Celebrating in the rain: Brooksville Ballers claim UFF crown
CLEARWATER – The Brooksville Ballers had been labeled the underdogs heading into last Saturday evening’s United Football Federation (UFF) United Cup III championship game at Clearwater High School.
Up at one point 34-0, the Ballers proved to be anything but, and were able to hold off the Fort Myers-based Florida Stingrays from coming back. The local semi-pro football squad used timely offense and a very opportunistic defense to help take home the league title at Jack White Stadium, 34-31.
Brooksville (12-2) was faced with a tough road heading to the UFF championship game, as the Ballers defeated the Hudson West Coast Soldiers (36-20), Tampa Suncoast Cobras (22-19) and the Orlando Phantoms (28-27).
All that helped Brooksville heading into the championship contest and the Ballers started off fast and furious. Nature Coast Technical assistant coach Billy Hughes connected with former Springstead standout Chris Ferguson twice in the first half for pass-and-catch scores of 14 and 15 yards, respectively.
The Ballers weren’t just impressive offensively, but also turned up the defensive intensity in the first two quarters. Former Hernando High standout Nick Pauliot showed off his speed and picked up a Leon Hutchins’ fumble and carried it 96 yards to the end zone for a 21-0 lead in the opening period.
Two rain delays occurred during the contest, including one at the 6:38 mark of the second quarter, which oddly enough seemed like a bit of a turning point in the contest. The Ballers would score one more time but after that were outscored 31-0 by the Stingrays (11-3).
Florida clawed its way back to come within a field goal with just 1:01 remaining when another rain delay was called.
After a 30-minute wait, league officials and the referees felt the final minute needed to be played out, since the Stingrays were in possession. Two plays later Brooksville would force and recover a fumble to end the game and claim the team’s first championship in its first year of existence.
The last time a Hernando County team won an adult amateur football championship was back in 2005, when former Houston Oilers wide receiver Ernest Givins coached the Hernando Eagles to a league title in the Southern States Football League (SSFL).
Previous league champions of the UFF were the Georgia Firebirds (2011) and the Broward County Cowboys (2012).
Hernando Today correspondent Andy Villamarzo can be reached at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @avillamarzo
