High school football coverage across North Central Florida reaches a significant milestone for the 2026 season as Mainstreet Daily News (MDN) and 106.9 FM "I Am Country" launch their most expansive dual-platform broadcast schedule to date. Marking seven years of weekly prep football coverage on 106.9 FM and six consecutive years of live digital audio streaming on MDN, the multimedia initiative continues to serve as the definitive sports broadcasting outlet for Alachua, Marion, Columbia, Levy, and surrounding counties.
Led by veteran sports media figures, the upcoming campaign offers double-header coverage each week. Audio streaming platforms and over-the-air radio will deliver live action from regional powerhouses, fierce intradistrict rivalries, and marquee non-district clashes. The broadcast anchor team features Mainstreet Daily News Sports Director Mike Ridaught handling play-by-play commentary alongside former University of Florida football player Hank Rone offering color analysis—a booth pairing entering its fifth consecutive season together. On the digital stream, broadcaster Cam Parker pairs with former University of Wisconsin football player and coach Mac McCray to bring listeners comprehensive weekly game action.
The 2026 broadcast slate spans eleven full weeks of regular-season action, tracking traditional contenders such as Buchholz, Hawthorne, Eastside, Newberry, and Vanguard, alongside key regional developments involving shifting Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) classifications and Sunshine State Athletic Association (SSAA) transitions.
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| 2026 BROADCAST MEDIA LEADERSHIP |
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| Platform | Play-by-Play | Color Commentary |
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| 106.9 FM "I Am Country" | Mike Ridaught | Hank Rone |
| Mainstreet Daily News | Cam Parker | Mac McCray |
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| 2026 REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE |
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| Date | Matchup | Time | Outlet |
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| Aug 21 | Buchholz at Vanguard | 7:30 PM | 106.9 FM |
| Aug 21 | Santa Fe at Newberry | 7:30 PM | MDN Stream |
| Aug 27 | Forest at Eastside | 7:00 PM | MDN Stream |
| Aug 28 | Newberry at Hawthorne | 7:30 PM | 106.9 FM |
| Sept 4 | Gainesville at Suwannee | 7:30 PM | 106.9 FM |
| Sept 4 | Buchholz at Eastside | 7:30 PM | MDN Stream |
| Sept 10 | Miami Northwestern at Hawthorne | 7:00 PM | MDN Stream |
| Sept 11 | Lecanto at Gainesville | 7:30 PM | 106.9 FM |
| Sept 18 | Eastside at Gainesville | 7:00 PM | MDN Stream |
| Sept 18 | Newberry at Middleburg | 7:00 PM | 106.9 FM |
| Sept 24 | Forest at Buchholz | 7:00 PM | MDN Stream |
| Sept 25 | Dunnellon at Eastside | 7:30 PM | 106.9 FM |
| Oct 1 | Buchholz at Santa Fe | 7:00 PM | MDN Stream |
| Oct 2 | Bradford at Eastside | 7:30 PM | 106.9 FM |
| Oct 8 | Santa Fe at Eastside | 7:30 PM | MDN Stream |
| Oct 9 | Trenton at Branford | 7:30 PM | 106.9 FM |
| Oct 15 | Dunnellon at Santa Fe | 7:30 PM | MDN Stream |
| Oct 16 | Mount Dora at Gainesville | 7:00 PM | 106.9 FM |
| Oct 23 | Oakleaf at Buchholz | 7:00 PM | 106.9 FM |
| Oct 23 | Newberry at Williston | 7:30 PM | MDN Stream |
| Oct 30 | Buchholz at Bolles | 7:00 PM | 106.9 FM |
| Oct 30 | Dunnellon at Hawthorne | 7:00 PM | MDN Stream |
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Week 1
Buchholz at Vanguard (Ocala)
Date & Time: Friday, Aug. 21 | 7:30 p.m.
Broadcast Outlet: 106.9 FM "I Am Country"
Matchup Context: The season opens at Booster Stadium in Ocala with a high-stakes cross-county showdown. Visiting Buchholz (12-2 in 2025) enters the fall coming off its fifth consecutive state semifinal appearance, bolstered by a deep junior class with postseason pedigree. Host Vanguard (9-3 in 2025) aims to turn the tide in a historic rivalry; the Knights advanced to the Class 4A second round last year following a tight 15-13 regular-season loss to the Bobcats. Buchholz holds a four-game winning streak in the series, reversing an earlier stretch where Vanguard claimed seven of eight meetings.
Santa Fe (Alachua) at Newberry
Date & Time: Friday, Aug. 21 | 7:30 p.m.
