Lessons Learned for GHS Football in Rivalry Defeat
Gainesville High School’s first city rivalry matchup of the season quickly turned into a one-sided affair Friday when the Hurricanes fell to Buchholz 43-6.
The Bobcats (2-0) came out swinging in the opening series of the game, driving 78 yards led by explosive plays by the junior Norris brothers, running back Ashton and junior wide receiver Avery.
Ashton started the drive with a 21-yard run before Avery hauled in a big-time completion that set up the Bobcats in the red zone. Ashton punched it in from the two-yard line to give the Bobcats a 7-0 lead.
Gainesville High School (0-2) tried to answer with a drive of its own, but a stalwart Bobcat defense didn’t let that happen by holding the Hurricanes to a three-and-out.
On the ensuing punt, the snap soared over the head of senior punter Sebastian Jimenez and into the end zone, where junior Caden Dowdell dove on top of for another Bobcat touchdown, bringing the score to 13-0 after the missed extra point.
With the Hurricanes chances already slipping, they repeatedly went to junior running back Javaris Gardner, who had a big game last week against Belleview.
Despite his efforts, the offensive line couldn’t create a hole as the ‘Canes turned the ball over on downs.
With the Bobcats already starting in the red zone, it didn’t take long before junior quarterback Andrew Whittemore fired a post route in the end zone to senior wide receiver Dominik Harvey to pad the lead to 20-0.
The Hurricanes couldn’t get anything going. Sophomore quarterback Calvin Comstock threw an interception that put Buchholz back in the red zone.
Gainesville was showing some life on defense as it was able to force a much-needed fumble that gave the Hurricanes the ball back at the 17-yard line.
Later in the half, junior running back Joshua Menefee took advantage of the worn-down GHS defense and ran in another touchdown for a 27-0 Buchholz lead.
The Hurricanes continued to be dominated, as junior defensive lineman Dracen Martin blew past the offensive line and sacked the GHS quarterback in the end zone for a safety, pushing the score to 29-0.
The Bobcats continued to put the Hurricanes defense in a blender with first down after first down, which culminated in a 32-yard passing touchdown that Harvey toe-tapped on a blown coverage by the Hurricanes to turn it into a blowout at 36-0.
The matchup was chippy throughout with numerous unsportsmanlike conduct penalties on both sides.
The Hurricanes struggled to find answers, but the difficult moments also provided an opportunity for the team to learn and grow through adversity.
“I think you know there’s a lot of lessons in this, right? Losing teaches you, I think, more than winning most times, and it’s not so much the loss; it’s how you handle it after, and that’s where our team is doing the most learning,” GHS coach Ashour Peera said. “You learn to deal with the adversity, and I think once you learn to deal with adversity better. Somehow, there’s less of it.” .
The second half was more of the same.
Buchholz brought in backup sophomore quarterback Riley McGriff to start the third quarter.
The Buchholz running game kept grinding down Gainesville. Ashton Norris sprinted into the end zone for his second touchdown of the night and the Bobcats third on the ground to make it 43-0.
Gardner was finally able to give the Hurricane fans something to cheer about when he scampered to the outside for a 30-yard rushing touchdown to make it 43-6.
Peera emphasized the importance of playing through each quarter.
“I don’t think that’s (giving up) an option for our guys. The day I got here, I preached to them we’re going to play quarter by quarter, and that’s all we’re worried about,” said Peera, in his first season at GHS. The lights on the board are never going to tell us what type of team we are. That’s not going to define us. What defines us is how we handle these situations, and I think these guys handled it pretty well all things considered.”
That mindset showed itself in the way the Hurricanes continued to play through the final whistle, something the coach said he was proud of.
“They kept playing to the end, never quit, whether they were outmatched or outplayed in certain situations, that didn’t matter to them. These guys stuck together,” Peera said.
The coach also acknowledged where the program stands after the eighth consecutive loss in the rivalry and the role this group has in building toward the future.
“I think we’re aware of where we are as a program, and this is the group that’s going to lay the foundation. The house is going to be built later on, but this is the group that’s laying the foundation,” Peera said.
The Hurricanes next play at Suwannee High (2-0) at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Category: Buchholz High School, Football, Gainesville, Gainesville High School, High School Sports
