Jacksonville Fl- Raines overcame five first half turnovers to sneak past Westside in the second round of the FHSAA playoffs. Class 5A would have two win or go home play in rounds, as Westside defeated Yulee in week one. Raines would get a bye in week one and see their first action in the round two play-in game.
Westside’s defense forced 4 first half fumbles and an interception giving the Vikings everything they could handle Friday night. Trailing 7-0, Kareem Burke of Raines broke free down the middle in the 2nd quarter to even the score.Â
Both defenses would settle in and the game would go back and forth until quarterback Carleton Butler Jr. would lead a Raines drive. Aided by 45 yards in personal foul penalties from Westside, the Wolverines yielded unnecessary yardage to the Vikings. Raines would make them play. After a 3 & out for Westside, a huge punt return by Kyree Hammond would give the Vikings great field position and a keeper by Carleton Butler Jr. allowed the Vikings to take the 13-7 lead with a little over 7 minutes in the 3rd quarter.Â
However, on the next drive, sophomore wide receiver Antwon McCrae would answer back when he took a screen pass 85 yards to even the score at 13-13. Raines’ offense seemed to wake up and shake off the early mistakes putting together another steady, methodical drive. The drive ended as Kareem Burkes would get his second score of the night to push the lead to 20-13.Â
Raines would take that lead into the 4th quarter and a pass from Carleton Butler Jr. to Quincy Burroughs would further extend Raines lead as they looked to take control of the game. Somehow, Westside would stay in the game as sophomore sensation Antwon McCrae would make a leaping grab to bring the score to 28-20 with 5:39 in the game.Â
The Vikings would close the door as their offense would again, put together a steady, run heavy drive. They would collect first down after first down and run the clock out to close the door, and move on to the next round of the playoffs.Â
“Nobody cares if you go 0-8, or 8-0. What you do in the playoffs is what they’re gonna talk about. The playoffs are all that matters. So leave what happened in the season behind us focus on what we go my right now. It’s a new day.” said Raines Head Coach Donovan Masuline as he addressed them in the postgame huddle.Â
Indeed it is a new day, as Raines (4-6) will host Baker County (7-2) next week in the Graveyard.
