In 2023, it took five games for head coach Ian Scott and the Gainesville Hurricanes to earn its first win of the year. In 2024, it only took one. 

Gainesville 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. 

A group of returning players, such as tight end Nick Tisher, receiver Matt Williams and offensive lineman Taylor Richardson make up the core that are playing with a chip on their shoulder after a 1-19 record over the last two seasons. 

“If I spend too much time talking about our seniors and what they’re doing for our football team, I’ll get super emotional,” Scott said. “Those guys have had the opportunity to go to other places. Being able to say, ‘You know what, I don’t want to do this anymore,’ but they’ve stuck in there, and they’re here working every day. When those guys that have been through those things are able to do that, it brings everybody else along. I couldn’t be more proud to be associated with a group of kids than those guys.”

However, it was a trio of transfers from P.K. Yonge that led the way offensively. 

Running back Devin Johnson accounted for 161 rushing yards and two touchdowns in his first game as a Hurricane. Additionally, running back Corinthian Graham scored two more via the ground and receiver Calvin Thomas added a touchdown catch. 

“When we were at P.K., we had a connection, but we didn’t really have the pieces to bring it together,” Johnson said. “But now we do, and this is the result.”

Graham began the scoring with an eight-yard scamper on Gainesville’s second possession, a five-play 42-yard drive set up by a turnover-on-downs. It began a Hurricanes’ lead with 4:52 in the first quarter that it wouldn’t lose. 

A 22-yard field goal by Alejandro Probert and a 32-yard diving catch by Thomas on a Nelson Tambling pass put Gainesville up 17-0 in the first half, which surpassed its scoring average per game from last season’s 11.1. 

The second half quickly became the Johnson show with a six-yard score and a 53-yard run on back-to-back drives, giving Gainesville a 31-7 lead at the end of the third quarter. 

“I love my o-line, man. I got to treat them to food or something,” Johnson said. 

Graham added one more score in the fourth quarter with a 50-yard run. 

Gainesville (1-0) will travel to Santa Fe (0-1) next week. The Hurricanes’ lone victory in 2023 came in a 49-21 win over the Raiders. Mainstreet Daily News will broadcast the matchup, which kicks off at 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 23
Buchholz 24, Vanguard (Ocala) 7
Hawthorne 51, Anclote (Holiday) 0
Gainesville 38, Braden River (Bradenton) 7
Eastside 41, Belleview 3
P.K. Yonge 36, Santa Fe (Alachua) 23
Oak Hall 28, Branford 20
Newberry 44 University Christian (Jacksonville) 20
Chiefland 18, Williston 10
Bradford (Starke) 13, Baker County (Glen St. Mary) 7
Union County (Lake Butler) 14, Yulee 13
Bell 34, Trenton 24
Columbia (Lake City) 13, Suwannee (Live Oak) 0
Keystone Heights 29, Interlachen 0
Taylor County (Perry) 20, Fort White 14
Franklin County (Eastpoint) 56, Bronson 8
Lafayette (Mayo) 38, Dixie County (Cross City) 12
Lake Weir (Ocala) 64, Saint Francis Catholic Academy 0