Gainesville area high school football: Five (not three) must-see matchups in Week 9
All season long, the Gainesville Sun has featured three games to watch per week.
Week 9, however, is different.
There's too many big games on this week's slate, with two battles of unbeaten teams highlighting the docket. So this week, we're featuring five must-watch games.
State rankings: FHSAA football rankings: Where area teams landed in this week's state rankings
Gainesville's Top 10: Power Rankings: Guess who's now in top 3 of Gainesville area's high school football teams?
Here's a deeper look at each of the Gainesville Sun's must-see games in Week 9.
Buchholz (6-0) at Bartram Trail (7-0)
WHEN: Friday, 7 p.m.
WHERE: Bear Stadium, St. Johns
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: It was a near-similar storyline last fall when Buchholz visited district foe Bartram Trail, as both teams were 7-1 heading into last year's meeting. This year, however, the stakes feel higher as both teams enter Friday's matchup undefeated with a district title likely up for grabs. Both offenses have proved their ability to be multidimensional, but after last week's five-passing-touchdown showing against Oakleaf, Buchholz senior quarterback Creed Whittemore solidified the Bobcats as an electric offense that leans heavily on its attack through the air. Meanwhile, the Bears rely more heavily on the ground game, where junior Laython Biddle leads the charge with more than 590 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. Biddle and the Bartram Trail offense will meet its toughest test yet when it lines up across the Buchholz defense, which has tallied 50 tackles behind the line of scrimmage and has forced 12 turnovers.
Dunnellon (5-2) at Bradford (7-0)
WHEN: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: David Hurse Stadium, Starke
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Dunnellon has been a tough team to figure out. The Tigers forced overtime against Ocala Vanguard before losing 21-20. However, Dunnellon was blanked 35-0 by North Marion, a team that beat Vanguard 18-17. And if one thing is for certain, Dunnellon will have to play with consistency when it lines up across Bradford. The Tornadoesare the FHSAA's ninth-best team in the state. And much of the attention Bradford has garnered is due to its jaw-dropping stat of giving up just seven points through seven games. The Tornadoes' defense is playing lights out. Meanwhile, Dunnellon has struggled with ball security. The Tigers have tossed nine interceptions and lost five fumbles this season. If Dunnellon wants to upset Bradford at home, the Tigers have to take care of the football.
Florida High (7-0) at Chiefland (5-0)
WHEN: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Chiefland Middle High School, Chiefland
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: It's time for Chiefland to measure up to its hype. The Indians, who rank as the FHSAA's 20th-best team in the state, haven't played the stiffest schedule. However, Chiefland's 28-20 win over Wildwood on Oct. 7 was certainly a win of quality. But that was also the Indians' last time taking the field after their Week 8 opponent, Zarephath Academy, unexpectedly backed out of last week's game. This could mean that Chiefland comes out with fresh legs, or it could mean that Chiefland comes out lethargic. The latter won't do against the Indians' Week 9 opponent as the undefeated Florida High Seminoles come to visit. The Seminoles boast a dangerously balanced offense that can hurt you through the air or on the ground, while the Indians rely heavily on the talent in their backfield for offensive production. Chiefland's offensive line will have its hands full against Florida High's defensive front, which has tallied 83 tackles behind the line of scrimmage. Meanwhile, the Seminoles' offense, especially junior quarterback Jeremy Johnston, will have to proceed with caution as the Indians' athletic defense has forced six interceptions and seven fumbles.
Newberry (4-2) at P.K. Yonge (2-5)
WHEN: Friday, 7 p.m.
WHERE: P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School, Gainesville
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: What makes this matchup so interesting is how both programs are trying to turn the corner down the stretch. Newberry snapped its two-game skid with a 14-7 win over Eastside last week — the Panthers' biggest win of the season. Meanwhile, P.K. Yonge, which opened its 2022 campaign with one of the toughest schedules in the area, also picked up its biggest win of the season last week with a 44-16 win over St. Joseph Academy. When looking at this game, fans should prepare for a fun quarterback shootout between two young guns with bright futures. Newberry freshman Keil McGriff has impressed in his rookie season, averaging 160 passing yards per game. He has paired nicely with senior receiver Mike Moore, who averages 109 receiving yards per game and has eight receiving touchdowns. Meanwhile, P.K. Yonge sophomore quarterback Adrian Curtis is coming off a hot performance that saw him go 12-for-17 for 272 yards and three touchdowns. With both young signal-callers trending, expect both teams to go through the air and challenge each other's defensive backs.
North Marion (6-2) at Hawthorne (6-0)
WHEN: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Hawthorne Middle/High School, Hawthorne
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Like Chiefland, Hawthorne will have an opportunity to measure up to the hype as it takes on a respectable opponent from a larger classification. The Hornets are coming off a big, emotional win over fellow Class 1R member, Union County. And it wasn't long ago the North Marion Colts narrowly won an emotional game of their own, topping Ocala Vanguard 18-17 on Oct. 7. In last week's win at Union County, Hawthorne fought back from a 21-point deficit, largely thanks to the defense flipping the switch and shifting the momentum in the second half. Hawthorne sophomore quarterback CJ Ingram also pieced together a second-half performance that the Hornets wouldn't have won without. But it really came down to the defense and it likely will again this week. North Marion junior quarterback AJ Cussins has 1,570 passing yards on the season, which outweighs all of the Colts' rushing by more than 900 yards. However, North Marion's offense has yet to line up against a defense that boasts guys such as Jailen Ruth, who tallied four tackles behind the line of scrimmage last week. Expect this one to be won in the trenches.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: High school football: What are the best Week 9 games in Gainesville?
