JungleBunny

Good assessment Jungle. They are finally playing to their strengths and utilizing their talent.

That's a good point, and that's what Union will have to do to win. What will be key for Newberry is winning a couple of defensive series early and sustaining long hard drives by running the ball. If they can maintain the advantage in time of possession and keep the ball out of Union's hands they should get the job done. It should be a good one either way!

This is still a pretty big measuring stick for Union County due to the "Michigan type" schedule they play.  This will probably be their 2nd toughest task of they year with Fort White being the toughest.  This is as soft a schedule that I have ever known Union County (Or anyone else relevant in the area) to have. No disrespect to ANY of the teams on the Tigers' schedule, but when Fort White and Newberry are the 2 toughest teams on your schedule, you have an incredibly weak schedule. Especially for a solid program like Union County.   So Friday night against Newberry could go a long way in telling us how good UCH is or isn't.  

Newberry is always riding high at this point because they always beat Santa Fe. This is usually when they are brought back down to earth. Talent has never been the question in Newberry it has been coaching. We'll see if they can reach their potential this year. All that being said I still think UC has their number.
 
Union Co 26
Newberry 19

Those 07 Panthers were dominant, very impressive team that unfortunately had to play against a freight train from The Muck.  
 
Union (as well as a few other schools in the area) has had Newberry's number in recent years. With that being said, it's about time for Newberry to take a step back up into the conversation of one of the better 1A teams.  Time will tell if they can do that sooner rather later.  Watching Newberry this year, they have the players to be a real force in 1A.  Part of me believes that Newberry will dominate the LOS against UCH and control the game.  Newberry does have a nice win over Santa Fe and that is better than anything Union has done thus far.  UCH has to get the ball in the hands of their play making WR (I'd like to see him get around 15 touches) whether it be in the return game or on offense. I've only watched him in 2 games but the kid has been lightening in a bottle. 

Ok folks, it's time to reminisce about the 2007 Newberry Panthers. 
 
This small public school from the very small town of Newberry went undefeated through the season and the playoffs. They were nationally ranked. They defeated both my Trinity Catholic Celtics and the Trinity Christian Crusaders enroute. They met big bad highly regarded Pahokee in the championship game. Although they played their hearts out they inevitably lost to one of the most powerful teams in Florida at that time. This was a team that had players from Newberry. They didn't import a bunch of D-1 talent from other areas. They had a really good coach called Tommy Keeler. They had one of the best RB's in Florida Antwan Ivy (nicknamed Kilo) who rushed for 2,400 yds and 31 TD's. He reminded me of Union County's CJ Spiller as he was outmaneuvering every tackler on the opposing defense. With all due respect "Kelo" died of heart failure on the Florida A&M campus at the age of 24.
 
Newberry has not been as dominate since. However, it does tell something when the Panthers defeated a very tough 4A team Sante Fe in their first game 22-6 this season. Possibly visions of 2007 are dancing in their heads. If so, watch out.  

That may be true, Tigerfan, but Newberry maybe threw 3 passes per game. Some games they didn't throw a pass due to their explosive ground game. Their QB was pretty darn good, though. Manged that offense perfectly. 

Columbia for sure!  
 
I've never seen Columbia play, ever, and I've lived 25 minutes from CHS all of my life. So I'm looking forward to it. 

I just saw that. Newberry is definitely improved after watching them in person. There will be lots of big time D1 talent on the field for a 1A game with 3 players currently committed to FSU.  I wouldn't be shocked if Newberry won. I think Newberry will control the trenches, but Union can move he ball through the air and has a real playmaker with #7. It should be a good game.
 
Football God:  Its should be a good one! Union let 1 get away from them last year against Fort White leading by 2 possessions with less than 2 minutes in the game and finding a way to lose. I haven't watch Fort White this year, but they got a nice win against Suwanee.  UC had their way with Hamilton Co and last week got canceled, so the verdict it still out on the Tigers. I'll know more after this Friday. I'm gonna make it to the CHS game Thursday night to see the big boy Tigers play, I'm pretty excited. 

Pinko's has Newberry by 7.