Another week of Florida high school football brought plenty of excitement, and The Blitz – North Central Florida Edition is here with this week’s Pick Six Recap. We take a closer look at six matchups that stood out across the North Central Florida region, highlighting big moments, key performances, and games that kept fans talking.
LAFAYETTE 37, SUWANNEE 30
Senior quarterback Tywan Williamson rushed for 117 yards on 20 carries while completing seven of 18 passes for 162 yards and two touchdowns as host Lafayette (1-1) edged Suwannee (0-2) in Friday’s seven-point victory. … Senior Parker Hill hauled in one reception for 78 yards and one touchdown while junior Tucker Higginbotham added one catch for 10 yards and one score to pace the Hornets’ passing attack. … Suwannee senior LJ Smith rushed for 139 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries to lead the Bulldogs’ ground game, while junior Koy Frier contributed 36 rushing yards and one score plus two receptions for 29 yards. … Senior Thomas Sikes completed four of 16 passes for 71 yards for the Bulldogs, who managed 249 total yards but fell short in the road contest. … Lafayette accumulated 356 total yards while holding off Suwannee’s comeback attempt to secure the narrow victory in the North Florida rivalry matchup.
BAKER COUNTY 14, CHIEFLAND 0
Visiting Baker County (1-1) scored seven points in the first quarter and added seven more in the fourth quarter as the Wildcats shut out host Chiefland (1-1) in Friday’s defensive battle. … The Indians were unable to generate any scoring opportunities against Baker County’s defense, falling to 0-0 in the season opener while the Wildcats improved their record. … Baker County controlled the game on both sides of the ball, limiting Chiefland to zero points while finding the end zone twice for the road shutout victory. … The Wildcats defense completely stifled the Indians’ offensive attack throughout the four quarters in the North Florida matchup. … Baker County secured the convincing shutout victory while Chiefland was held scoreless in their home opener against the visiting Wildcats.
HAWTHORNE 32, NEWBERRY 7
Junior Nathan Jennings recorded 55 all-purpose yards and intercepted a pass for a 55-yard return as visiting Hawthorne (2-0) dominated host Newberry (0-2) in Friday’s lopsided victory. … The Hornets built momentum in the second quarter with 14 points before adding six more in the third quarter and 12 in the fourth to pull away from the Panthers. … Newberry managed just seven points in the second quarter but was unable to generate additional scoring against Hawthorne’s defense throughout the remainder of the contest. … The Hornets defense forced multiple turnovers, with Jennings leading the way on an interception return while senior Messiah Gent and senior Loniki Jackson also recorded picks. … Hawthorne controlled both sides of the ball while accumulating 32 points and limiting the Panthers to seven in the convincing road victory in the North Central Florida rivalry matchup.
COLUMBIA 20, COFFEE (GA) 14
Kameron Mills returned an interception 41 yards for a touchdown and added 41 rushing yards on four carries as the Tigers held off visiting Coffee from Georgia in Friday’s narrow victory. … Columbia (2-0) built a 14-6 halftime advantage before securing the six-point win at home, with Mills’ pick-six providing a crucial score in the inter-state matchup. … Coffee rallied with seven points in the third quarter and seven more in the fourth to cut into the deficit, but the Tigers’ early lead proved to be enough for the victory. … Mills also contributed four tackles on defense while breaking off a 38-yard run to help pace Columbia’s ground attack against the Trojans. … The Tigers earned the hard-fought victory against the visiting Georgia program with Mills’ dual-threat performance proving pivotal in the competitive cross-border rivalry game in Lake City.
BRADFORD 35, DUNNELLON 0
Sophomore quarterback Cy Cubbedge threw for two touchdowns as visiting Bradford (2-0) dominated host Dunnellon (0-2) in Friday’s shutout victory, connecting with two different receivers for scores. … Cubbedge found a receiver for an 11-yard touchdown pass, sophomore Chrishon Sharpe for a 25-yard scoring strike, and senior Khevyn Jackson for a 45-yard touchdown to pace the Tornadoes’ aerial attack. … Sharpe added a 70-yard rushing touchdown while junior Jarell Harris capped the scoring with a 55-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter for Bradford. … The Tornadoes built a 7-0 halftime lead before exploding for 21 points in the third quarter and seven more in the fourth to pull away from the Tigers. … Bradford’s balanced offensive attack accumulated 35 points while their defense recorded the shutout, limiting Dunnellon to zero points throughout the four quarters in the road victory.
VERO BEACH 28, BUCHHOLZ 24
Senior quarterback Efrem White, an FSU commit, completed 18 of 24 passes for 321 yards and three touchdowns while adding 92 rushing yards and one score as visiting Vero Beach (2-0) held off Buchholz (1-1) in Friday’s thrilling victory. … White connected with senior Xavier Stinson five times for 88 yards and one touchdown, senior Jonathan Hillsman three times for 87 yards and one score, and delivered the game-winning touchdown to Kentucky commit Jordan Crutchfield on an 11-yard pass with 30 seconds remaining. … Buchholz senior Justin Williams caught six passes for 97 yards while adding 44 rushing yards and one touchdown, but the Bobcats fell short despite accumulating 327 total yards in the heartbreaking home loss. … Sophomore quarterback Andrew Whittemore completed 17 of 25 passes for 179 yards and one touchdown for the Bobcats, finding sophomore Marquel Brooks six times for 55 yards and one score. … The Indians overcame a late deficit with White’s clutch touchdown pass to Crutchfield in the final minute, completing a dramatic comeback victory over the Bobcats in Gainesville.