Spring football: Gainesville tops Newberry as Kyree Edwards leads 'Canes to late surge

NEWBERRY — Friday night's spring football game between Newberry and Gainesville didn't feel much like a spring football game. 

Instead, the Panthers and Hurricanes put on a regular season-caliber showcase for the many who came out to take their first look at both programs. 

"We've been at it the last few weeks practicing hard... getting beat up in the sun," Newberry head coach Edward Johnson said. "To get out here and get out on the game field under Friday night lights in Newberry... it's a special place."

Unlike many spring games that end in lopsided scores, Newberry and Gainesville battled wire to wire before the Hurricanes took the lead with just more than two minutes to play en route to their 28-17 victory. 

Here are takeaways from Friday's game. 

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Kyree Edwards steps in at quarterback for GHS

Following the game, Gainesville junior Kyree Edwards took the time to go around the huddle and thank each of his offensive linemen individually. 

Edwards, who took snaps for the Hurricanes on Friday, broke free for a pair of long rushing touchdowns to put Gainesville on top late in the game. 

Immediately after Newberry senior Hunter Etheridge split the uprights with a 27-yard field goal to put the Panthers ahead 17-14 with three minutes to play, Edwards made a 75-yard house call to put the 'Canes back on top. 

Following Edwards' score, Gainesville stifled Newberry's offense, returning possession to the Hurricanes' offense, which put the game on ice as Edwards took off for another scoring run — this one from 47 yards out. 

Edwards, a running back last season, proved that he could play under center for the Hurricanes with a 35-yard touchdown pass late in the third quarter. 

"I don't think we can go wrong by having our best player touch the ball every play," said Gainesville head coach Dock Pollard when asked if Edwards will play quarterback in the fall. "In the near foreseeable future, he's going to be the guy."

Newberry's new signal caller Mason Smith shows promise

After transferring in from Trenton, junior Mason Smith got his debut as a Panther on Friday night.

Johnson admits the rising senior hasn't played a ton of football. However, Smith obviously absorbed a lot during spring camp as he appeared to have a ton of potential as the leader of Newberry's offense. 

A 30-yard pass from the Smith fell into the hands of junior Mike Moore, good for a touchdown connection that put Newberry ahead 14-7 with four seconds to play in the first half. 

"We're excited about him," Edwards said. "I was kind of anxious to see him for the first time under the lights. ... Couple of turnovers, but he made a couple of big throws for us as well. He'll do find going into the summer and probably have a big fall."

Turnovers trouble both teams

Per usual, Friday's spring game came with its wrinkles. And for both squads, that wrinkle came in the form of turnovers. 

Both Gainesville and Newberry coughed up the football a handful of times as the Hurricanes struggled to with hand off exchanges and the Panthers gave away interceptions. 

In one of the more exciting sequences of the night, Gainesville's Simon Seavers nearly came away with an interception in the end zone, only for it to be popped out of his hands as he fell to the turf. 

However, on the very next down, Newberry tried for the same play. And so did Seavers. Except this time, the freshman came down with the ball, notching himself an interception in his first varsity appearance. 

"Simon Seavers is the guy," Pollard said. "A freshman. We've got a lot of confidence in him. He played JV last year and now he's playing varsity. And he's doing what we thought he could do."

'Canes, Panthers Looking to build on spring 

Chances are, both Gainesville and Newberry will look entirely different come the regular season in August. 

Both the Hurricanes' and Panthers' rosters are filled with young players. While that comes with the obvious challenges of inexperience, it also gives both coaching staffs an opportunity to mold their program. 

"Dock (and Gainesville) is extremely young and we're extremely young," Johnson said. "These kids get to learn how to play in these kinds of games... You gotta learn how to compete for 48 minutes."

Now having Friday's performance as a measuring stick, the Hurricanes and Panthers can locate what worked and what needs work ahead of Week 1 of the regular season, which gets underway on August 27. Newberry is slated to host Santa Fe to open its season, while Gainesville will host Ocala Vanguard.