Written by Friday night’s state playoff game in Middleton is a Sumter County rivalry with a lot riding on it. The Villages High School Buffalo, 10-0 and the No. 3 seed in Class 3A-Region 2, host No. 6 South Sumter (6-4) in a regional quarterfinal.
Game details
- When: Friday, Nov. 13, kickoff 7:30 p.m.
- Where: H.G. Morse Stadium, Middleton
- Tickets: General admission is listed at $10 on GoFan. VHS Athletics annual passes are not accepted for this playoff game.
- Can’t make it? The game is listed on the NFHS Network.
Second meeting in three weeks
The Buffalo beat the Raiders 33-10 in Bushnell on Oct. 23, a win that clinched the Class 3A-District 6 title and earned VHS a home playoff game. Tranard Roberts ran for four second-half touchdowns that night and finished with 187 yards on 13 carries, and the Buffalo defense held South Sumter to 160 yards with 10 tackles for loss and four sacks, according to the school’s playoff preview.
South Sumter has the playoff history on its side, though. Friday is only the second postseason meeting between the two schools, which sit about a dozen miles apart, and the Raiders won the first one 21-7 in November 2019. It’s the ninth meeting all-time.
How VHS got here
The Buffalo went 10-0 in the regular season, 5-0 at home, and closed with a 64-2 Senior Night win over Hudson on Oct. 30. See the full 2026 schedule and results.
Heading to the game, or rooting for the Raiders? Tell us your score prediction in the comments.
Sources: VHS Buffalo Athletics preview, Nov. 6, 2026; VHS 2026 football schedule; GoFan ticket listing.