TALLAHASSEE -- Another Case of "The Usual Suspects" as both teams have their fair share of State Championship hardware on their school campuses. On Wednesday, these teams will battle at Tallahassee's Doak Campbell Stadium as they commence the 2020 FHSAA State Series Championships, seeking to add another piece of trophy hardware to the case.

Both teams have been dominant in Florida's Class 2A, collecting the state championship in 6 out of the last 8 years.

THE REMATCH OF REMATCHES
Champagnat and University have battled versus each in other in two consecutive State Series back in 2016 and 2017 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando. University Christian won their first meeting in the 2016 State Championships by a score of 24-8. However, the next year, Champagnat met the Christians in the 2017 State Title game, avenging their previous loss by basically flipping the score with a win of 24-7.

This State Championship game will serve as a tie-breaker of sorts, with the "New Kids on the Block" battling Florida's small class stalwart, the University Christian Christians, who have 9 State Titles dating back to 1973.

HIALEAH CHAMPAGNAT CATHOLIC LIONS

Florida's Defending Class 2A State Champs, Hialeah Champagnat Catholic Lions, will line up to defend their status and repeat as state champs, seeking their 4th State Title since the Lions developed their football program in 2013 under pioneer and coach emeritus Michael Tunsil.

Head Coach Hector Clavijo, III will lead his Champagnat Catholic Lions as they play in their 5th straight Class 2A State Championship Game.

One of the few schools from South Florida who opted in to the FHSAA State Series Championships, Champagnat Catholic, a private school in Hialeah, did not have to follow Miami-Dade County's decision to delay the 2020 season due to spike in COVID-19 cases in South Florida.

The Lions managed to play almost a full schedule, winning 10 of their 12 games. The Lions two losses came from the 3x time Class 3A State Champs Chaminade-Madonna, and the TRU Preps Saints, an incarnation of Broward powerhouse University School for the 2020 season due to the pandemic. These two tough losses should have the Lions battle-tested as they face off against the University Christian, a team they faced and beat to win the 2017 Class 2A State Championship trophy.

JACKSONVILLE UNIVERSITY CHRISTIAN CHRISTIANS

Jacksonville's University Christian Christians will attempt to do something that only a few teams in Florida's rich football championship history have done: WIN double digit State Championships, as the Christians seek to win their 10th State Championship!

University Christian has been a marquee stalwart in Florida's smaller classifications. They captured their 1st State Championship in 1973 under head coach George Davis.

Legendary Head Coach Robby Pruitt brought home 4 state titles in a time when Class 1A and Jax University Christian were synonomous.

Having personally played against the University Christian during my prep days in 1991 and 1992, I can attest for the making of this marquee physical program, as these were two years the University Christians captured back to back State Championship trophies. They were physical, Fast, and had the right pieces of the puzzle to capture 3 of 4 state championships in the 1990's.... And they reloaded, year in and year out, making them preseason favorites to go to the ship.

Fast forward to year 2020, and University is back in the state title game after a 2 year hiatus.

Head Coach David Penland III will have his team ready to reassert dominance in the classification in which the Christians once dominated. Penland is responsible for taking UC to the state title game 4 times in his tenure, capturing three of those trophies to bring back to University Boulevard. With a win today, Penland can tie Pruitt with 4 state titles.

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TEAMS AT A GLANCE:



CHAMPAGNAT CATHOLIC LIONS
Hialeah, Florida (Miami-Dade County, Miami-Dade Area)
Head Coach: Hector Clavijo, III
Team Record: 10-2
State Championships (3): 2019, 2017, 2013
State Championship Appearances (5): 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2013


JACKSONVILLE UNIVERSITY CHRISTIAN CHRISTIANS
Jacksonville, Florida (Duval County, First Coast Area)
Head Coach: David Penland, III
Team Record: 8-4
State Championships (9): 2016, 2015, 2012, 1994, 1992, 1991, 1989, 1987, 1973
State Championship Appearances (11): 2017, 2016, 2015, 2012, 1994, 1992, 1991, 1990, 1989, 1987, 1973