Here is the first round matchup between the 1921 Duval High Tigers and the 1997 William M. Raines Vikings.
Best of the Best Sponsored By…
“At WEAVER INJURY LAW, PLLC, we don’t look at our clients as just another aspect of our business. At our office, we take our client’s personal injury matters, personal! “
.@DuvalSports on #Periscope: Best of The Best Debate97 Raines vs 21′ Duval High https://t.co/CVcAOnxpw7
— Duval Sports (@DuvalSports) August 5, 2016
Corey’s Take…
The 1921 Duval High School Tigers of Jacksonville were 8-0 and became the first Florida team ever to be declared national champions by any organization (National Sports News Service). They whipped Dayton Steele of Ohio, which was regarded as the top team in the Midwest, 21-0, and then crushed Gainesville 56-0 in what was labeled a state championship game. 
Duval outscored its opponents 366-3, allowing only Charleston (S.C.) to score a field goal. Duval also won over Moultrie (Ga.) 44-0, Montgomery (Ala.) Sidney Lanier 34-0, Columbia 77-0 and over state power Hillsborough 74-0. For their accomplishments, the Tigers were named the team of the decade for the early years (1907-1920s) by the FHSAA on their Team of the Century list in 2007. Football was in the early stages back then having only been around for 20-30 years. It was a different breed of players back then. Teams had to take trains for hours and sometimes days to play games. If you think the Duval Tigers would have been intimidated to into Earl S. Kitchings Stadium (The Graveyard), guess again. Back then teams played all around the state and played top teams around the state as well as nationally. There were no cupcakes on the schedule, unlike today when teams play winless teams. Teams traveled weekly on trains to Tampa, Orlando, Miami, Pensacola, Atlanta, Waycross and Live Oak.
Players played iron-man football and played every game both ways and didn’t have facemasks and had helmets that barely covered their heads. You broke your arm or your leg or suffered a concussion you stayed in the game still, not like today players.
Sure Raines likely had better athletes, but have they played a defense like the Duval Tigers? Three points is all they Tigers gave up all season.
UPSET CITY…. DUVALLLLLL…
[ABTM id=24571]
[su_divider divider_color=”#1a0cec” link_color=”#70ed24″ size=”25″] [/su_divider]
Andre’s Take….
You’ve got to be kidding right???? Upset?? Paahleeez! There is no way Duval High scores a point on the 1997 Raines Vikings. First of all football in the 1920’s was like playing sandlot football now. Guess what? Almost the entire Viking team grew up playing sandlot football or street ball. Some folks called it tackle-loco because you had to be loco to play tackle football in the street! I’m going to spare you all the stats the Vikings accomplished in this round and just pose one important question.. Who is going tackle the DeJuan Green? These Guys????
Don’t make me laugh! They look like bowling pins and Dejuan Green will be the bowling ball. STRIKE!!!!!!!!!! The 6’0ft nearly 200lb Green ran a 4.3 40 yard dash and placed second in the state in the 100 meters. Do you think anyone on the 1921 Duval High Tiger’s team ran a sub 4.5? Even if they could tackle Green or RB Curtis Lee, how are they going to catch them? I believe Coach Coffey being the sport that he is wouldn’t even attempt to throw the ball, he’d run just to keep it competitive! On defense LB Jason Grace and the speedy defensive front will disrupt that wishbone, full house stuff.
High School Students were bigger and fast in the late 90’s than they were in the early 20’s so Raines would more than likely be bigger than Duval High. Conditioning plays a factor too. Duval High is not nearly as conditioned as Raines. Remember the 97 team still had two a days! By the end of the first quarter, Duval High will be on the sideline with the chearleaders singing rah rah sis boom bah. Raines Wins!! YES YES BOY! Raines Wins Big!
[ABTM id=23843]
We’ve had our thoughts, now it’s your turn. Vote in the poll below and share your comments below through facebook! We’ll announce the results and the winners tomorrow!
