NORTHSIDE – When senior receiver George Webb raised the sword and firmly planted it into the ground, little did he know the ploy would greatly symbolize the rest of the day.
The ploy symbolized this was Raines field and deal with it.
Raines backed it up with a running clock 41-6 win over arch-rival and host Ribault in the 48th meeting of the Northwest Classic at Alvin White Stadium.
The Vikings fought off a sluggish offensive first quarter stalemate by responding with 28 second quarter points to put the game away before half time. Of course it was easy to score when the Vikings average starting field position was the Trojans 40 yard line.
A seven minute span quickly turned the momentum around and put the game out of reach quickly.
Webb got the party started with a 49 yard punt return before being tackled at the 3-yard line. Ivory Durham followed with a 3 yard touchdown run and the Vikings led 7-0 with 8:29 left till half time.
A high snap forced punter Devon Matthews to make a play in the end zone, however Javon Bonsell got in the way and blocked the punt and fell on the ball in the end zone for another Vikings touchdown and 14-0 lead two minutes later.
On the ensuing kickoff, Jacquez Griffin stripped the ball away from the Trojans return guy and recovered it for the Vikings near midfield. Five plays later, Durham struck again with a 2 yard touchdown run and 21-0 lead just two minutes later.
Matthews shanked a punt giving the Vikings the ball near midfield again.
Durham hit tailback Raynell Killian on a short screen pass and Killian used his blocking well zig zagging his way 40 yards for another score and 28-0 lead with 1:35 left till half.
And just like that it was over.
The Trojans lethal offense featuring Jhamaal Marsh, Kenneth Channelle and Mike McCray combined for 5 yards on the day thanks to a pass rush led by Bonsell.
Despite being up 28-0, Raines didn’t let off the gas either and kept pouring it on.
Durham appeared to hit Almond Nelson for a 20 yard touchdown, but it was called back for holding. It didn’t matter as a play later Durham found Keto Burke all alone in the end zone for a 20 yard touchdown increasing the lead to 34-0 with 8:46 left to play in the third quarter.
During the Burke touchdown reception, Webb and McCray got into a shoving match which quickly escalated into a fist fight between the two. Officials separated the two and then threw both of out the game.
Ribault finally put together a drive as Javon Williams found the right corner of the end zone on a 10 yard run cutting the lead to 34-6 to avoid the shutout.
Marsh lost the ball while trying to roll out of the pocket and into the hands of Nigel Allen at the 3-yard line. Brandon Marshall followed with a 3 yard run to cap the scoring at 41-6 with less than a minute left in the third quarter.
While both teams had already clinched playoff spots last week, this game had plenty of stake for bragging rights as well as seeding purposes.
For the first time in three years, the Northwest Classic trophy will leave Winton Drive and reside across the other side of Moncrief on Raines Viking Way. Raines now leads the all-time series 34-14 as well.
Now the two teams, who attend church regularly must wait in the morning to learn who they will play in the playoffs.
Raines (9-1) likely wrapped up the No. 1 seed in Region 1-4A and home field advantage through out the state semifinals.
While Ribault (7-3) will likely be the No. 3 or 4 seed in Region I-5A and host a first round playoff game next week.
Northwest Classic Trophy (Maroon/Carolina)
Series: Raines leads 34-14
1970: Raines 35, Ribault 7
1971: Raines 28, Ribault 6
1972: Raines 35, Ribault 17
1973: Raines 21, Ribault 0
1974: Raines 27, Ribault 7
1975: Raines 14, Ribault 6
1976: Ribault 12, Raines 6
1977: Ribault 16, Raines 7
1978: Raines 23, Ribault 7
1979: Raines 14, Ribault 0
1980: Raines 7, Ribault 0
1981: Raines 14, Ribault 0
1982: Raines 37, Ribault 13
1983: Raines 35, Ribault 0
1984: Raines 17, Ribault 14
1985: Ribault 27, Raines 22
1986: Ribault 32, Raines 0
1987: Raines 15, Ribault 6
1988: Raines 35, Ribault 18
1989: Raines 24, Ribault 0
1990: Raines 21, Ribault 0
1991: Raines 25, Ribault 7
1992: Ribault 14, Raines 6
1993: Ribault 18, Raines 2
1994: Ribault 8, Raines 7
1995: Raines 31, Ribault 19
1996: Ribault 8, Raines 7
1997: Raines 38, Ribault 0
1998: Raines 60, Ribault 12
1999: Ribault 22, Raines 15
2000: Ribault 26, Raines 20
2001: Raines 24, Ribault 18
2002: Raines 33, Ribault 12
2003: Raines 57, Ribault 0
2004: Raines 33, Ribault 6
2005: Raines 36, Ribault 6
2006: Raines 39, Ribault 0
2007: Raines 27, Ribault 7
2008: Raines 22, Ribault 21 (OT)
2009: Ribault 27, Raines 21
2010: Ribault 32, Raines 19
2011: Raines 39, Ribault 7
2012: Raines 42, Ribault 20
2013: Raines 40, Ribault 25
2014: Raines 19, Ribault 7
2015: Ribault 19, Raines 14
2016: Ribault 28, Raines 12
2017: Raines 41, Ribault 6
