Tonight Raines and Bolles will meet in the Class 2M Reginal Final. Raines and Bolles have not met on the field since 2016. That season saw the Vikings and the Bulldogs conclude a clash of titans that spanned four consecutive years, including five times in six years. The two teams were very familiar with each other at the time, having met 18 times in ten years since 1996. So today renews an historic Northeast Florida rivalry, between the most storied public and private schools in Duval County. Lets take a look back at the last decade, where Duval Sports has covered some memoriable moments and oustanding coaches and players
2013 Bolles 35 Raines 28 (OT) Class 4A Regional Final
In 2013, Bolles got revenge over Raines, in a rematch from earlier in the season where the Vikings defeated the Bulldogs 45-31. The game featrued players like Dexter Carter Jr of Bolles who scored on a short touchdown run. Marvin Zanders who rushed for 158 yards, including a 91-yard touchdown run early in the game and a 50-yard run on the Vikings’ game-tying drive in regulation. But Bolles defense would be the difference. An interception by Ahman Ross of Bolles was a key stop in regulation. Then in double overtime, Cody Boswell of Bolles knocked the football loose from Raines quarterback Marvin Zanders, and Joey Frisco fell on it in the end zone for the game winning score in double-overtime.
Bolles would go on to fall to Booker T. Washington in the class 4A state championship.
2014 Bolles 20 Raines 13 Class 4A Regional Final
Bolles vs Raines II was the game of the week for most people in Duval County, and why not? the two teams had battled tooth to nail just two months earlier in a battle to decide their divsion with Raines coming out on top. This time however, the stakes were a little higher, as a spot in the regional finals vs Madison County was at stake
The game featured two high scoring offenses led by quarterbacks Micah Zanders of Raines and Joey Edden of Bolles. Bolles came into contest averaging just under 40 points a game, while Raines averaged just over 30 points a game.
Christian Bermudez scored on a 5-yard , and Bryce Newman returned an interception for a score for Bolles. Raines’ Alex Rutledge rushed for the lone touchdown in the first half. Bolles led 13-7.
Ronald Patterson hit two field goals (27 yards, 28 yards) for Raines to tie the game 13-13 all in the secodn half. Bolles responded on a pass from Edden to E.J Porter who leaped over a falling Viking defender and raised to the one yard line. Edden would punch it in from the one two plays later to give Bolles a 20-13 lead with just over four minutes to play left in the game.
A quick pass by Zanders to his right was intercepted by cornerback Joe King of Bolles, who dove in front of the receiver making a great interception to ice the victory. Bolles would go on to lose to Booker T. Washington (Miami) in the Class 4A State Championship.
2015 Raines 34 Bolles 8 Class 4A Regional Finals
First, Dalvin Storey scored for Raines and the two point conversion was good. Bolles would get back into the game on special teams, when Raines fumble the punt and it was recovered by the Bulldogs. #5 E.J Porter took the run 50yds for the touchdown to get back in the game. The conversion was good and the game was tied 8-8. Quarterback Mac Jones (New England Patriots) threw an interception to #26 Malik Goodman. Michael Pinckney also victimized Jones earlier in the game. The turnover rattled the Bulldog confidence allowing #5 Willie Wright for Raines to get a big punt return 40 yards to the Bolles 5 yard line. Al Rutledge #5 RB would punch it in for Raines to put Raines up 15-8. In the second half, his big run set up Raine’s next score, a touchdown pass from QB Augie Debiase to #2 WR Ronald Patterson.
Finally, Augie Debiase was able to use his legs to score in this game as well. He scrambled 50 yards for a touchdown to put the heat on Bolles late in the 2nd half. (27-8) Bolles would succumb to the heat and be forced out the kitchen. They threw two interceptions one to #1 Bishop Bonnett and another to #24 Deontre Hall of Raines to end what was a nightmare of an evening for them. Raines would add another touchdown to win the game 34-8.
Raines would eventually advance to the state championship where they would fall to Cocoa.
2016 Bolles 60 Raines 20 Class 4A Regional Finals
A 60-20 shellacking by the Bulldogs in the second round of the class 4A FHSAA playoff game between the Bolles Bulldogs and the Raines Vikings in 2016. Bolles ran around, through and over the Raines Vikings to the tune of over 400 yards rushing including 260 yards by Jaylen McCloud ( offer from Famu ). On defense, they punished the Raines ball carriers and created turnovers fueling the offense. Defensive back Ahman Ross made several key plays in the secondary, and LB Evan McGee got after it as the Bulldogs dialed up blitzes to harass Raines Quarterbacks. Durham IV was replaced by Jakaree Gadsden in the third quarter in an attempt to create a spark, but none would be had on this night for Raines.
