Last night, the P.K. Yonge volleyball team swept Eastside on the road to pick up its first win of the season.
Tonight, a total of seven 11-man high school football teams in the Mainstreet Daily News coverage area are in action and will get a chance to pick up their first victory of the season.
But, according to the projections powered by the Florida Power Rankings Index (FPRI), which blends team ratings, past performance, and schedule strength into a single score, none of the seven are favored tonight.
However, there are a couple of teams that have the best chance.
Williston (0-1), which could easily be 1-0, is a 2-point underdog at Paxon (Jacksonville).
The Red Devils lost a wild game at home in overtime, 36-35, to rival Chiefland two weeks ago in the battle for The Levy Cup. They were off last week.
Despite the loss, Williston is ranked No. 4 by MaxPreps in the Rural classification.
The host Golden Eagles (2-1), who compete in the Sunshine State Athletic Association (SSAA), have consecutive home wins against Wolfson (Jacksonville), 35-12, and Christ’s Church Academy (Jacksonville), 23-7, after a season-opening 54-14 loss at West Nassau (Callahan).
The next closest FPRI point spread is Bell, which is a 4-point underdog at Branford (1-1).
The Bulldogs are currently 0-2 after home losses to Trenton (26-7) and Franklin County (35-14).
“Boys are playing hard, but we’ve been pretty banged up so far,” said Bell coach Joey Whittington. “We’ve just got to keep working hard and hopefully get healthy soon.”
After a 40-0 loss to Branford in 2023, the Bulldogs edged the Buccaneers by one point in last year’s game, 14-13, behind the running of Landin Williams (23 carries, 118 yards, 1 TD).
The victory snapped an 11-game losing streak in the series. It was the first time that the Bulldogs had defeated the Bucs since a 22-6 win on Nov. 6, 2015.
Williams, who rushed for 1,981 yards and 20 touchdowns as a sophomore, currently has 34 carries for 109 total yards (3.2 yards per carry)
Bell (SSAA), which hasn’t won back-to-back games in the rivalry since winning three in a row from 2011-2013, and Branford (FHSAA Rural) were state playoff teams last year.
“Branford is a tough, well-coached team,” Whittington said. “We will have to be assignment sound and take care of the football.”
All the other winless teams are double-digit dogs tonight.
P.K. Yonge (0-2) is at home against Zarephath Academy (Jacksonville) (0-2), so somebody is getting their first win tonight. The Class 1A Blue Wave have losses at SSAA foe Lake Weir (Ocala), 40-0, and at 1A Crescent City, 31-7.
Newberry, which is aiming for another deep playoff run, will try to avoid its first 0-3 start since an 0-5 start in 2018.
The Panthers host Vanguard (Ocala), which is ranked 11th in Class 4A by MaxPreps. The Knights (1-1) opened the season with a 15-13 loss at Buchholz in week one, followed by a blowout 76-0 win at Lake Minneola last Friday.
“We have to play our absolute best to have a chance to win against a quality, well-coached and talented team like Vanguard,” said Newberry coach Ed Johnson. “We have to take care of the ball and limit their explosive plays.”
The Panthers are led by two Super 11 players on offense (running back Kaleb Woods and wide receiver Hayden Moore). However, they will be without one of their main leaders on defense.
Last week, in a 32-7 loss at home to Hawthorne, All Area defensive back La’Harry Debose was carted off the field on a stretcher after making a tackle.
“La’Harry is doing well,” Johnson said. “He was released on Friday night and has been recovering all week. He has a concussion and is out 3-4 weeks. It greatly affects things in the backend of our defense. He’s our leader and main communicator. It’s a great opportunity for someone else to step up and help the team.”
Newberry lost at University Christian (Jacksonville), 47-14, in week one. Last year, the Panthers started 1-2 but went on to have a great season (10-3).
“Very tough schedule, three really great opponents to start the season,” Johnson said. “We have to continue approaching our daily grind with enthusiasm and focus and the games will take care of themselves.”
Tonight’s game will be broadcast online beginning at 7:15 p.m. with Cam Parker (Play-by-play) and Tori Kitchens (Color) calling the action.
Dixie County (Cross City) and Bronson have two things in common. They are both winless and have yet to score this season.
Dixie County (0-2), which played in the Rural Florida Invitational (FIT) championship game last year, will travel to Taylor County (Perry) (2-0), which dropped down from Class 2A to the Rural classification in 2025.
The Bears have been outscored by a combined 89-0 in home games against Lafayette (41-0) and Trenton (48-0). They are a 29-point underdog tonight.
Bronson (0-3) is at Trinity Prep (Winter Park) (1-2) for an SSAA matchup. The visiting Eagles have been outscored a combined 124-0 against Old Plank Christian Academy (Jacksonville), 44-0, at Oak Hall (50-0), and at home to Stanton, 30-0, last week.
Class 3A Suwannee (Live Oak) has the biggest challenge tonight at defending FHSAA Rural state champion Madison County, which is a 44-point favorite.
The Bulldogs (0-2) have a loss at home to 4A Columbia (Lake City), 42-6, in week one and a 37-30 loss at Lafayette (Mayo) last Friday.
The host Cowboys, who are ranked 18th in The Prep Zone Power Poll, are also 0-2 but against higher-classification teams: DeLand, a 21-20 loss at home to the 7A Bulldogs, and a 23-12 loss at 5A Lincoln (Tallahassee) on the road.
Who gets their first win? Follow along with live updates on our high school scoreboard.
High school football schedule
Friday, Sept. 5
Aucilla Christian (Monticello) (1-0) at Trenton (2-0), 7 p.m.
Bronson (0-3) at Trinity Prep (Winter Park) (1-2), 7 p.m.
Eastland Christian (Orlando) (0-2) at Cornerstone Academy (0-1), 7 p.m.
Florida High (Tallahassee) (2-1) at Hawthorne (2-0), 7 p.m.
Harvest Community (Jacksonville) (0-2) at Santa Fe (Alachua) (1-0), 7 p.m.
Merritt Island Christian (3-0) at Countryside Christian (0-1), 7 p.m.
Oak Hall (2-0) at Seven Rivers Christian (Lecanto) (1-2), 7 p.m.
Paxon (Jacksonville) (2-1) at Williston (0-1), 7 p.m.
Zarephath Academy (Jacksonville) (0-2) at P.K. Yonge (0-2), 7 p.m.
Bell (0-2) at Branford (1-1), 7:30 p.m.
Belleview (0-2) at Chiefland (1-1), 7:30 p.m.
Bradford (Starke) (2-0) at South Sumter (Bushnell) (2-0), 7:30 p.m.
Columbia (Lake City) (2-0) at Hillsborough (Tampa) (0-2), 7:30 p.m.
Dixie County (Cross City) (0-2) at Taylor County (Perry) (2-0), 7:30 p.m.
Eastside (2-0) at Buchholz (1-1), 7:30 p.m. – Game will be broadcast on 106.9 FM “I am Country” beginning at 7 p.m.
Fort White (1-1) at North Marion (Citra) (1-1), 7:30 p.m.
GHS (1-1) at Crystal River (2-0), 7:30 p.m.
Suwannee (Live Oak) (0-2) at Madison County (0-2), 7:30 p.m.
Vanguard (Ocala) (1-1) at Newberry (0-2), 7:30 p.m.
OFF – Keystone Heights (0-2), Union County (Lake Butler) (1-1)