1988 State Title Game Hardee vs Suwannee

[OldSchoolLion]

This was the last year the state finals were played at the home field of one of the finalists.  Imagine the excitement in Live Oak!  This game featured Matt Frier.  He starred as a wide receiver for the Suwanee Bulldogs from 1986-89, finishing his career with back-to-back state championships his junior and senior year. He finished his prep career with a state-record 220 receptions for 3,688 yards and 41 touchdowns. The Orlando Sentinel named him the Florida Player of the Year as a junior after catching 64 balls for 1,035 yards and 15 scores. As a senior, he set the state record with 99 receptions, totaling 1,716 yards and 19 touchdowns.  He was also a three-year letterman for the SHS baseball team.

After graduating Suwanee, Frier won four bowl games as a starter at Florida State University, culminating in 1993 when he was voted captain and led the Seminoles to the national championship with an 18-16 victory against Nebraska. 

 

[Hwy17]

21 minutes ago, OldSchoolLion said:

This was the last year the state finals were played at the home field of one of the finalists.  Imagine the excitement in Live Oak!  This game featured Matt Frier.  He starred as a wide receiver for the Suwanee Bulldogs from 1986-89, finishing his career with back-to-back state championships his junior and senior year. He finished his prep career with a state-record 220 receptions for 3,688 yards and 41 touchdowns. The Orlando Sentinel named him the Florida Player of the Year as a junior after catching 64 balls for 1,035 yards and 15 scores. As a senior, he set the state record with 99 receptions, totaling 1,716 yards and 19 touchdowns.  He was also a three-year letterman for the SHS baseball team.

After graduating Suwanee, Frier won four bowl games as a starter at Florida State University, culminating in 1993 when he was voted captain and led the Seminoles to the national championship with an 18-16 victory against Nebraska. 

 

I was in 9th grade then.  Crazy turn of events got Hardee to the title game.  Only district champs made the playoffs and we were in a 3 way tie with Desoto and Palmetto.  Desoto beat us that year and had a 9-1 record,  their only loss was to Palmetto by 1 point, a missed PAT and they were close to scoring when time ran ou in that game.  For some reason,  the Desoto coach gave up home field advantage and the tiebreaker game was at Hardee, where they had just won. But Palmetto beat them in the tiebreaker and Hardee beat Palmetto to advance.  We were big underdogs in both playoff games but upset both Jones and Key West to get to the championship.   We matched up good with Suwannee except for Frier. We didn't have anyone who could cove him.

[Hwy17]

1988 3A quarterfinal Orlando Jones vs Hardee