ORLANDO, Florida — The defending class 4A state champions the Raines Vikings met the Cocoa Tigers for the second straight year in the state championship game.
The Vikings were trying to win back-to-back state titles for the first time in the school’s history.
It took both teams a while to settle down at Camping World Stadium, as they were penalized a lot in the opening quarter.
But it was the Vikings who would settle down first. The school’s all-time leading rusher, Brandon Marshall, got Raines on the board first with a 5-yard touchdown run.
The Vikings would add to their 7-0 lead early in the 2nd quarter when Jamond Handy raced into the end zone from 8 yards out to put Raines up 14-0.
However, the Tigers would answer when Caziah Holmes caught at 4 yard touchdown to cut the Vikings lead in half 14-7.
Cocoa would draw even closer in the 3rd quarter when Alex Petruzzello drilled at 23 yard field goal to make it 14-10 Raines.
The Vikings offense just could not get the running game going and as result they struggled to move the ball in the second half.
The play of game came when Barron Coates hit Brandon Marshall for a 74 yard touchdown putting Raines up 21-13. A Treyvon Hobbs pick-six moments later would seal the deal for the Vikings, pushing their lead to 27-13.
Raines would go on to win the FHSAA class 4A state title 27-13, winning the school’s 4th state title.