The atmosphere was much like a small college rivalry game last Friday night at Newberry High School, where the Panthers defeated Tallahassee Florida High, 28-18, to advance to the FHSAA Class 2B state title game.

Contrary to the belief of those who don’t think more than a few people show up to all prep football games (even the big ones), there were thousands overlapping thousands in attendance with hundreds of fans relegated to standing in rows by the fences near each end zone.

I saw athletes representing P.K. Yonge, Union County, Eastside, Trenton and Gainesville in attendance (thanks for wearing your school t-shirts so I could identify you, guys), and it seems the local community has rallied around these Panthers.

Additionally, Florida State assistant Chuck Amato (who should take a serious look at running back Antwan “Kelo” Ivey) and Gator quarterback great Shane Matthews took in the contest.

Unfortunately, the Tim-Tebow-for-Heisman campaign no doubt will push this undefeated team away from the spotlight it so richly deserves. But I’ll be watching, along with thousands of others live, and thousands more on live television (FSN Florida) when Newberry (13-0) meets Pahokee (13-0) Saturday at 1 p.m. in Orlando’s Citrus Bowl.

Maybe those who say very few people care about high school sports (yet don’t attend any games to make that assumption) will tune in to see what they are missing. If they had done so two years ago, they would have seen a kid named Tebow win a state title.

The Heisman? Folks who know him as only a Gator couldn’t have believed in August that he’d end the season as the likely winner. Those of us who paid attention back in the day aren’t surprised at all.