Mike Ridaught
Newberry 21, Dixie County 14
On Friday night the Dixie County football team lost at Newberry, 21-14, in a small school showdown between two of the hottest teams in the area. The win was the sixth in a row for Newberry, which improved to 6-1. The loss dropped the Bears to 4-2 and snapped their 4-game winning streak.
After a scoreless first quarter, Dixie County took a 7-0 lead when senior quarterback Sam Cannon completed an 18-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Keaton Brown on a fourth-and-10 play for a 7-0 lead midway through the second quarter. But five plays later, Newberry answered on an 8-yard run by quarterback Makai Johnson to tie the game at 7-7.
The game remained tied heading into the fourth quarter. Newberry took a 14-7 lead on another touchdown run by Johnson. However, the Bear’s Brenden Hall fielded a punt at the 15, got to the outside and raced 85 yards untouched down the Bears sideline to tie the game at 14-14 with 7:56 left.
The Panthers scored the game-winning touchdown on the next offensive play as Johnson ran 72 yards untouched with 7:30 to play in the game.
Dixie County is off this week and will travel to P.K. Yonge on Friday, October 30.
Hawthorne 32, Palatka 0
The Hawthorne Hornets let a 25-8 fourth quarter lead slip away last week, losing to the Bradford Bears and ending their unbeaten streak. But that didn’t happen this week.
Hawthorne took the early lead with 32 first half points, and never looked back, sailing to a one-sided 32-0 victory over winless Palatka Friday night.
The victory gives Hawthorne a 4-1 record on the season. Palatka remains winless at 0-6.
Next week the Hornets are back at home against Union County.
Bradford 28, PK Yonge 6
On Friday night, the P.K. Yonge football team lost at home to Bradford (Starke), 28-6. The Blue Wave scored first on a 40-yard pick-6 by senior Yarnell McCray with 1:53 to play in the first quarter. However, the Tornadoes answered on a 58-yard touchdown run by Erric Smith and a 2-point pass play from freshman quarterback Dae’jon Shanks to freshman Chalil Cummings for an 8-6 lead just 36 seconds later in what would end up being the game-winning score. P.K. Yonge, which dropped to 2-5, is off this week and will host Dixie County next week. Bradford (3-4) will be at home this Friday against winless Palatka (0-7).
Trenton 47, Bell 0
Trenton shut out Bell, 47-0. The visiting Bulldogs, who rushed for over 300 yards the previous week against St. Francis Catholic, was held to just 54 yards on the ground by the Tigers (3-4). It was the second straight win for Trenton, which will travel to Williston this Friday, while the Bulldogs will host Aucilla Christian (Monticello). And Bronson (5-2) defeated Franklin County, 38-27.
Hamilton County 28, Chiefland 20
Chiefland lost at home, 28-20, to Hamilton County. The Indians took a 6-0 lead in the first quarter, but Trojans’ running back Tyler Whetstone helped lead the visitors to victory by rushing for three touchdowns. He finished with 221 yards on 21 carries. The Indians, who dropped to 1-4, will travel to unbeaten Wildwood this Friday night at 7:30.
Branford 55, Joshua Christian 0
The Branford Buccaneers scored 32 first half points en route to a 55-0 victory over the Joshua Christian Eagles of Jacksonville in week seven of high school football action Friday night.
With the win, Branford improves to 4-1 Next week, they play at Interlachen.
Joshua Christian falls to 0-3.
Bronson 38, Franklin County 27
The Bronson Eagles scored five touchdowns, and cruised past the Franklin County Seahawks 38-27 in week seven of high school football action Friday night.
The win gives the Eagles a 5-2 record, while Franklin County is 0-3.
The Eagles travel to Quincy next week to take on Munroe.
Lee 38, Columbia 28
The Lee Generals of Jacksonville took a 25-7 halftime lead, and then held on to defeat the Columbia Tigers 38-28.
The loss kept Columbia winless on the year, falling to 0-4. They will look for their first win next week at home against North Miami Beach.
The Generals remain undefeated at 4-0.
Maclay 38, Lafayette 14
The Maclay Marauders of Tallahassee scored 35 first half points en route to a 38-14 victory over the Lafayette Hornets in week seven of high school football action Friday night.
The loss drops Lafayette to 3-3 on the season. Next week, they play at Joshua Christian of Jacksonville next week.
Maclay improves to 3-3.
Suwannee 21, Wakulla 0
The Suwannee Bulldogs took a 14-0 lead into halftime and never looked back, surprising the previously unbeaten Wakulla War Eagles 21-0 in week seven of high school football Friday night.
Suwannee improved to 5-2 on the season. They play Ponte Vedra at home next week.
Wakulla falls to 4-1.
Union County 24, Williston 0
The Union County Tigers took a 14-0 lead into halftime, and held on to defeat the Williston Red Devils 24-0 in week seven of high school football action Friday night.
The loss drops Williston to 2-5. Union County improves to 4-2.
Next week, Williston is home against Trenton. Union County is on the road to play Hawthorne.
Ridgeview 36, Eastside 0
The Ridgeview Panthers took a 26-0 halftime lead and cruised against the Eastside Rams 36-0 in week seven of high school football action Friday night.
Ridgeview is 4-1 this year, while Eastside fell to 0-5.
The Rams will go for their first win next week when they travel to face Orange Park.
Halifax Academy 58, St. Francis Catholic Academy 48
The St. Francis Catholic Wolves and Halifax Academy Knights put on an offensive clinic, but in the fourth quarter the Knights pulled away, winning 58-48 in Thursday night high school football action.
It was St. Francis who took a narrow 40-38 lead into fourth quarter, but Halifax broke the game open with 20 unanswered points in the final period, before St. Francis answered with a touchdown and two point conversion to cut the deficit to 48-38 late in the fourth quarter, but never got closer.
St. Francis remains winless on the season with an 0-7 record. They play at Trinity Christian Academy in Deltona next week. Halifax Academy evens its record at 3-3.
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