Often when the game of the year or century is played the result doesn’t typically live up to all the much anticipated hype; it did.
When No. 4 Raines and No. 2 Bolles met Friday night in the highly undefeated showdown for the District 2-4A title, it left fans on the edge of their seat and wanting a lot more.
If things go right, the two could meet again for an encore in the second round of the playoffs Nov. 18 back at Bolles.
Perhaps it was only fitting, moments after the game concluded, the PA system played ‘Thriller’. As besides it being close to Halloween, Bolles established an early lead and held on for life in a thrilling 24-23 win over nemesis Raines at Skinner Barco Stadium.
Clinging to a one-point lead with a little over a minute remaining in the game, senior quarterback Mac Jones caught the Vikings defense napping on a third and six play.
Jones faked the handoff to one of his tailbacks either Jalen McCloud or EJ Porter and placed the ball on his hip for a brief few seconds drawing the defense in on McCloud or Porter. Jones then bootlegged right and tucked the ball under his arm and sprinted to a 18-yard and first down ending the Vikings comeback.
Mac Jones 19 yard bootleg gets first down and that's it. Bolles wins 24-23. @DuvalSports
— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) October 29, 2016
“I told the coaches I can get the first down,” Jones said. “I saw where they were keying on our backs and not on me and I knew I could get the first down.”
His big run was needed after Raines had cut the lead to 24-23 on an intentional safety from punter EJ Porter with 1:29 left in the game.
Raines got the ball back after the safety and free kick near midfield and looked like on its way to potentially taking its first lead of the game.
However, two plays later junior quarterback Ivory Durham IV was hit by a host of Bulldog defenders on a short run and stripped of the ball, which was recovered by Bolles defensive back Kyle Coffindafer.
Bolles looked comfortable ahead heading into the fourth quarter up 24-13 after Porter 83-yard run with less than a minute remaining in the third quarter.
Durham kept his composure and completed three straight passes on the next drive culminating with a 49 yard touchdown pass to Raynell Killian cutting the lead to 24-21 seconds into the fourth quarter.
Durham finds #6 Killian for 50+ yd TD catch and run. 2pt conv good. Bolles 24 Raines 21 @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/fTNtoNDkZR
— PHILL-DuvalSports (@dreamkingfilmz) October 29, 2016
After holding Bolles on back-to-back three and outs, Raines again appeared on its way to taking its first lead of the game midway through the fourth quarter.
Aided by two pass interference calls, Raines drove down to the 1-yard line before a false start moved them back to the 7-yard line and forced them into a short 24-yard field goal that was low and blocked keeping it a one-point game with 4:03 left in the game.
Just when it appeared Bolles might be able to run the last four minutes off the clock, the Vikings defense held them and forced another punt.
Under heavy pressure already, Porter scrambled around the end zone on a designed play taking a safety which cut the lead to 24-23 with minutes remaining.
Jones, who has committed to Alabama, didn’t have one of his best nights by far finishing 8 of 16 for 78 yards and two touchdowns, but it was the little things he did that proved to be vital.
Through out the game, Jones was continuously harassed by the quick defensive ends by the Vikings but got up every time and made the next play.
“We played good and did what we do best which is run the football, “Jones said. “Honestly I could care less about my stats, I just want to win. I threw two touchdowns tonight and got us a lead so it all worked out tonight.”
Jones connected with Nick McGee on a 15-yard touchdown play in the left corner of the end zone giving the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead with 5 minutes remaining in the first quarter.
Raines quickly answered though as two plays later, Durham found a wide open Willie Wright, who has committed to Memphis, in stride and a good 30 yards ahead of the safety and defensive back for a 61 yard touchdown completion tying the game at 7-7 a minute later.
Durham hooks up with Kidd for 50yd play on 3rd down @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/ABYPtV2DRN
— PHILL-DuvalSports (@dreamkingfilmz) October 29, 2016
Porter broke a 63 yard run two plays later before being pushed out of bounds at the 30-yard line. Bolles settled for a 46-yard field goal from Jamie Brophy that barely cleared the uprights for a 10-7 lead at the end of the first quarter.
A creative and staple play of Corky Rogers offense helped put the Bulldogs back in scoring range again as Jones handed off to Porter who then handed it to Amari Terry who rumbled 38 yards down the 19-yard line. The play set up Jones second touchdown pass to McGee a play later from 19-yards out putting the Bulldogs ahead 17-7 midway through the second quarter.
Raines took advantage of rare Bolles turnover on their ensuing drive as Durham (23 of 39 for 338 yards, 3 TDs) found Jeremiah Kidd across the middle wide open for a 19-yard score cutting the lead to 17-13 minutes before halftime.
Bolles appeared on its way to adding to its lead again after Jalen McCloud (111 yards on 14 carries) rumbled 53 yards down to the 5 yard line but an intentional grounding call on Jones forced another field goal. Brophy’s 42-yard field sailed wide left keeping the score knotted at 17-13 a the half.
Facing fourth and 17 from the 21-yard line, Durham’s pass was caught by Killian and stopped six yards short of the first down by Ahman Ross giving the Bulldogs the ball back near the end of the third quarter.
Two plays later, Porter (186 yards on 14 carries) broke outside and down the right sideline untouched giving the Bulldogs some breathing room heading into the fourth quarter.
Jones admitted he threw up late in the game after he was cramping a lot during the game and barely saw the final minutes of the game.
He wasn’t the only one battling severe medical symptoms as McCloud allegedly was over heard saying he too was battling undisclosed medical issues.
The only blemish to the exciting game was the 31 penalties for 265 yards called by the referees that dragged the game out well past the three hour mark.
“I told the team don’t get down, despite the numerous bad calls that weren’t going on our way,” McCloud said. “I have never seen anything like that before at any level.”
McCloud and Porter combined for over 297 yards rushing between them thanks in part to a huge offensive line consisting of Nick Lewis (6-8, 345), Orlando Heggs (6-3, 325), Cody Mercer (6-1, 275), Matt Johnson (5-9, 221) and Brendan O’Neil (6-2, 260).
“I have to give a lot of credit to my O-line tonight, ” McCloud said, “And I was also successful because of my yards after contact and being able to squeeze through the holes.”
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Bolles (8-0, 4-0) host Monterey Tech next Friday in the regular season finale before East Gadsden in the first round of the playoffs; while Raines (6-1, 3-1) host arch-rival Ribault in the Northwest Classic next Saturday at 2 p.m. before traveling to Walton in the first round of the playoffs.
If both Bolles and Raines win their first round playoff games, everybody will get to look forward to the Round 2 encore meeting Nov. 18 at Skinner Barco Stadium.
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