Take any story in high school football over the past three years, and it would be hard to imagine that it could be any better or more impressive than University School.

In the shadow of prestigious Nova Southeastern University -- next door to where the Miami Dolphins continue to build for the future -- is one of the football programs that has climbed the ladder faster than anyone else over the past three years.

When the Suns travel to Pahokee on Friday for a south region final game, it will mark the second consecutive season this program has made the playoffs, and it's been Roger Harriott, a St. Thomas graduate, who has grabbed the reigns of this team and never stopped believing that he could build a winner.

At a school where many follow a path into the Ivy League and other impressive colleges and universities across the country, University School -- or as many have fondly referred to as the ''U'' School -- was one of the best kept football secrets around. The Suns will travel to play the 9-2 Blue Devils with a perfect 11-0 record. That comes after an 8-3 campaign last year, and 9-1 as an independent program the first year.

A SUCCESS STORY

''You would have to say that 28 wins in three seasons speaks volumes about the type of program we are building here,'' Harriott said. ``We came in here to build a football program and not touch the impressive academics the school has long made a reputation on. This is a success story for so many reasons.''

What Harriott has been able to do at University School is amazing -- to say the least. He took a number of first time football players and has added other quality athletes along the way who want to be a part of an environment that is academics first. But this is also turning out to be a place where college football and academic recruiters can often cross paths to talk to the same athlete.

For the first time this summer, University School took part in several football-oriented activities such as 7-on-7 tournaments, which showcased a number of quality prospects the school had. In the offseason many athletes and their families began to buy into the program and the school. Seniors Jeremy Mathis (5-10, 160 RB/DB) and his twin brother Josh Mathis (5-11, 175, DB) came in from Miami Carol City, and Cooper City High standout quarterback Erik Applegate (5-11, 175) came in to further enhance this team.

The Suns not only showed that they can play with schools their own size, but by beating longtime football power New Smyrna Beach, and then last week, getting by established 2B program West Palm Beach King's Academy, this is a team that could carve out a winning reputation.

OTHER TOP SENIORS

In addition to the Mathis twins and Applegate, other seniors in the class include running back/linebackers Tommy Steele (5-9, 190) and Joel Lusky (6-1, 180), running back/defensive back Ryan Anderson (5-10, 165) and Alex Breslau (5-8, 140), kicker Ethan Zurtucha (5-9, 150), and two-way linemen Michael Cohen (6-4, 185), Josh Jaffe (6-1, 220), Michael Packer (6-0, 225) and David Fernandez (6-3, 285).

The junior class is also impressive with wide receiver/defensive backs Nick Kutscher (5-8, 160), Taylor James (5-11, 160), Joey Scaglione (6-1, 155), Eduardo Laiter (5-5, 125) and Alex Freedman (5-10, 155), running back/defensive back Travis Moore (5-9, 150), linebacker Jake Kaufman (5-7, 160), tight ends David Perry (6-7, 235), Max Beaulieu (6-3, 240) and Brice Hawkes (6-1, 190), running back/linebacker Nick Craney (5-9, 220), and linemen Brian Levy-Hara (5-10, 205), Julian Hidalgo (6-1, 245), Brandon Reaney-Graham (6-1, 240), Daniel Conboy (6-2, 295) and Tim Gaffley (6-2, 215).

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