By Danny Villanueva
Contributing Writer
Twitter – @Danny_361
RADIO: 104.9 FM Gainesville/Alachua/High Springs
VIDEO: Eastside Athletics Facebook page
Eastside (Gainesville) Rams
Head Coach: Ceddrick Daniels
Record: 6-2
Key Players: Anthony Richardson (QB, WR) Deion Jenkins (RB) Jabari Robinson (WR) Jahren Phillips (MLB) Vermonte Williams (DE) Tyreese Sanford (MLB)
In the penultimate game of the season, the Eastside Rams are coming with high morale after outscoring their past two opponents 94-20. University of Florida commit Anthony Richardson continued his fantastic season last week against Gadsden County with three total touchdowns. The dual threat quarterback ran for over 140 yards and added 161 yards passing. Running back Deion Jenkins got in on the scoring as well as he ran for 160 yards and two touchdowns. Gadsden County could not stop the run as Jenkins was averaging 7.6 yards a carry. Head Coach Ceddrick Daniels will have to make sure his team is ready as this game has all the signs of a sleeper game. Next week Eastside has a huge match-up against Gainesville High School. It will be interesting to see how the Rams respond if the Raiders punch them in the mouth out of the gates.
Santa Fe (Alachua) Raiders
Head Coach: Dock Pollard
Record: 5-3
Like the Rams, the Raiders are coming into Friday night’s match-up with a ton of momentum. Santa Fe is currently in the midst of a three game winning streak. The latest win came in the form of a dramatic 20-17 overtime victory over the previously unbeaten Baldwin Indians. The Raiders will be looking to drag this game into the mud as they tend to win the close game in the fourth quarter. Two of the last three wins for Santa Fe has been decided by five points or less. Head Coach Dock Pollard probably couldn’t have asked for a better 2018 season as the Raiders are coming off a 1-9 season. Santa Fe is proving all the doubters wrong. The Gainesville Sun had the Raiders going 2-6 at best but Pollard and his squad have managed to climb to two games over .500, and they are receiving votes in Class 4A of the AP state football rankings. Deron Reid has been a play-maker all season for the Raiders and will need to have a big game against the Class 5A Rams. Will Friday night be another chapter of the dream season or will Eastside rain on Santa Fe’s parade?
