La Crosse

La Crosse, FL · Events
Alachua Chronicle
WCJB
The Gainesville Sun
Santa Fe football, Earnest Graham, emphatically end playoff drought vs Dunnellon
DUNNELLON — Two years ago, a playoff win seemed like the impossible dream for Santa Fe football . Now it's very much a reality. And in a beatdown fashion. The No. 4 seeded Raiders (9-2) won their first playoff game in a decade on Friday, Nov. 13, 35-7 over fifth-seeded Dunnellon (9-2) at Ned Love Field in the Class 3A-Region 2 quarterfinals. It’s the first postseason victory for coach Earnest Graham , the Florida football legend, who took over the Raider job two years ago despite qualms from many. "Really proud of the way our guys are really connecting to what we're trying to do as a program," Graham said. "We're really hard on them every week, and they do it. It's the mark of a great program and good culture for us to still be in it." Santa Fe, in the process, gained revenge for a 22-17 loss on Oct. 15 which gave the Tigers the district and allowed this game to be in Marion County. The entire Raiders team and coaches dealt with the flu the first time the two teams played, so being healthier helped, but Santa Fe returned to its bread and butter of physical football.