Broadcast Outlet: MDN Digital Audio Stream
Matchup Context: An all-Alachua County clash featuring two 2025 FHSAA Class 2A playoff qualifiers. Santa Fe (7-4 last season) engineered a dramatic turnaround last fall by winning its first four games—doubling its cumulative win total from the previous four seasons combined. Newberry (5-6 in 2025) holds home-field advantage and seeks to extend its five-game winning streak over the visiting Raiders.
Week 2
Forest (Ocala) at Eastside
Date & Time: Thursday, Aug. 27 | 7:00 p.m.
Broadcast Outlet: MDN Digital Audio Stream
Matchup Context: Citizens Field plays host to a Marion vs. Alachua County match. Former Florida Gators quarterback John Brantley—who previously guided Trinity Catholic to a state championship—returns to his high school alma mater as head coach of the Forest Wildcats. They take on Harold "Gator" Hoskins and the defending district champion Eastside Rams. This contest represents the first meeting between the programs since 2016, when Forest edged Eastside 20-18.
Newberry at Hawthorne
Date & Time: Friday, Aug. 28 | 7:30 p.m.
Broadcast Outlet: 106.9 FM "I Am Country"
Matchup Context: A rivalry renewing physical gridiron tradition. Two seasons ago, Hawthorne fended off Newberry in a 28-27 overtime battle after stopping a potential game-winning two-point conversion attempt at the goal line. Hawthorne enters the contest holding a six-game winning streak against the Panthers.
Week 3
Gainesville High School (GHS) at Suwannee (Live Oak)
Date & Time: Friday, Sept. 4 | 7:30 p.m.
Broadcast Outlet: 106.9 FM "I Am Country"
Matchup Context: The Hurricanes travel to Paul Langford Stadium to face the Bulldogs in their first meeting since 2006, when GHS secured a 21-13 victory. Both traditional programs enter 2026 seeking rebound campaigns after combining for just three total victories during the 2025 season.
Buchholz at Eastside
Date & Time: Friday, Sept. 4 | 7:30 p.m.
Broadcast Outlet: MDN Digital Audio Stream
Matchup Context: City bragging rights are on the line at Citizens Field. Buchholz controlled last year’s installment from start to finish, earning a 29-19 victory. The win marked the Bobcats’ 12th consecutive head-to-head triumph over the Rams in the cross-town series.
Week 4
Miami Northwestern at Hawthorne
Date & Time: Thursday, Sept. 10 | 7:00 p.m.
Broadcast Outlet: MDN Digital Audio Stream
Matchup Context: Dubbed a regional "clash of the titans," this showcase pairs the Class 3A state runner-up Miami Northwestern Bulls against the reigning Rural state champion Hawthorne Hornets. Originally slate-scheduled for a neutral-site matchup at The Villages Charter School on Saturday, Sept. 12, the game was officially relocated to Hawthorne and moved to Thursday evening to avoid conflict with Rosh Hashanah.
Lecanto at Gainesville High School (GHS)
Date & Time: Friday, Sept. 11 | 7:30 p.m.
Broadcast Outlet: 106.9 FM "I Am Country"
Matchup Context: GHS opens Class 4A-District 5 competition under first-year head coach Ashour Peera, a former University of Florida football staffer. The Hurricanes host a Lecanto squad that earned a 42-0 victory in last year’s matchup, marking the Panthers’ second straight win over GHS.
Week 5
Eastside at Gainesville High School (GHS)
Date & Time: Friday, Sept. 18 | 7:00 p.m.
Broadcast Outlet: MDN Digital Audio Stream
Matchup Context: The intra-city series returns to Citizens Field. Eastside recorded a 63-0 shutout on Senior Night last fall, extending its current winning streak over GHS to four games. During this four-game stretch, the Rams have outscored the Hurricanes 174-0. Prior to Eastside’s current streak, GHS had captured 13 consecutive victories in the series.
Newberry at Middleburg
Date & Time: Friday, Sept. 18 | 7:00 p.m.
Broadcast Outlet: 106.9 FM "I Am Country"
Matchup Context: An inaugural matchup between the two programs. Host Middleburg (8-3 in 2025) represents Clay County’s premier postseason program in recent years, standing as the county’s only school to secure four consecutive FHSAA playoff appearances.
Week 6
Forest (Ocala) at Buchholz
Date & Time: Thursday, Sept. 24 | 7:00 p.m.
Broadcast Outlet: MDN Digital Audio Stream
Matchup Context: Forest makes its second Gainesville trip of the month to face Buchholz at Citizens Field. The contest marks the first gridiron meeting between the Wildcats and Bobcats in five years. In their 2021 encounter, Buchholz recorded a 75-7 victory behind a five-touchdown, 148-yard rushing effort on just five carries from former quarterback Creed Whittemore, who was later named Alachua County’s first-ever Mr. Football winner.
