GAINESVILLE - In two Friday night football games just 30 miles apart, the Keystone Heights High Indians and Ridgeview High Panthers both ran into buzzsaws in losses to Sante Fe and Columbia Lake City; Keystone Heights 30-7 to Santa Fe, Ridgeview 56-0 to Columbia."

"We gave them the ball near our 30-yard line like four times and against a team like Columbia, you can't do that," said Panther coach Merlin Smith, who moved to 1-6 after getting his first win last week against KIPP Bold Academy with an inspired squad holding on to a 29-20 win. "We saw what we want to look like in a few years. Columbia is a top-notch program."

Down Interstate 75 about 30 miles, the Keystone Heights Indians were sporadically successful in matching the rugged run game of the Santa Fe Raiders, but ultimately fell 30-7. Indian running backs Zane Leger and Kyle Perkins ran rough spats through the tackles against the humongous Santa Fe defense which featured two 300-plus pound defensive linemen.

"We are just getting through the season with the injuries we have had," said Keystone Heights coach Steve Reynolds. "The kids are playing hard, but it's tough when key players are on the sidelines."

On the flip side, Sante Fe answered with their power pack of 200-pound running backs in a game of attrition at the line of scrimmage.

For the Indians, who were minus a few key players for injury; Bryce Daniels on the offensive line and Tanner Campbell in the defensive secondary plus wide receiver Jackson Parmeter for a half for an unsportsmanlike flag last week, the offense was reliant on strong running from Perkins and Leger.

In the second half, with Santa Fe up 10-0 on a field goal and a 20-yard end zone pass, the Indians looked like they had figured out the line of scrimmage that had Ted Westbrooks at center for Daniels; a difference of 30-40 against the Santa Fe front, plus Pete Bostic, Luke Bacorn, Ryan Capps, Jackson Herman as Leger both blasted the line of scrimmage with consecutive runs of 25, 22 and 14 yard runs to move the ball swiftly into Santa Fe territory and ultimately with Perkins powering in for a touchdown and a 17-7 score in the third period that provided a glimmer of hope.

Penalty flags and untimely turnovers would spell disaster for the Indians for the half despite the offensive success with officials throwing the flags endlessly through the second half.

With Indians quarterback Baylor Ford back in the saddle after taking a game off for a banged-up shoulder, Keystone Heights started throwing quick passes downfield for Colton Hollingsworth, Andrew Miller, and Parmeter, but, in one instant, with Layton Wright over the middle getting head slapped on a post pattern being dinged for offensive pass interference, Keystone Heights could not get into the end zone.

Keystone Heights falls to 2-5 with Santa Fe, winless last year and 0-5 to this point, winning their first game after 0-10 and 1-9 season to go to 1-6.

The Indians season stays as one of the more rugged on the docket with once-beaten (6-1, No. 4 in Rural) Chiefland visiting on October 25. Chiefland lost 13-10 to unbeaten Taylor County last week.

For Ridgeview, the Columbia Tigers showed their firepower on special teams and defense with a pick-six interception by former Oakleaf lineback Dajon Brown, a 90-yard kickoff return score, and an 85 punt return touchdown added to their offensive prowess; two touchdown passes, in the 56-0 district win. On the punt return, Ridgeview punter Christian Hanson kicked from his goal line and got a Panther bounce near midfield that bounced to the Tiger 20 before the return man scooped the ball up and crossed the field before turning on the jets to score.

"We didn't play bad against such a good team," said Smith, noting Columbia only had 75 yards rushing and 39 yards passing on the night against the Panther defense. "Football is all about all three phases though; offense, defense, special teams."

Columbia held a 35-0 halftime lead. Columbia only moves to 3-5 for the season.

Ridgeview gets a bit of a breather with Impact Christian (2-4) next at home before a road game at St. Augustine (4-1, No. 5 in 4A) on October 25.