ORLANDO, Fla. – Bartram Trail's best season in school history ended on the final day of the season, but not with the result the team hoped for as the Bears lost to Venice 37-24 in the 7A state championship game.
Bartram Trail (11-4) rallied from down 34-3 to draw to within 13, but couldn't get any closer.
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"They're a very good football team and I'm proud of our guys," said Bartram Trail head coach Darrell Sutherland. "I'm so proud of these young men and I'm so glad I got to play a full season with them."
Venice scored first on an 18-yard touchdown run by Bryce Carpenter, who scored four touchdowns in the game. The Bears answered with an impressive drive of 16 plays that stalled in the red zone and resulted in an Ethan Dudley 25-yard field goal.
After Venice stretched the lead back to seven on a field goal, Carpenter, who entered the game having scored an amazing 58 touchdowns this year, scored in the second quarter and twice more in the third quarter. By then, the game appeared out of reach.
The Bears, however, didn't roll over. Quarterback Joey Gatewood connected on a 12-yard touchdown pass to Devin Ellison in the third quarter. Then in the fourth, Riley Smith, who alternated at quarterback with Gatewood as he did all year, found Griffin Helm on a 54-yard touchdown to bring the Bears to within 20.
"This team has heart through thick and thin," said Smith. "We're down by 30 points and this team has the courage to come back. We just never give up."
After a Harry Bowker interception, Gatewood capped a seven-play drive with a five-yard touchdown run with 9:19 remaining to cut the lead to 37-24.
"This team is special," said Gatewood. "There was not one time on the sideline where we felt this game was over. We always knew we could come back. Unfortunately we didn't have enough time to come all the way back."
The Bears, like Baker County and University Christian, bring home a state runner-up trophy.
Raines, who became the first Duval County public school to win a state title in 20 years, was the only team from our area to win a state championship. The Vikings beat defending champions Cocoa to earn the 4A Championship.