JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – For the second straight year, the Raines Vikings are heading to Miami for a state championship showdown against Miami Northwestern. But this time, it’s personal.
“We know what it felt like last season to lose that game,” quarterback TJ Cole said, reflecting on last year’s 41-0 blowout loss in the title game. “It would mean a lot for us to come out with a chip on our shoulder and that vengeance to go out there and win it.”
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The Vikings’ practice field was buzzing with energy as the team prepared for its ultimate challenge.
The atmosphere was tense, with both offense and defense pushing each other to new limits.
“This week of practice is going to be crazy,” Cole said. “I know the defense is going to come with all the energy, and the offense is going to have to back it up. It just prepares us for Pitbull Stadium on Friday.”
Raines’ journey to this point has been dominant. The Vikings enter their final game of the season with 13 victories already under their belt. Each game has been a stepping stone toward their ultimate goal: avenging last year’s loss.
The Vikings spent all offseason, and much of this season, reflecting on where they fell short a year ago. That started with 28-8 win over Sarasota Booker in the state semifinals -- a game that challenged the Vikings a season ago.
They said learning from their mistakes has made them better.
“Last year we had a couple turnovers in the Red Zone,” Cole said. “We didn’t score in the Red Zone last year. We had a couple big plays lit up on the back end and on the defensive side. We wanted to come out here and eliminate those.”
Despite the high stakes, the team is working to keep its composure. Defensive back Shareef Jackson said it is important to stay level-headed.
“It’s just a game, another Friday,” Jackson said. “Can’t think of it as another Super Bowl. Just stay calm and prepare yourself for war.”
Jackson, who has been a driving force behind the team’s “revenge tour” this season, said despite the undefeated season, he has not been satisfied.
“I’ve been all tense all year,” he said. “We’re blowing people out, and you think you’d at least be happy, but it just don’t ever feel right when you don’t beat the final boss.”
And that final challenge comes on Friday. It is a date with destiny, and standing in the way are the Northwestern Bulls. A chance to complete the perfect season and bring a championship back to The Graveyard.
“The reason we’re on this revenge tour is for the community,” Jackson said. “The community haven’t had nothing to smile about in a long minute.”
“Execute our game plan,” Cole said. “Play some quality Raines football, and we’ll come out with that trophy back to Duval.”
“To finish out that chapter, leave my legacy here where I started as a little boy, 6 years old, running around the sidelines,” Jackson said. “It’s the perfect ending to a movie.”
The Vikings will face Miami Northwestern in the state championship game on Friday at 7:30 p.m.