Dunnellon at Eastside
Date & Time: Friday, Sept. 25 | 7:30 p.m.
Broadcast Outlet: 106.9 FM "I Am Country"
Matchup Context: A crucial Class 3A-District 5 showdown with significant postseason implications. Eastside built a 16-0 early cushion and held off a second-half rally for a 16-14 road win at Dunnellon last season. That victory followed a 14-12 home upset by Eastside over the state-ranked Tigers in 2024.
Week 7
Buchholz at Santa Fe (Alachua)
Date & Time: Thursday, Oct. 1 | 7:00 p.m.
Broadcast Outlet: MDN Digital Audio Stream
Matchup Context: Known locally as the "War on I-75," this matchup resumes a regional series after a six-year hiatus. Buchholz leads the series 8-1 since 2004, including a 52-0 win in their previous meeting on Nov. 5, 2020. Santa Fe aims to utilize home field to measure its progress following its first postseason appearance since that 2020 campaign.
Bradford (Starke) at Eastside
Date & Time: Friday, Oct. 2 | 7:30 p.m.
Broadcast Outlet: 106.9 FM "I Am Country"
Matchup Context: The Bradford Tornadoes travel to Citizens Field under first-year head coach Ross Baker, who succeeds former coach Jamie Rodgers following an 11-2 campaign and Class 2A regional final appearance in 2025. Bradford has controlled the series in recent years, capturing five straight wins over Eastside by an average winning margin of 27 points.
Week 8
Santa Fe (Alachua) at Eastside
Date & Time: Thursday, Oct. 8 | 7:30 p.m.
Broadcast Outlet: MDN Digital Audio Stream
Matchup Context: A game with direct Class 3A-District 5 title implications. When the programs last met three years ago, Eastside earned a 47-0 shut-out victory to lock up the district crown. With both programs positioning for postseason berths, this late-season matchup serves as a potential district championship decider.
Trenton at Branford
Date & Time: Friday, Oct. 9 | 7:30 p.m.
Broadcast Outlet: 106.9 FM "I Am Country"
Matchup Context: Coverage steps outside FHSAA play for a small-school Sunshine State Athletic Association (SSAA) matchup. Both programs qualified for the FHSAA state playoffs in 2025 before transitioning to the SSAA circuit. Trenton (7-4 in 2025) achieved its first playoff berth since 2019 under head coach Bryant Frye. Host Branford enters under first-year head coach Will Dettor, with the Bucs seeking to build on a four-game series winning streak that includes a 30-13 victory last fall.
Week 9
Dunnellon at Santa Fe (Alachua)
Date & Time: Thursday, Oct. 15 | 7:30 p.m.
Broadcast Outlet: MDN Digital Audio Stream
Matchup Context: District 3A-5 playoff stakes intensify as Santa Fe hosts Dunnellon. Santa Fe makes the leap from Class 2A to 3A this season, setting up the first matchup between these programs since Dunnellon claimed a 26-7 victory in the second round of the 2018 Class 4A state playoffs.
Mount Dora at Gainesville High School (GHS)
Date & Time: Friday, Oct. 16 | 7:00 p.m.
Broadcast Outlet: 106.9 FM "I Am Country"
Matchup Context: GHS hosts Senior Night at Citizens Field in an inaugural battle of Hurricanes. Despite long varsity traditions, the programs have never met on the gridiron due to past geographic alignments and classification differences. They now compete as direct rivals in Class 4A-District 5.
Week 10
Oakleaf (Orange Park) at Buchholz
Date & Time: Friday, Oct. 23 | 7:00 p.m.
Broadcast Outlet: 106.9 FM "I Am Country"
Matchup Context: Buchholz celebrates Homecoming at "The Pit"—the moniker coined by head coach Mark Whittemore for the team’s home venue. Rejoining the schedule as Class 5A-District 3 rivals following a one-year pause, the programs last met in the 2024 Class 6A-Region 1 final, where Buchholz pulled out a 25-19 victory to reach the state semifinals.
Newberry at Williston
Date & Time: Friday, Oct. 23 | 7:30 p.m.
Broadcast Outlet: MDN Digital Audio Stream
Matchup Context: Designated as the "Tri-County Game of the Week," this rivalry has produced close finishes for over two decades, with Newberry holding a slight 11-10 series edge since 2004. In last year’s installment, Newberry built a 14-0 halftime cushion before Williston engineered a 15-point second-half comeback. A successful two-point conversion with 6:41 remaining capped the Red Devils’ 15-14 win.
Week 11
Buchholz at Bolles (Jacksonville)
Date & Time: Friday, Oct. 30 | 7:00 p.m.
