TALLAHASSEE – And the winner of District 5A-2 is … the reigning Florida 5A state champion Godby Cougars. Even though they also are a local Tallahassee team they played visitor to the local Rickards Raiders.
The final from the over-crowded standing room only Gene Cox stadium was 38-22 in the Cougars favor.
“We wanted to win district. I put this win on our defensive staff headed by Jimmy Tyson. I preached staying composed and poised all night long,” Ronnie Cottrell, Godby head coach said.
In what may have been the state match-up of the night, the game from Gene Cox did not disappoint. Both teams brought nearly 500 fans each to the game.
The game started off with a Tony Fields interception of Rickards quarterback, Charlie Kelly on the very first play of the game. The Cougars although in great field position failed to record any points. The Raiders defense locked up and forced a field goal attempt that was blocked.
After Rickards took their next possession to only midfield … the Cougars offense took form.
Starting quarterback for the Cougars, JT Bradwell took his team down in 8 plays and scored on a 1-yard run. Bradwell got another opportunity on his next drive to put more points on the board but instead threw a pass into the opposing team’s arms.
The Cougar turnover lead to points for the Raiders. Kelly mastered a 12 play drive to score. A key 4th down conversion to Deion Hogan aided the drive. Kelly later scrabbled in from 7 yards out.
But not even two minutes later the Cougar offense answered.
Back-up running back, Revonte Robinson, who rushed for 76 yards on the night, scored his first of two touchdowns with 8:19 left in the 2nd quarter.
On the ensuing drive Kelly looked for his top wideout Stephen Denmark but instead was picked off by cornerback De’Eric Culver.
The Cougars were able to turn that into points. Lead back, Kenny Young, took a handoff 29 yards to pay dirt. Godby took a 21-6 lead into halftime.
After the half both team offenses struggled to move the ball. Godby did manage to put a field goal on the board in the 3rd quarter.
But it was the Rickards defense that took the momentum. Tusun Young, Raiders cornerback, jumped a Bradwell pass, intercepted it and ran it in for a score for the Raiders.
The Cougars took a 24-14 lead into the final stanza.
But Godby managed to show poise and get back to back scores in the 4th quarter that seemingly put the game out of reach for a Raiders comeback.
Rickards did get a late 99 yard kick return touchdown from Jalen Ashby and also got the following onside kick recovery. But a late Kelly fumble with 1:58 left in the game, his fourth turnover on the night, sealed the victory for the Godby Cougars.
“Well we know what we have to do. We played a good team tonight and lost. Yeah I can point to the dropped passes and lack of execution but I’m not. We have a bye-week then we play Wakulla for a chance to be runner-up in the district,” said Quintin Lewis, head coach of Rickards, when asked what is next.
For the newly crowed district champion Godby Cougars, they play host to crosstown Florida High next week at 7pm. The Raiders will take their first loss into a much needed bye-week before playing the Wakulla War Eagles in another key district 5A-2 game.
