Executive Overview
The Santa Fe Raiders opened their 2026 high school football season on Friday night with a resounding 30-16 victory over cross-county rival Newberry, snapping a persistent losing streak against the Panthers that dated back to 2019. Played in front of a capacity crowd, the season opener showcased a physical, disciplined Santa Fe squad that leveraged defense, special teams precision, and a dominant ground attack to secure the program’s second consecutive 1-0 start under second-year head coach Earnest Graham.
Santa Fe set the tempo early and capitalized on a series of costly Newberry mistakes, including mishandled special teams plays and three second-half turnovers. Behind a powerhouse performance from star running back Jasiah Powell—who racked up nearly 150 rushing yards and two touchdowns—and an unflappable kicking display from Mayer Steen, the Raiders proved too resilient for a Newberry team battling severe cramping, roster fatigue, and preseason practice disruptions caused by severe weather.
While Newberry flashed moments of explosive potential, notably a 61-yard touchdown pass early in the second half, the Panthers struggled to maintain offensive rhythm amid a three-quarterback rotation and defensive attrition. The victory establishes early-season momentum for Santa Fe as they look to build a contender in North Florida, while Newberry faces urgent operational and tactical adjustments ahead of a demanding non-district schedule.
Detailed Chronology
Scoreboard by Quarter
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Team Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
Santa Fe 6 14 7 3 30
Newberry 3 7 6 0 16
-------------------------------------------------------First Quarter: Special Teams and Early Exchanges
Santa Fe established an early lead on its opening possession, engineering a methodic drive that culminated in a 28-yard field goal by kicker Mayer Steen. Newberry responded swiftly, mounting a baseline drive behind strong interior line play that set up kicker Kaiden Bush for a 37-yard field goal. Bush converted with 5:35 remaining in the opening quarter to tie the score at 3-3, marking what would ultimately be Newberry’s only share of the lead all evening.
The game’s momentum pivoted rapidly late in the first period during a sequence of special teams missteps:
- Santa Fe Fumble: On the kickoff following Bush’s field goal, Santa Fe fumbled the return, giving Newberry prime field position.
- Newberry Botched Snap: The Panthers failed to capitalize, as their subsequent offensive drive stalled. On 4th down, a botched snap on the punt attempt severely compromised Newberry, leaving Santa Fe with possession deep in Newberry territory at the 27-yard line.
- Steen’s Second Field Goal: Santa Fe’s drive stalled inside the red zone, but Steen hit a 42-yard field goal into the night air to restore a 6-3 lead for the Raiders near the end of the quarter.
Second Quarter: Turnovers and Powell’s Dominance
On the very first play of Newberry’s next possession, the Panthers’ passing game misfired, resulting in a crucial interception by the Santa Fe secondary. Positioned inside the red zone, the Raiders immediately handed the workload to Jasiah Powell. Powell punched in his first touchdown of the night on a 4-yard power run to open the second quarter, extending Santa Fe’s lead to 13-3.
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Key Play Sequence: 2nd Quarter |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Newberry Interception --> Santa Fe Ball in Red Zone |
| Jasiah Powell 4-Yard TD Run --> Santa Fe leads 13-3 |
| Zaden Wilcox 4-Yard TD Run --> Newberry cuts lead to 13-10 |
| Newberry Fumble --> Jasiah Powell 1-Yard TD Run --> SF leads 20-10 |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+Seeking an offensive spark, Newberry implemented a multi-quarterback rotation featuring Kieran Whitesides, Zaden Wilcox, and Zach Chong-You. The tactical shift paid immediate dividends when Wilcox took over under center, using his mobility to anchor a ground-heavy drive. Wilcox capped the march with a 4-yard touchdown run midway through the second quarter, trimming the deficit to 13-10.
However, execution errors continued to undermine the Panthers. On Newberry’s next drive, a loose ball resulted in a costly fumble recovered by Santa Fe. Capitalizing on the short field once again, the Raiders marched down to the line of scrimmage, allowing Powell to surge forward for a 1-yard touchdown plunge with 2:37 remaining in the half. Santa Fe headed into the locker room with a 20-10 halftime cushion.
Third Quarter: Explosive Plays and Timely Answers
Newberry came out of the break with renewed urgency. On their opening possession of the second half, quarterback Kieran Whitesides caught the Santa Fe defense aggressively flowing downhill. Whitesides executed a screen pass to Keyondre Williams, who broke past a pair of arm tackles and outran the secondary for a 61-yard touchdown. Although the subsequent extra-point attempt failed, the play pulled Newberry within four points at 20-16.
Santa Fe maintained its composure and responded with a game-defining drive led by quarterback Gavin Peterson. Peterson effectively mixed play-action passes with interior runs to drain the clock and push into Newberry territory. Facing a critical third-and-goal situation, Peterson dropped back and delivered an accurate 11-yard touchdown strike to receiver Tison Thomas with 4:21 left in the third quarter. The touchdown re-established a two-score cushion for the Raiders at 27-16.
Fourth Quarter: Defensive Lockout and Finality
The fourth quarter belonged to the Santa Fe defensive unit. As Newberry’s offense grew increasingly one-dimensional, Santa Fe’s defensive line consistently penetrated the backfield, recording key sacks against Whitesides and collapsing the pocket.
Newberry turned the ball over on three of its five second-half possessions, struggling with ball security as players battled severe heat cramps. With 5:45 remaining in regulation, Santa Fe drove into field goal range, allowing Mayer Steen to convert his third field goal of the night—a 23-yarder—securing the final 30-16 margin. Santa Fe ran out the clock on its final possession to seal the milestone victory.