Broadcast Outlet: 106.9 FM "I Am Country"
Matchup Context: Regular-season action concludes with a clash of state powerhouses. With the FHSAA’s newly implemented Open Division championship format, this contest carries major seeding weight for both Class 5A Buchholz and Class 2A Bolles. The teams split a home-and-home series in 2021-2022, with Buchholz winning 14-7 in 2021 and Bolles taking a 49-28 win in 2022. Bolles’ roster features high-profile national recruits, including junior prospects Asher Ghioto and Xander Edwards.
Dunnellon at Hawthorne
Date & Time: Friday, Oct. 30 | 7:00 p.m.
Broadcast Outlet: MDN Digital Audio Stream
Matchup Context: Non-district regular-season finale. Hawthorne shut out Dunnellon 26-0 on the road last season as part of an eight-game season-closing winning streak. Dunnellon rebounded from missing the FHSAA playoffs by winning four postseason games to capture the Florida Invitational Tournament (FIT) championship for Classes 1A-3A.
Supporting Context & Metrics
The 2026 season brings several key structural developments across North Central Florida’s high school sports environment:
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| NOTABLE RIVALRY STREAKS & METRICS |
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| Matchup | Current Streak | Scoring Margin |
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| Buchholz vs. Eastside | Buchholz, 12 games | Multi-possession |
| Eastside vs. GHS | Eastside, 4 games | 174-0 cumulative |
| Hawthorne vs. Newberry | Hawthorne, 6 games | Competitive |
| Bradford vs. Eastside | Bradford, 5 games | +27 avg. margin |
| Branford vs. Trenton | Branford, 4 games | +17 last meeting |
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Postseason Formats & Realignment
FHSAA Open Division: The introduction of the FHSAA’s Open Division format reshapes postseason incentives for elite programs like Buchholz and Bolles. Top-ranked teams across classifications can qualify for an eight-team bracket to determine an overall state champion.
Class 3A-District 5 Realignment: The movement of Santa Fe up from Class 2A into 3A-5 creates a competitive five-team district environment featuring Eastside, Dunnellon, Santa Fe, and North Marion.
SSAA Transition: Rural programs Trenton and Branford have transitioned into the Sunshine State Athletic Association (SSAA), leaving the FHSAA state series to compete in specialized small-school postseason divisions.
Official Statements & Broadcast History
Reflecting on the continuity of the broadcast team, Mainstreet Daily News Sports Director Mike Ridaught highlighted the growth and local impact of the coverage:
"It’s funny how things fall into place. Tonight marks my seventh year broadcasting a weekly high school football game on 106.9 FM ‘I Am Country.’ It’s also the sixth year of our weekly high school football broadcasts on Mainstreet Daily News."
Ridaught also pointed to his broadcasting partnership with former Florida Gator Hank Rone, noting the milestone games that have defined their time in the booth:
"This is my broadcast partner’s, former Gator Hank Rone, fifth year behind the microphone, and this year marks the fourth year since Hank and I broadcast Buchholz’s instant classic on radio at Vanguard (Ocala) in 2022, when Reed Rousseau kicked a 37-yard field goal with 14 seconds to play for a 24-21 win at Booster Stadium. Each week we will broadcast a high school football game on radio and a game on MDN. We are excited to kick off our 2026 coverage."
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| BROADCAST TENURE MILESTONES (2026) |
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| Milestone | Duration |
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| 106.9 FM "I Am Country" High School Coverage | 7th Season |
| Mainstreet Daily News (MDN) Live Audio Streaming | 6th Season |
| Mike Ridaught & Hank Rone On-Air Partnership | 5th Season |
| Anniversary of 2022 Buchholz-Vanguard Last-Second Win | 4th Year |
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Future Outlook
The 2026 prep football landscape across North Central Florida features compelling storylines across every division. Key storylines to watch this fall include:
District Title Battles: The competitive realignment in Class 3A-District 5 sets up a three-way race between Eastside, Dunnellon, and Santa Fe. Their head-to-head matchups in Weeks 6, 8, and 9 will likely determine playoff automatic qualifiers.
Coaching Changes: Program developments under new leadership—including Ashour Peera at Gainesville High, Ross Baker at Bradford, and Will Dettor at Branford—will test team depth during demanding late-season stretches.
Open Division Push: Powerhouse programs like Buchholz and Bolles face tough non-district slates designed to maximize their power-ranking points, keeping them in contention for both traditional class trophies and the new FHSAA Open Division postseason berth.
Through expanded over-the-air signals and online digital streams, Mainstreet Daily News and 106.9 FM "I Am Country" remain dedicated to delivering comprehensive coverage of local student-athletes and high school football across the region.
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