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Battle for the paddle
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| Fort White’s Alexis Blake (4) breaks into the open field against Taylor County on Friday night. The Indians won 49-7. JASON MATTHEW WALKER/Lake City Reporter |
Indians prepare for Santa Fe
By BRANDON FINLEY
bfinley@lakecityreporter.com
FORT WHITE — When the Fort White Indians return to the field on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. against the Santa Fe Raiders, it will be more than just a football game. It’s a rivalry known as the “battle for the paddle.”
The history of the paddle is deep-rooted in history for both the people of Columbia and Alachua county. Its history goes back beyond the time of Ponce DeLeon.
The people of the neighboring counties held competitions between each other, but were separated by a deep, dark river with the only way to cross being a canoe.
Legend says that for nearly 100 years a canoe was used to commute between the counties to compete in these games.
The paddle was finely crafted from a giant hickory tree growing on Rum Island.
According to the legend, the paddle was lost late one night — before it turned up years later in 2002. Today, the paddle is a representation of a long-standing tradition existing between the two counties.
The winner of Friday night’s game will hold the paddle until next year’s meeting.
In last year’s meeting, the Indians defeated the Raiders 19-14, and coach Demetric Jackson already noted well before the season that this is a game that all of Fort White wants to win.
“All the kids want to beat Santa Fe,” Jackson said. “They make you think it’s the most important game of the season or something.”
This year’s contest may not mean much in terms of playoff implications, but the heated rivalry always means a lot when it comes to bragging rights.
The Raiders are
1-2 against like opponents with a win coming against Middleburg.
However the Indians perform on Friday, their path is set with a meeting against Pensacola Catholic ready to take place two Fridays from now in the first round of the playoffs.
But first, the Indians will try to retain the paddle.
The history of the paddle is deep-rooted in history for both the people of Columbia and Alachua county. Its history goes back beyond the time of Ponce DeLeon.
The people of the neighboring counties held competitions between each other, but were separated by a deep, dark river with the only way to cross being a canoe.
Legend says that for nearly 100 years a canoe was used to commute between the counties to compete in these games.
The paddle was finely crafted from a giant hickory tree growing on Rum Island.
According to the legend, the paddle was lost late one night — before it turned up years later in 2002. Today, the paddle is a representation of a long-standing tradition existing between the two counties.
The winner of Friday night’s game will hold the paddle until next year’s meeting.
In last year’s meeting, the Indians defeated the Raiders 19-14, and coach Demetric Jackson already noted well before the season that this is a game that all of Fort White wants to win.
“All the kids want to beat Santa Fe,” Jackson said. “They make you think it’s the most important game of the season or something.”
This year’s contest may not mean much in terms of playoff implications, but the heated rivalry always means a lot when it comes to bragging rights.
The Raiders are
1-2 against like opponents with a win coming against Middleburg.
However the Indians perform on Friday, their path is set with a meeting against Pensacola Catholic ready to take place two Fridays from now in the first round of the playoffs.
But first, the Indians will try to retain the paddle.
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Indianfan wrote on Nov 11, 2008 1:50 PM: