Jacksonville Fl- The Raines Vikings hosted their all-time rivals, the Ribault Trojans, for their homecoming game and the annual Northwest Classic. From the opening drive to the final whistle, the Vikings were unstoppable, dominating the Trojans with an impressive all-around performance.
Raines’ first drive showed some early promise, with key plays pushing the ball down the field, but the Trojans’ defense managed a stop, setting the tone for a competitive start. The Vikings quickly returned the favor by stopping Ribault on their first drive, giving their offense another chance to strike.
This time, Raines capitalized, with quarterback TJ Cole connecting with Adron Walker in the left corner of the end zone for the first touchdown. Cole’s two-point conversion run gave Raines an early 8-0 lead in the first quarter.
Raines Vikings gets on the board first TJ Cole throws on 4th and goal to Adron Walker! TJ scores 2 point conversion @DuvalSports
— Asia
Raines: 8
Ribault: 0
8:35 left in 1st quarter pic.twitter.com/SWSB1g5gi2(@amaye_) October 5, 2024
Ribault’s defense responded shortly after, with Jennsy Smith recovering a fumble, offering a glimmer of hope for the Trojans. However, their momentum was short-lived. On a Ribault punt, Raines’ Ziyon Butler returned the ball for a huge touchdown, extending the Vikings’ lead to 16-0.
Kick off return goes to Ziyon Butler! TJ Cole with another 2 point conversion. The Vikings are all gas right now! @DuvalSports
— Asia
Score: 16-0 pic.twitter.com/yK4fwPgzPe
TJ Cole, demonstrating excellent field vision, then found Exavior Sherrod for another score, pushing Raines’ advantage to 22-0 by the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter didn’t bring any relief for the Trojans. Raines’ defense continued to dominate, with Eddie Hinton snagging an interception and returning it for a pick-six, widening the score to 29-0. The Vikings kept their foot on the gas, and Cole connected once again with Ziyon Butler, this time for a receiving touchdown. By halftime, the Vikings were firmly in control, leading 36-0.
TJ Cole with another beautiful throw to Ziyon Butler. 4:15 left in the 2nd quarter @DuvalSports
— Asia
Raines: 36
Ribault: 0 pic.twitter.com/2JE9KJX0ad
Coming out of the half, the Trojans finally managed to get on the scoreboard, with Jeremiah Thomas scoring one of his two touchdowns on the afternoon. Despite the score margin narrowing to 36-6, Raines quickly regained control. Running back Ta’darius Washington powered his way into the end zone for another Viking touchdown, and the big man, Geterius Brown, added to the scoring tally with a touchdown of his own.
Ribault finally gets on the board at the start of the 3rd quarter with a pass over the top to Jeremiah Thomas! 2 point conversion no good with score now 36-6 @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/oVDow7x2k0
— Asia
As the game wound down in the fourth quarter, Jeremiah Thomas found the end zone once more for the Trojans, but it was far too little, too late. The final score of 52-12 underscored Raines’ dominance and solidified their undefeated season at 6-0.
The Northwest Classic, a long-standing rivalry between the Vikings and Trojans, has always been a marquee event for both teams, drawing large crowds and intense competition. For TJ Cole, playing against his former team in such a significant matchup added an extra layer of emotion, and his stellar performance showcased his growth and leadership now joining the winning side.
Despite the absence of star player 5-star offensive tackle Solomon Thomas, the Vikings’ ability to adapt and dominate was a testament to their depth and overall team strength.
For Ribault, this year’s Classic revealed areas in need of improvement, particularly in establishing offensive rhythm and minimizing mistakes. The Trojans will need to regroup quickly as they prepare for their next challenge.
Looking ahead, the Raines Vikings will travel to face the Madison County Cowboys, while the Ribault Trojans will hit the road for a matchup against the Baldwin Indians.
