High School Football: Eastside loses to Bradford County in 2nd round of state playoffs
STARKE — The inaugural season of the Harold "Gator" Hoskins era as coach of the Eastside HIgh School football team came to an end Friday night with a 37-0 loss to Bradford County High School in the second round of the state playoffs.
The Tornadoes' (11-1) convincing win over the Rams (8-3) began with a touchdown by Dae'Jon Shanks' in the first half. Willie Pollard added a 40-yard score before the break and a 55-yard score later as Bradford recorded its ninth shutout of the year.
Jeremiah McKenzie threw TD passes to Shanks and Jametrius Pringle for Bradford, which gets a rematch at David Hurse Stadium against rival Baker County in a state playoff 2S regional final next Friday.
"That is a great team," said Hoskins, a 2010 Eastside graduate who starred at quarterback and safety before going on to Marshall University. "They are a hungry team, and they came in expecting to win because they have been together for a while."
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The Rams didn't take advantage of the opportunities they had to score points, Hoskins said.
"We didn't make the plays that we were supposed to make," he said.
The Rams, who beat district foe North Marion High School in the first round of the playoffs on Nov. 11, won a district championship this season for the first time in 10 years and its first playoff game in 13 years, Hoskins said.
The success of this year's team in large part is due to the leadership of the seniors on the team, said Hoskins, who recognized quarterback Holden Johnson for his marked improvement as a leader this past season. Johnson has been the Rams' quarterback since current University of Florida starting quarterback Anthony Richardson played for the Rams during the 2019 season.
"He took a huge leap this year," Hoskins said of Johnson.
Hoskins also applauded the leadership and play of seniors Mario Mitchell, Jeremiah "Sherm" Williams, Micah Hudson, offensive linemen Kevin Mitchell, Trevaun "Blue" Sams and Xzavion Henderson.
Hoskins said the future is bright for the Rams as they will return all of their leading receivers - Daijon "Honey Mustard" Johnson, Antonio Hubbert and Antoneo Wilson. Also returning are DE/LB Jayden Manns, DE Jessie Barnes, DT Jataureis Servance and the members of the secondary.
Hoskins attributes his team's success to players buying into the notion that hard work is the key to success.
"It's no secret," Hoskins said. "We came in and showed these guys we love and believe in them, and they put in the hard work."
Hoskins hopes his players take away lessons from 2022
The lessons he wants his players to take away from this season are that hard work pays off.
"Nothing is going to be given to you," Hoskins said. "You have to face adversity and overcome it. I'm proud of these guys and I know they are going to become better men. That is the most important thing to me."
Hoskins and his team dealt with adversity in a major way early in the season when senior lineman Dabien "DaeDae" White died on Sept. 4.
"This year was for DaeDae, number 55," Hoskins said. "We will love you forever."
Hoskins also said he is thankful for the support the Eastside fans and community showed the team throughout this season. He said he told his players how it used to be at Citizens Field when the Rams played crosstown rivals Buchholz and Gainesville.
"I think it was great for the players to see throughout the season more support from our fans and the community," Hoskins said. "We want to continue to build on that and to win games, but most importantly, we want to help build and mold young men into productive citizens in society and our community."
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Gator Hoskins, Eastside Rams lose to Bradford in state football playoffs
