1991 5A Title Game Southridge vs Evans Video

[OldSchoolLion]

This was a historic game on a number of fronts.  It was the first time all of the the finals were held in Gainesville.  And it involved a tie...this was a time when the finals did not feature an OT period.   It involved two great coaches...Don Soldinger and Bill Gierke.  It was the one and only time Evans has ever appeared in a state final.  It was the Ridge's third trip to the finals, after two failed attempts in the 80's. 

Evans got to the final with a dramatic OT win over Sarasota Riverview and then a win over defending 4A champion Gainesville Buchholz in the semis.  The Ridge had to avenge a regular season loss to North Miami and then hosted Vero Beach in the semis.

Note the huge difference in size in the trenches.  Evans absolutely dwarfed Southridge and had a huge line for the time.  Evan's O-line averaged 286 pounds.  The offensive and defensive linemen for the Ridge weighed about 180-185 pounds, on average.  That's right..a 100-pound difference.  In fact, Southridge was known as the "Ridgets" during the year...small and scrappy.

The game featured 2 outstanding linebackers.  Kenard Lang of Evans went on to play for the U and had a successful NFL career.  Lamont Green of Southridge, only a sophomore in this game, became a prep All-American and was the USA Today Defensive Player of the Year in 1993. 

The final drive of the game by Southridge took up nearly 8 minutes, involved 17 running plays, and 3 fourth down conversions.  The goal posts were not changed for the hs title games.  They were college width.  This may have played a part in the game's ending.  

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