Each week we’ll go around the coverage area and give you a player and/or coach quotes following the games. Here are newspaper quotes from Week #3 on Friday, September 11.
University Christian (Jacksonville) running back Hussein Howe following the 2A top-ranked Christians’ loss to 3A #1 Trinity Christian (Jacksonville)
“It feels like we’re getting that nastiness back. We definitely didn’t have that last year. I’ve got nothing but praise for them [offensive line] and running behind them.” – Florida Times-Union (Jacksonville)
Buchholz (Gainesville) football coach Mark Whittemore on the Bobcats’ first loss of the season at Columbia (Lake City)
“For the better part of the game, we were able to do some good things. We leave here pretty down about the loss but also aware that we were in position if we correct some things to become a decent football team.” – Gainesville Sun
Union County (Lake Butler) coach Ronny Pruitt following the Tigers’ 39-13 win against previously unbeaten Newberry
“Against this team (this early), this means a lot. This is a rivalry with a long history.” – Gainesville Sun
First-year Trinity Catholic (Ocala) coach Joe Sturdivant following the Celtics’ overtime loss at Lake Weir
“We had several chances in the red zone all night. If we played a little cleaner, we could have won the game, but we played four quarters of tough football against a tough team.” – Ocala Star-Banner
Lake Weir (Ocala) coach Tim Hicks after the Hurricanes rallied in overtime to beat Trinity Catholic for their third straight win by five points or less
“This is the most resilient group of players I have ever been around. “Every game has been tight, there were points in every game including this one where we could have gotten down, but not these guys.” – Ocala Star-Banner
North Marion (Citra) coach Stephen Field on the 42-32 win against county rival Vanguard (Ocala)
“We came in here kind of understanding how hard we work, especially in the offseason, and that work pays off this time of year. We live for games like this, and we’re happy to come out on top.”
Forest (Ocala) coach Skip Austin following his team’s 37-13 win against Eustis
“(There’s) not very much (I’m happy about). Not very much at all. We’ve got a lot, lot, lot of improving to do. We weren’t sharp. We weren’t even average. We’ve got so much we need to do to get better. So much.” – Ocala Star-Banner
Sandalwood (Jacksonville) coach Adam Geis after the Saints improved to 3-0 overall heading into district play
“The thing after tonight is we’re all 0-0. We get to reset and so do they.”
