Santa Fe’s Struggles Continue, falls to GHS

Gainesville and Santa Fe both entered Thursday night’s football game at Citizens Field winless, with records of 0-4.

Coming off the heels of a 15-game losing streak, GHS was able to secure its first win since November 2021, beating the Raiders 49-21.

Raiders’ Early Success

Santa Fe found the end zone just minutes into the first quarter, when senior wide receiver Mike Cottrell caught a tipped pass and sprinted down the field for an 88-yard touchdown.

Cottrell did, however, suffer an injury to his right leg during the second half and miss the rest of the game.

The Raiders earned their second score when sophomore quarterback Erik Hockman connected with sophomore receiver Matthew Johnson in the second quarter; it was a 70-yard touchdown. However, a celebration penalty did push the Raiders back for the next kickoff.

At the half, Gainesville led 28-13.

The Raiders had a 28-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, courtesy of sophomore receiver Ben Hockman, which was followed by a successful two-point conversion.

Despite Santa Fe’s three scoring plays, however, the Raiders just couldn’t keep up with Gainesville’s offense, having given up nearly 50 to the ‘Canes.

Young & Hungry

While only being a sophomore, Santa Fe starting quarterback Erik Hockman showed maturity after the game, recognizing his team’s need for improvement following the loss.

“We can always do better. We’re a young team, so we’re gonna make mistakes.”

What’s to Come

The Raiders will face P.K. Yonge in a Week 6 matchup on Friday, Sept. 29 at 7 p.m.

Hockman expressed his confidence in his squad going forward.

“I feel good, you know? It’s definitely a winnable game.”