2003 Clay at 1996 Union County
One thing this game wouldn’t lack was star power, both teams combined to send at least 15 guys to Power 5 schools (SEC, ACC, Big 10, Big 12).
Both teams were loaded with talent and great coaches with Robby Pruitt and Jim Reape. While Pruitt is a lot more well-known winning state titles at University Christian and Union County, Reape helped keep Clay on the map and made it a statewide name.
. Union County-
The case for Clay: Coming off a 6-4 season and several key starters coming back like athlete Charles Clark (Ole Miss), wide receiver Nolan Carroll (Maryland, Miami Dolphins), defensive lineman Cliff Avril (Purdue, Seattle Seahawks), defensive back Terrance Butler (Louisville), offensive linamen Luke Lathan (NC State) and linebacker Mike McCallister (Alabama); there were great expectations among the program but I don’t think anybody saw what was coming. The year before the Devils were in a district with Columbia, Leon, Godby and Lincoln and went 1-3 against the foursome. With a brand new district, Clay rolled through the regular season with wins over Gainesville (20-13), Bartram Trail (32-6), Orange Park (34-7), Ridgeview (54-12), St. Augustine (32-6), Fleming Island (54-0), Palatka (7-0), Middleburg (25-20) and Bolles (13-7) in the regular season finale. The lone loss came at the hands of nemesis Columbia (27-19) in Week 4. As the playoff began, the Blue Devils stunned St. Augustine again 23-3 in the first round and North Marion 27-13 in the second round. Only a fourth quarter collapse at home against Dunnellon 26-19 kept Clay (11-2) from a rematch from eventual state champion Bolles in the state semi-finals.
The case for Union County: From 1994-1996, the Tigers won 52 games in a row including 3 state titles. On those teams were defensive lineman Gerard Money Warren third pick in the NFL draft by the Cleveland Browns (who also played 12 years in the NFL and also starred at Florida); as well as quarterback Andrew Zow (Alabama), defensive back Wayne Moore (Clemson), cornerback Bennie Alexander (Florida), safety JR Jenkins (Georgia), outside linebacker Phillip Weeks (Alabama), outside linebacker Adrian Weeks (Auburn), fullback Issac Booker (Wisconsin) and defensive end Charles Howard (FSU). Not to mention several others who went to star at Division I-AA, II and smaller schools. Opponents had a hard time game planning to stop the Tigers with so many weapons on both sides of the ball. The defensive line with Warren and Howard might have been too much for Clay to handle just alone, not to mention a secondary with three D-I starters.
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