Round one in competitive sports usually features mismatches in most tournaments of 32. But in the Best of the Best series, round one is literally a celebrity death match. Each first round matchup in the Best Player of All Time series is literally star-studded. They are all studs at their positions, and their star statuses most times led to collegiate and pro football careers. However, this is the Best of the Best High School Player, so we’ll just highlight what they did here in Northeast Florida as Preps players on the gridiron.
Matt Frier
How good was Suwannee wide receiver Matt Frier, its been thirty years and he still holds nearly every receiving record in the state of Florida still. By the time Frier left Suwannee in 1988, he led the Bulldogs to back-to-back state titles on their way to four in a row from 1987-1990. His junior year in 1987 he hauled in a 64 catches for 1,035 yards and 15 touchdowns on his way to being named the Orlando Sentinel State Player of the Year. His senior year in 1988 he set a state record that still holds with 99 receptions for 1,716 yards and 20 touchdowns, to finish his career with a state record 220 receptions, 3,688 yards and 41 touchdowns. Frier was named to the FHSAA 100 Greatest Players of the first 100 Years back in 2007.
John Wolford
A four year starter at quarterback, Wolford not only left Bishop Kenny as the all-time leading passer but with all the state wide passing records as well as of 2013. Wolford ended his high school career accumulating a national record 773 total yards (539 passing, 234 rushing) and seven touchdowns in a 74-73 playoff loss to Clay in the regional semifinals. He finished his career with 10,621 passing yards, 13,403 total yards, 126 passing touchdowns, 162 total touchdowns, 706 completions all state records. Wolford capped his senior year in 2013 with 3,317 yards, 38 touchdowns and only 7 interceptions; while rushing for 931 yards and 14 touchdowns on his way to being named the Times Union Player of the Year.
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