Normally when I think of “the Big 3” it’s the likes of Florida, Florida State and Miami.
But here in Gainesville, the three biggest high schools in the city did something that hadn’t happened in a while.
The GHS, Buchholz, and Eastside football teams all won on the same night.
This past Friday night, Buchholz went on the road and beat Vanguard (Ocala), 24-7, GHS cruised to an easy 38-7 win at home against Braden River (Bradenton) and Eastside won handily at Belleview, 41-3.
The last time that the big three won on the same night was Oct. 29, 2021, ending a streak of almost three years when the Bobcats, Hurricanes, and Rams could all celebrate a victory together.
GHS has already matched its win total of all last season (1-9 in 2023).
The Hurricanes’ lone win last year came in a 49-21 win against Santa Fe (Alachua) on Thursday, Sept. 21, while Buchholz defeated Vanguard, 30-10, the following night on Friday, Sept. 22.
However, Eastside was off that night.
GHS went 0-10 in 2022.
It’s been three years since Gainesville, Eastside and Buchholz all won on the same night and it almost happened twice in 2021.
Despite a 2-8 season that year, Eastside posted consecutive wins on Friday, Oct. 22, 2021, vs. Palatka (27-8) and the following Friday, Oct. 29, at Santa Fe (39-35).
Buchholz edged Bolles (Jacksonville), 14-7, at Bradford (Starke), and GHS defeated Ridgeview (Orange Park), 49-7, on Thursday, Oct. 21.
So it happened in the same week, but not on the same day.
But on Friday, Oct. 29, 2021, Buchholz defeated Forest (Ocala), and GHS won a district title with a 17-14 win at St. Augustine, which coupled with Eastside’s win at Santa Fe, gave the big three a win on the same night.
An even tougher feat has been back-to-back wins by the big three to start the season.
When was the last time “the Big 3” went 2-0?
Let’s just say that hasn’t happened for at least 30 years.
The reason?
Buchholz and Eastside have played their city showdown at the start of the season, aside from the last few years. The Bobcats have dominated that series, winning for the 10th straight time against the Rams last year.
Prior to 2020, the Bobcats and the Rams have played against each other in the first or second game of the season, and according to Buchholz coach Mark Whittemore that matchup “goes back to the early 90s.”
Eastside started 2-0 last year and 2-0 in 2022, as did Buchholz.
But Gainesville hasn’t been able to win its first two games of the season in over 10 years. Columbia (Lake City) has been the Hurricanes’ nemesis, winning six in a row to start the season from 2013-18.
That includes the 2013 GHS team which lost at Columbia, 49-7, in the regular season opener before the 6A regional semifinalists reeled off eight straight wins.
GHS is seeking its first 2-0 start since 2012.
The 2012 Hurricanes started 14-0 and didn’t lose until falling to Central (Miami) in the 6A state championship game.
That same year, Buchholz lost to Eastside in the season opener.
Buchholz finished 1-9 in 2011, but the Bobcats did win two in a row to start the 2010 season. Unfortunately, for the big three, that included a head-to-head win against Eastside in the season opener.
But this week could be different.
For the first time in a long time, the big three could start a season 2-0.
This Friday, GHS is at Santa Fe. The game will be broadcast online (audio only) at Mainstreet Daily News beginning at 7:15 p.m. (kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.).
The Hurricanes, who are more unified this year, may have the best odds of the big three to start the season undefeated after the first two games.
After all, Gainesville’s only win last year was against Santa Fe.
The host Raiders lost at home last week to P.K. Yonge, 36-23, to drop to 0-1.
However, it should be noted that Santa Fe’s only win in 2022 was at home against GHS, 14-7, which kept the Hurricanes winless that year.
GHS (1-0) dominated Braden River, 38-7, to open the 2024 season. It’s the Hurricanes’ first 30-point win since 2021 and first 1-0 start since 2020.
Senior running back Devin Johnson accounted for 161 rushing yards and two touchdowns in his first game as a Hurricane.
Buchholz, which plays a difficult schedule this year, is at Vero Beach.
Last year the Indians finished 9-3 and advanced to the second round of the Class 4S state playoffs.
Defense and special teams helped lead the Bobcats (1-0) to their third straight win against Vanguard, including their second straight victory at Booster Stadium in Ocala.
Junior wide receiver Justin Williams had nine catches for 151 yards, including what proved to be the game-winning 10-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Trace Johnson to give the Bobcats a 14-7 lead late in the first quarter.
Buchholz, which defeated Trinity Catholic (Ocala) in last year’s regular-season finale for its first unbeaten regular season since 2001, has won 11 straight regular season games.
The Bobcats are in 6A this season while Vero Beach is a Class 7A opponent.
Eastside, which will host Buchholz next week, will travel to Rickards (Tallahassee) this Friday.
Last week the Rams kept the Rattlers out of the end zone and dominated the game defensively, holding the Rattlers, who were winless in 2023, to minus 15 yards of offense in the first half. Demarco Daniels had an interception and a blocked punt.
Offensively, Corvin Bird had three TDs and 76 yards to highlight 149 yards and 5 TDs on the ground.
According to Eastside Athletics Director Derek Gonsoulin, the game had a strange start.
After Eastside scored to go up 7-0, the Rams were called for six penalties in the next 90 seconds of game time. This led to EHS kicking off from the 2 1/2-yard line.
Despite gaining minus 11 yards on its first seven plays, Belleview made a 32-yard field goal for its only score.
Last week Rickards edged Godby (Tallahassee), 22-21, to set up a game of unbeatens in Leon County.
Rickards, which was just 3-7 last year, competes in Class 4A, while Eastside is in Class 3A.
They’re all winnable for GHS, Buchholz and Eastside.
It’s a chance for the Hurricanes, Bobcats, and Rams to do something that hasn’t been done in a long time, and something I’ve never seen in my 25 years of broadcasting in Alachua County.