starke) boys basketball, and the Keystone Heights boys weightlifting team. The tally reaches four if you count the girls cross country team from Buchholz, although the appearance came before the girls captured their state title.
Our first episode of the new school year will preview the upcoming football season with guest Joshua Wilson of FloridaHSFootball.com.
Football kicks off our coverage, but we’ll also be broadcasting high school basketball, softball and baseball in 2022-23.
We hope you enjoy our coverage. Good luck to all of the local coaches and athletes this school year.
Stephenson’s Septic Tank Services High School Football Game of the Week
*Both schedules subject to change
RADIO – 106.9 FM “I Am Country”
30-minute pregame show
Air time 7 p.m. for 7:30 p.m. games (6:30 p.m. pregame for 7 p.m. kicks)
Aug. 26 – Vanguard (Ocala) at GHS, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 2 – Dixie County (Cross City) at Trenton, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 9 – Buchholz at Eastside, 7 p.m.
Sept. 16 – North Marion (Citra) at Santa Fe (Alachua), 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 23 – Buchholz at Vanguard (Ocala), 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 30 – Newberry at Williston, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 6 (Thur.) – GHS at Buchholz, 7 p.m.
Oct. 14 – Trenton at Williston, 7:30 p.m. OR Hawthorne at Union County
Oct. 21 – North Marion (Citra) at Hawthorne, 7 p.m.
Oct. 28 – Santa Fe (Alachua) at Eastside, 7 p.m.
Nov. 4 – Buchholz at Bolles (Jacksonville), 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 11 – FHSAA Football Playoffs (TBD)
INTERNET – MainstreetDailyNews.com
15-minute pregame show
Aug. 26 – Eastside (Gainesville) at P.K. Yonge (Gainesville), 7 p.m.
Sept. 2 – Riverview (Sarasota) at Buchholz (Gainesville), 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 9 – Williston at Dixie County (Cross City), 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 16 – Bradford (Starke) at Eastside (Gainesville), 7 p.m. – HC
Sept. 23 – Seven Rivers Christian (Lecanto) at St. Francis Catholic Academy (Gainesville), 7 p.m.
Sept. 30 – P.K. Yonge (Gainesville) at Santa Fe (Alachua), 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 7 – Suwannee (Live Oak) at Santa Fe (Alachua), 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 14 – Eastside (Gainesville) at Newberry, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 21 – Newberry at P.K. Yonge (Gainesville), 7 p.m.
Oct. 28 – Trinity Catholic (Ocala) at P.K. Yonge (Gainesville), 7 p.m.
Nov. 4 – Astronaut (Titusville) at Hawthorne, 7 p.m.
Nov. 11 – FHSAA Football Playoffs (TBD)
HC – Homecoming