JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville area will have at least two teams playing for state high school football championships after Raines and University Christian advanced to the finals on Friday.
Raines overpowered Bradford to earn a spot in the state 4A title game with a 53-13 blowout win to earn the school's fourth appearance in the finals. The Vikings will face the defending champions, Cocoa, who beat Bolles last year in the state finals. The state title game will be played at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 7 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando.
Raines made the state finals two years ago, only to lose to Miami-Booker T. Washington. The school's first state finals appearance came in 1973. The Vikings only state title came in 1997, when they won the 4A title beating Glades Central 32-27.
University Christian will go for a third straight 2A state championship after beating Victory Christian 28-7. The Christians improved to 10-2. They will face Champagnat Catholic for the state championship at 10 a.m. Friday, December 8 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando.