Raines plows through BK, into state semifinals

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Most teams have some sort of challenge along the way to make it to the state semifinals.

Raines obviously isn’t most teams.

The Vikings triggered a running clock Friday night for the third time in three playoff games. This time, a flurry of turnovers set off a 30-point second quarter in the Varsity 4 Game of the Week as Raines, the top team in the state in Class 3A, routed visiting Bishop Kenny 44-15 in the Region 1-3A final.

It took only the first possession of the third quarter for the Vikings to score a touchdown, secure a 35-point lead and lead to a running clock, which does not stop for incompletions, scores or penalties, only ceasing briefly for state-mandated water breaks.

But don’t be concerned about Raines (12-0) being tested on the way to the state semifinals. That comes every practice, which hones the team for Friday nights.

“Our offenses and defenses battle every day, so they come out Friday night sharper, they’re ready mentally,” Vikings coach Donovan Masline said. “Tuesday and Wednesday are two of our harder practices. We have a great regimen. At 3:45, we put the ball down and see who we are.”

What they are is one of the best in the state. Maybe there’s a bigger challenge ahead, as Raines will almost assuredly be hosting either Sarasota Booker, Miami Northwestern or Melbourne Eau Gallie in the state semifinals next week. Win that one — running clock or not — and it’s on to the state championship game, with the Vikings seeking their first title since capping back-to-back championships in 2018.

Perhaps Booker, rated 18th in the state and the most likely semifinal opponents, or No. 2 Eau Gallie or No. 3 Northwestern will provide a test, after the final four teams are re-seeded Saturday. But then again, 24th-rated Panama City Bay, 10th-ranked Wakulla and Kenny (9-4), No. 9 and riding a six-game winning streak, all were beaten by Raines by a combined 160-36.

Only Bolles, losing by nine in the season-opener, has stayed within 20 points of the Vikings this season.

“Our coaches stay on top of us, tell us not to take anyone easy,” said Raines defensive end King Massey, who had a fumble recovery and a pick-six. “Practice is very intense. Even if we play a lesser opponent, they coach us like we’re playing the Jacksonville Jaguars. Our coaches don’t let us get a big head.”

And they can change on the fly. Masline had a pass-heavy gameplan. But the wet, raw weather at the start of the game forced him to change. Ta’darius Washington flourished with 133 rushing yards and a pair of scores, while quarterback T.J. Cole added 95 rushing yards and a score while throwing for two touchdowns.

At the same time, the Vikings defense forced four turnovers, with two interceptions from safety Eddie Hinton to go with Massey’s pick-six and fumble recovery.

“The preparation and execution Monday through Thursday is for games like this,” said defensive lineman Jyon Simon, who had a pair of sacks and was in on another pair of tackles for loss. “To be honest, with the practices we’ve been having, I’ve been feeling confident since Tuesday. We don’t practice like anyone else, and you see it on Friday nights, how we prepare.”

Things didn’t start smoothly, and Raines will have to clean up the five fumbles, four of which were lost. On its first possession, the ball slipped from Cole’s hand when he went back to pass. The play was ruled a fumble and the Crusaders recovered on the Vikings 9.

Just a few plays later, Derek Heideman connected with JP Donovan for a nine-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead.

Aside from Donovan, who caught all but one of Heideman’s passes, had 96 receiving yards, added 25 rushing yards and was a threat as a return man, that was it for Kenny highlights.

Washington capped an eight-play drive on the next possession with a 1-yard scoring run. Tony Williams bulled in for the two-point conversion, and Raines never trailed again.

“We wanted to come out and throw it around a little bit,” Masline said. “But we also saw some things in the run game we like. Ta’darius is a great all-around back, versatile. His change of direction is phenomenal, and he gets stronger as the game goes on.”

The rout was on. Massey’s fumble recovery led to a score. Hinton picked one off a deflection to set up another touchdown. The cap was when Massey read a screen pass, picked it off and rumbled 65 yards untouched for the touchdown, the first interception of his career.

“Because they are a heavy screen team, I knew I had a chance before the game,” Massey said. “Our coaches taught us to stay disciplined and, if they let you in free, make sure to re-trace your steps.

“I was very surprised. D-linemen don’t usually catch things like that.”

But D-backs do. When Kenny marched down the field, trailing 38-7 and threatening to score, Hinton secured his second pick, nabbing one in the end zone to halt the drive.

“It just helped out my team,” Hinton said. “The coaches told us to follow the quarterback’s eyes. He takes you to the play.”

Cole connected with Adron Walker on the opening drive of the second half. The running clock was on, and the Vikings were moving onward.

“We talked when adversity hits, what we’re going to do. We respond,” Masline said. “We just had to get the ball back and the get the momentum. There are going to be nights where things don’t come out in your favor, and it’s up to you how you respond as a man. They’re showing it. They’re showing what they can do.”

Raines 44, Bishop Kenny 15

Bishop Kenny 7, 0, 0, 8 —15

Raines, 8, 30, 6, 0 — 44

BK — JP Donovan 9 pass from Derek Heideman (Christian Lopez kick)

R — Ta’darius Washington 2 run (Tony Williams run)

R — Ziyon Butler 20 pass from T.J. Cole (Troy Butler run)

R — Cole 1 run (Butler run)

R — Washington 14 run (T. Butler run)

R — King Massey 65 INT return (run failed)

R — Adron Walker 16 pass from Cole (run failed)

BK — Donovan 15 pass from Heideman (Caleb Mattison run)

Category: BK — R

First downs: 7 — 18

Rushes-yards: 17-12 — 33-252

Passing: 112 — 96

Comp-Att-Int: 10-28-3 — 10-15-0

Fumbles-lost: 2-1 — 5-4

Penalties-Yards: 3-15 — 9-77

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — BK: Donovan 5-25, Mattison 8-14, Heideman 2-(-13), Team 2-(-14). R: Washington 18-133, Cole 10-95, Curtis Asberry 3-18, Exavior Sherrod 1-7, Team 1-(-1).

PASSING — BK: Heideman 10-28-3-112. R: Cole 10-15-0-96.

RECEIVING — BK: Donovan 9-96, Payton Burnett 1-16. R: Walker 3-37, Z. Butler 3-31, Kaleb Lampkins 2-17, Jaylen Pollard 1-6, Washington 1-5.