Florida has shine at Under Armour All-America Game

With the ninth edition of the Under Armour Game taking place at the Orlando Citrus Bowl today, some of the best talent from the Sunshine State got a chance to show out today.

However, not all was well with the game as Team Highlight ran away with the game, pitching the game’s first shutout with a 27-0 win over Team Armour.

FIRST shutout in Under Armour @AllAmericaGame's 9-year history: Team Highlight 27, Team Armour 0 – FINAL #flhsfb #UAALLAMERICA

— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) January 2, 2016

Quarterback Play Early On

Quarterback play was not solid early in the game, disappointing likely fans who wanted to see future quarterbacks who are heading up to the next level. It also drew a few critical comments from the media in the process.

https://twitter.com/SBNRecruiting/status/683335113099350021

https://twitter.com/SBNRecruiting/status/683335539500683264

And things certainly going good for West Orange’s Woody Barrett, who found himself in the rath of Rashan Gary of Paramus Catholic out of New Jersey.

Rashan Gary #beast

— David Furones (@DavidFurones_) January 2, 2016

Rashan Gary just flew in off the edge for a sack on QB Woody Barrett.

— Tom VanHaaren (@TomVH) January 2, 2016

Defensive Lines Controlled The Tempo Early On

What is usually typical in most All-American games, the defenses usually rule as offenses have trouble getting in to a routine. As such, the story line was the same early on.

https://twitter.com/nemoran3/status/683337458625474564

It Was Getting UGLY 

It was starting to get ugly as the game progressed, with again the media making the comments of what they were seeing, especially with the game play of the quarterbacks, coming into the spotlight once again.

https://twitter.com/SBNRecruiting/status/683339176524300289

https://twitter.com/Safid_Deen/status/683339238558031872

Then One Play Changed The Entire Game

If there is a defining moment, that one play, in the entire game that defines the game and the tempo, it was a muffed punt by Cocoa’s Chauncey Gardner. It would result in a touchdown play from QB Malik Henry to West Orange’s Eddie McDoom the next play for Team Highlight, which would start the run of the shutout.

Chauncey Gardner mishandles ball on punt return and Team Highlight recovers. Garnder then gets beats for a TD. Two bad plays for him.

— Zach Abolverdi (@ZachAbolverdi) January 2, 2016

https://twitter.com/OS_Recruiting/status/683339968035553280

West Orange's Eddie McDoom in with a touchdown catch from Malik Henry. Gives Team Highlight 7-0 lead in the UA @AllAmericaGame. #flhsfb

— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) January 2, 2016

Gardner Redeems Himself Later On

Chauncey Gardner quickly redeemed himself though later on after the muffed punt, when he made an open field tackle for Team Armour.

Chauncey Gardner with a nice open field tackle. #UAALLAMERICA

— Derek Tyson (@DerekJTyson) January 2, 2016

Nice tackle by #Gators CB signee Chauncey Gardner.

— Zach Abolverdi (@ZachAbolverdi) January 2, 2016

Jack Allison Gets His Shine On

Palmetto’s Jack Allison, found himself in the game eventually and with that came some big plays. The first one was a huge pass play that went for 50-plus yards that helped get Team Highlight three points to increase the lead to 10-0 in the second quarter.

Not a bad start for Allison: He threads a pair of defenders to hit A.J. Brown on a curl. Brown goes about 55 yards.

— David Wilson (@DBWilson2) January 2, 2016

Allison to A.J. Brown on a curl route which goes for 50+. "Allison throws a bullet" says the ESPN2 brodacast

— Cam Underwood (@UnderwoodSports) January 2, 2016

That wouldn’t be all for Allison though.

Later on the second quarter, Allison who got back in for another drive with Team Highlight, once again lead another drive, this time ending that drive with an impressive throw to Gulliver Prep’s Dionte Mullins, both who are Miami commits. That gave Team Highlight a 17-0 lead.

https://twitter.com/BigCountyPreps1/status/683351825530093569

A #Miami-Miami connection. Dionte Mullins one-hands a pass from Allison for a touchdown. They each hold up a "U" and high five.

— David Wilson (@DBWilson2) January 2, 2016

However, that touchdown might have not been possible if it weren’t for a fake punt, that happened a few plays earlier.

Highlight gets a first down on a run by the punter. Allison right back out on offense.

— Cam Underwood (@UnderwoodSports) January 2, 2016

Wasn't called either. Props to the punter for knowing the situation. https://t.co/aTiPIYbDoD

— Coach Graham (@Aus10Graham) January 2, 2016

All Points In First Half Have Florida Touch

All 17 first half points scored by Team Highlight were scored with a player from Florida involved with Eddie McDoom, Jack Allison, Dionte Mullins and Ricky Aguayo all contributing to those points.

All points so far that have been scored in the Under Armour @AllAmericaGame have been contributed from players right here in FLA! #flhsfb

— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) January 2, 2016

Sam Bruce Gets Big Kickoff Return

One of the very few bright spots for Team Armour was St. Thomas Aquinas’ Sam Bruce (despite no balls ever being thrown to Bruce), doing everything he could to provide a spark in the special teams department. One kickoff return in the third quarter did some of that, but it was short lived quickly when Team Armour got nothing as result of it.

Sam Bruce big return pic.twitter.com/4hUQs5dnyd

— BCP SPORTS (@BigCountyPreps1) January 2, 2016

HELLO SAM BRUCE! #flhsfb #UAALLAMERICA

— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) January 2, 2016

Sam Bruce with a nice return to midfield, flashing the speed and lowering his head at the end.

— David Furones (@DavidFurones_) January 2, 2016

Team Armour’s Offensive Line Gets Hammered & The Game Play Not Helping

ESPN’s Derek Tyson, spun the story nicely of just how bad things were for Team Armour’s offensive line during the game in this one tweet.

Team Armour O-line getting worked right now. Can't get any passes off.

— Derek Tyson (@DerekJTyson) January 2, 2016

The result as you know, put zero points on the board for a team that was composed of what is suppose to be some of the best football players in the country.

Team Armour is getting shredded pretty much by Team Highlight…not sure if I have seen worse in a previous UA game. #UAALLAMERICA

— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) January 2, 2016

https://twitter.com/NachOnSports/status/683362431784120320

Patrick Bethel Seals The Deal

With the game getting closer to the final whistle, Team Armour was doing everything they could to get something going. However, as it was all game, Team Highlight’s defense just kept putting pressure on Team Armour’s offensive line and thus resulting in loss of protection for the quarterbacks at times. In the end Patrick Bethel recovers a fumble to seal the deal and end the game.

Vero Beach's Patrick Bethel just recovered a fumble for Team Highlight. #flhsfb #UAALLAMERICA

— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) January 2, 2016

#Canes commit Patrick Bethel with a fumble recovery!!!!!!!

— Cam Underwood (@UnderwoodSports) January 2, 2016

One Final Thought

With that, Team Highlight gets a 27-0 win over Team Armour and posts the first shutout in the game’s nine-year history. However, some feel that the game being moved back to the Citrus Bowl in Orlando helped a lot this year in other ways. And that is something we agree with here at Florida HS Football.

Biggest improvement the @UAFootball All-America game made this year? Moving the game to the Citrus Bowl. MAJOR KEY TO SUCCESS

— Cam Underwood (@UnderwoodSports) January 2, 2016