JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Thousands of jubilant supporters welcomed the Raines Vikings football team home Saturday as state champions after their dramatic 23-22 victory over Miami Northwestern, avenging last year’s championship loss to the same team.
The undefeated Vikings returned to a hero’s welcome at Raines High School, where crowds gathered with signs, music, and fireworks to celebrate the team’s triumphant revenge tour completion.
“We changed a lot of things and how we operated just for that moment,” Vikings head coach Donovan Masline said. “The kids were locked in, no playing. They were hunting, were together, they believed in each other, they believed in the coaching, and it showed last night.”
The victory resonated deeply across Jacksonville’s Northside community, representing more than just a win on the scoreboard.
“It means everything. This is Black excellence, the pride of the North Side,” Masline said. “We went down there to represent for Duval, and we came back and we did it well.”
The celebration highlighted the deep connection between the team and its community. Former Raines football player Isaiah Stallings explained the tradition: “It goes way back to our parents, grandparents. If you ever went to Raines... it’s the same thing with the Jaguars. We’re here whether we’re up, down, left, right.”
For the players, the victory marked the culmination of a year-long mission. “We waited all year for this,” said defensive end Troy Butler, whose personal story of perseverance touched many. Butler, who lost his mother two years ago, channels his emotions into his play. “I take all the anger I can out on the field,” he said.
His grandmother, Lisa Robinson, who took on guardianship after his mother’s passing, praised his character: “He’s a beautiful kid... he takes care of his siblings. He works hard, and I’m just so proud of him.”
The future remains bright for the Vikings, with key players like Butler returning next season. For graduating seniors like Shareef Jackson, who left the championship game with a broken foot, the victory provided the perfect finale.
“It’s the best way to ever go out,” Jackson said, noting that his brother won a state title with Raines in 2017. “It’s a blessing.”
The team’s linebacker, Johdeem Jones, emphasized the broader impact of their achievement: “It means a lot. It just shows that through hard work and dedication; we can accomplish anything as long as we stick together and continue to fight on.”
As fireworks lit up the evening sky, Stallings shouted, “We’re the standard, we’re the mecca!” A fitting celebration for a team that turned last year’s disappointment into this year’s triumph.