Supporting Context & Metrics
Individual Player Highlights
- Jasiah Powell (RB, Santa Fe): 2 touchdowns, nearly 150 rushing yards. Powell served as the bell-cow back, consistently gaining yards after contact and controlling the game’s tempo.
- Mayer Steen (K, Santa Fe): 3-for-3 on field goals (28, 42, and 23 yards), accounting for 12 total points including extra points. Steen provided automatic scoring in high-pressure situations.
- Gavin Peterson (QB, Santa Fe): Managed the offense efficiently, avoiding turnovers and delivering a pivotal 11-yard touchdown pass to Tison Thomas.
- Keyondre Williams (WR, Newberry): Accounted for Newberry’s biggest play of the night with a 61-yard touchdown reception.
Infrastructure and Environmental Challenges
A critical narrative underlying Newberry’s second-half breakdown was physical exhaustion. High school football programs across North Florida faced severe heat indexes and afternoon lightning storms during pre-season practice weeks.
Newberry Head Coach Johnson noted after the game that weather delays restricted his squad to just 45 minutes of total on-field practice during peak preparation days. Furthermore, Newberry’s practice facility lacks field lighting, making early-morning practices impossible and forcing the team to practice during peak afternoon heat or face cancellations due to lightning. This lack of preparation time directly contributed to the extensive cramping and three second-half turnovers that plagued the Panthers down the stretch.
Santa Fe vs. Newberry: Key Game Metrics
+------------------------------------+------------------+------------------+
| Metric | Santa Fe Raiders | Newberry Panthers|
+------------------------------------+------------------+------------------+
| Final Score | 30 | 16 |
| Total Turnovers Committed | 1 | 4 |
| Field Goals Made / Attempted | 3 / 3 | 1 / 1 |
| Rushing Touchdowns | 2 | 1 |
| Passing Touchdowns | 1 | 1 |
| Second-Half Points Scored | 10 | 6 |
| Head Coach Record (Current Season) | 1-0 | 0-1 |
+------------------------------------+------------------+------------------+Regional High School Football Scoreboard (Friday, Aug. 21)
Opening night across North Central Florida featured high-octane games, dramatic overtime finishes, and notable shutouts. Below are the finalized scores from around the region:
Thrillers & Overtime Games
- Buchholz 34, Vanguard (Ocala) 28 (OT): Buchholz rallied in extra time to pull out a hard-fought battle against a formidable Vanguard squad.
- Hawthorne 28, Bishop Moore (Orlando) 25 (OT): The defending state powerhouse Hawthorne survived a stern test from Orlando’s Bishop Moore in an overtime classic.
- Belleview 28, Gainesville 26 (OT): Belleview held off a late Gainesville surge to capture an extra-period victory.
- Columbia (Lake City) 20, Bolles (Jacksonville) 19: Columbia edged past traditional Jacksonville power Bolles by a single point.
- Union County (Lake Butler) 35, Rutherford (Panama City) 34: Union County pulled out a thrilling one-point shootout victory.
Offensive Blowouts & Shutouts
- Bradford (Starke) 65, West Port (Ocala) 0: Bradford put on a masterclass performance, dominating West Port in every phase of the game.
- Interlachen 63, Keystone Heights 0: Interlachen rolled over Keystone Heights with an unstoppable rushing attack.
- Branford 50, Eagle’s View (Jacksonville) 0: Branford cruised to a dominant season-opening shutout.
- Lake Weir (Ocala) 44, P.K. Yonge 0: Lake Weir suffocated the P.K. Yonge offense from start to finish.
- Suwannee (Live Oak) 35, Crystal River 0: Suwannee delivered a poised performance on both sides of the ball.
- Trenton 22, South Marion (Ocala) 0: Trenton opened its campaign with a defense-first victory over South Marion.
Other Regional Final Scores
- Dixie County (Cross City) 41, Vernon 6
- Oak Hall School 42, Bronson 14
- Williston 30, Chiefland 12
- Fort White 28, Eastside 13
- Bell 28, Hamilton County (Jasper) 26
- Countryside Christian 28, Ocala Christian Academy 26
- Merritt Island Christian 1, Saint Francis Catholic Academy 0 (Forfeit)
- Idle/Off: Cornerstone Academy
Official Statements
Reflecting on the milestone victory, Santa Fe Head Coach Earnest Graham commended his team’s mental toughness and highlighted the impact of his star tailback:
"It felt good," Graham stated following the celebration on the field. "I’m really proud of the boys. They were resilient tonight. We keep saying we have the most imposing back in North Florida, and we really do. Jasiah [Powell] makes it really tough for us to be beat night in and night out."
On the opposing side, Newberry Head Coach Johnson expressed frustration over his team’s physical conditioning and practice limitations, while refusing to use environmental factors as a crutch:
"It’s not an excuse," Johnson remarked regarding the team’s weather-abbreviated practice schedule and second-half conditioning struggles. "We still got to do a better job of preparing."
Future Outlook
Santa Fe Raiders (1-0)
With a rival victory secured and momentum on their side, Coach Graham’s Raiders turn their attention to Week 2 as they host Zarephath Academy. The home fixture presents Santa Fe with an opportunity to refine their passing attack and solidify their defensive rotations as they aim for a 2-0 start to the 2026 campaign.
Newberry Panthers (0-1)
The road ahead does not get any easier for the Panthers. Seeking to avoid an 0-2 start, Newberry must quickly solve its depth, ball-security, and conditioning issues before embarking on a challenging road trip to face regional powerhouse Hawthorne. Addressing quarterback continuity and practice infrastructure will be top priorities for Coach Johnson’s staff heading into Week 2.
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