BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
After a first-round bye, the Union County High School football team is ready to host a playoff game against an opponent with an impressive resume as the Tigers will play Madison County in a Region 3-1R semifinal game on Friday, Nov. 18, at 7:30 p.m.
The Tigers (6-2) are the region’s top seed, while Madison (4-6) is the fourth seed. The Cowboys advanced by defeating fifth seed Fort White 36-0 in a Nov. 11 quarterfinal game.
Madison County is the defending state champ in what was previously known as Class 1A. The Cowboys have won the state title in four of the previous five years.
The win over Fort White as the Cowboys’ sixth straight playoff win and their 15th win in their last 16 playoff games.
This is Madison’s ninth straight year in the playoffs. Since 1995, the Cowboys have failed to qualify for the postseason only once. After their win over Fort White, their overall playoff record is now 69-20.
Four of the Cowboys’ playoff wins came against Union. The teams met each other in the 2015 and 2017 region semifinals, with Madison winning by scores of 65-12 and 50-6.
The Tigers traveled to Madison to play for a region championship in 2019, with the Cowboys winning 49-0.
In 2020, Union hosted Madison for a region championship, with the Cowboys winning 18-7.
One of the Cowboys’ playoff losses occurred against Union Head Coach Andrew Thomas. Thomas’ Trenton team defeated Madison 27-18 in a Class 1A state semifinal game in 2015. Trenton would go on to win the state title.
Thomas has guided the Tigers to the playoffs in each of his three seasons at the helm. His overall record in the Florida playoffs is 17-5, which includes going 13-3 in five years at Trenton, winning two state championships during that time.
The Union-Madison winner will play either second seed Hilliard or third seed Lafayette for the Region 3 championship on Friday, Nov. 25. Hilliard (8-2), like Union, had a first-round bye. Lafayette (9-2) defeated sixth seed Branford 35-7 in the Nov. 11 quarterfinals.
If the Tigers defeat Madison, they’ll host the Region 3 title game, regardless of the opponent.
