The Battle Of Florida Preview

Florida Atlantic University will be the venue Saturday night when senior college football players will be involved in the Battle of Florida game at Boca Raton. Two legendary head coaches will lead their own team. Former Florida State coach Bobby Bowden will coach the North while former FAU and Miami coach Howard Schnellenberger will have the honors for the South. Bowden, second all-time for wins in Division 1 football behind Joe Paterno of Penn State, led the Seminoles to two national championships. Schnellenberger, who recently retired as FAU coach, led the University of Miami Hurricanes to the national title in 1983. There will be many former local high school players on the South team. The squad will have four players that once played at St. Thomas Aquinas that includes quarterback Wes Carroll(FIU/Mississippi State), offensive lineman Dan Wenger(Florida/Notre Dame), Nick Pieschel(Central Florida) and punter Mickey Groody(FAU). Royal Palm Beach is represented by two running backs Brandon Pendergrass(Wake Forest) and Zach Brown(Pittsburgh/Wisconsin). Several players who once played at schools in Muck City will also appear. They include Pahokee wide receiver Martavious Odoms(Michigan) along with Glades Central wide receiver Deonte Thompson(Florida) and cornerback Rashad Jackson(Marshall). The North team will have former local products Glades Day quarterback Josh McGregor(Jacksonville), Dillard wide receiver Brian Tyms(Florida A&M), Miami Central offensive lineman Harland Gunn(Miami) and Columbus defensive tackle Jarvis Givens(FAU).