High School Football: Santa Fe Rallies Late to Defeat Eastside, 24-20

GAINESVILLE, Fla.—There’s nothing like a Friday night fourth quarter rally to put your team in the winner’s bracket—and solidifying your team’s first win of the season.

The Santa Fe Raider football team rallies to hold off Eastside 24-20 at Citizen’s Field on Friday night.

First-year Raiders head coach Cliff Harrell called the right plays to grab his first win as a Raider. It was a slow start for the boys in red and silver, but the old saying is “slow and steady wins the race.”

After Eastside’s Carlteon Brooks gave the Rams a 7-0 lead with his 83-yard opening kickoff return, Santa Fe changed gears in the second quarter with play makers fullback Darius Powell and defensive back Marquez Carter. Powell would score the first touchdown for the Raiders after a crucial third down 11-yard reception and a five yard run pounding into the end zone. Eastside still had a 7-6 lead, at this point, but you could feel something brewing with Santa Fe—on both sides of the ball.

The Raiders got red hot. QB Julian Cromwell started to find his receivers open, throwing for 146 total passing yards by the end of regulation and led his team to victory. Santa Fe scored 12 points in just 2o seconds in the second quarter.

Marquez Carter made plays on both sides of the ball, but it was the interception that he took in for a touchdown and then, another interception he grabbed late in the game that kept Eastside from scoring in the final minutes.

Next Up: Santa Fe (1-1) welcomes in Interlachen next Friday at 7:30. Eastside (0-3) will have a bye week.