In 1981, Phill Collins released “In the Air Tonight.”
Nearly a half century later, the classic song can be played this weekend throughout weight rooms and practice fields across the Gainesville-area.
Because the return of high school football is in the air.
The ball will officially be kicked off this week – for real. Yes, there were preseason kickoff classic games for the FHSAA schools last week, but the games will hold meaning this week.
And man, do we have some barnburners to begin the 2026 season. As usual, opening rivalry games – such as Buchholz vs. Ocala-Vanguard and Williston vs. Chiefland – will take center stage. The latter carries deeper meaning this year. Not only is it the battle for the Levy Cup, but it is a district game with the Rural Class merging with 1A. Whichever wins will have the upper hand vs. Hawthorne in the district race.
Furthermore, new rivalries take shape in the first week. Newberry and Santa Fe, despite being in different classes this season, will meet. Eastside, with a revamped defense, travels to Fort White and Hawthorne gears up for an early test at Orlando-Bishop Moore – a state semifinalist in 2025.
Here’s the full schedule for week one of the 2026 Gainesville area high school football season.
Friday, August 21
6:30 p.m.
Vernon (0-1) at Dixie County (0-0) – SSAA Atlantic North Region
7 p.m.
Oak Hall (0-0) at Bronson (0-1) – FHSAA vs. SSAA
Hawthorne (0-0) at Orlando-Bishop Moore (0-0)
Lake Weir (0-0) at P.K. Yonge (0-0) – FHSAA Independent Division
Belleview (0-0) at Gainesville High (0-0) – at Citizens Field
Columbia (0-0) at Jacksonville-Bolles (0-0)
St. Augustine (0-0) at Palatka (0-0)
Ocala-West Port (0-0) at Bradford (0-0)
Union County (1-0) at Rutherford (0-0) – FHSAA vs. SSAA
Suwannee (0-0) at Crystal River (0-0)
Tallahassee-Maclay (0-0) at Lafayette (0-1) – FHSAA vs. SSAA
7:30 p.m.
Santa Fe (0-0) at Newberry (0-0)
Jasper-Hamilton County (0-0) at Bell (0-0) – SSAA Atlantic North Region
Williston (0-0) at Chiefland (0-0) – Class 1A-District 4
Jacksonville-Eagle’s View (0-1) at Branford (0-1) – FHSAA vs. SSAA
Eastside (0-0) at Fort White (0-0)
Buchholz (0-0) at Ocala-Vanguard (0-0)
Ocala-South Marion (0-0) at Trenton (0-0) – FHSAA vs. SSAA
Keystone Heights (0-1) at Interlachen (0-0) – SSAA Atlantic North Region
Noah Ram covers Florida Gators athletics and Gainesville-area high school sports for The Gainesville Sun, GatorSports.com and the USA TODAY Network. Contact him at nram@usatodayco.com. Follow him on X @Noah_ram1, Instagram @Ramreporter and Facebook Noah Ram - Reporter.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Complete Week 1 Gainesville area FHSAA, SSAA high school football schedule