The Miami-Jackson Generals won their third consecutive road playoff game as they upset the Glades Central Raiders 33-24 in a Class 5A regional final on Friday night at Belle Glade. The Raiders were eliminated for the second straight year at home in the third round. Last year they lost to the eventual Class 5A state champion Norland Vikings.
For the first time since 2002, there will be no FHSAA state football champion from Palm Beach County. In addition, there will be no Palm Beach County high school squad that will appear in a state final game since 1991.
Glades Central(8-5) had their eight-game win streak snapped after they began the regular season with a four-game losing streak. The Raiders jumped on the Generals for an early lead in the first quarter. Javonte Terry made an interception and returned it to the Generals eight-yard line. Four plays later, Will Likely ran the ball in from three yards out at 3:50 for a 7-0 lead. Giovanni Lugo connected with a 37-yard field goal on the Raiders next possession with ten seconds to go.
Jackson(8-4) closed the margin to 10-6 at the 3:07 mark of the second quarter as Quinton Flowers found Devondre Powell for an 11-yard touchdown reception. The Generals blocked a punt for a touchdown with 1:22 left in the first half and their first lead in the game at 12-10. Raiders starting quarterback T.J. Abrams was replaced by Lugo as he exited the game before halftime because of an injury and never returned.
Terrence Rutherford caught an 80-yard touchdown strike from Flowers to extend the Generals gap to 19-10 with 31 seconds remaining in the third quarter. Both teams combined with 28 points in the final quarter.
The Raiders struck quickly in the fourth quarter as Lugo fired a 13-yard pass to Ronquavion Tarver to close the deficit down to 19-17 with 10:36 left. Chris Williams-Hall returned a fumble for a Jackson score from 41 yards out at 8:47. Glades Central pulled off a three-play drive on their next possession as Aaren Baker ran in a 24-yard touchdown with 7:45 remaining and the Raiders were down 26-24. Powell made a leaping 23-yard touchdown catch, his second score in the contest, to put the game out of reach 33-24 with 3:57 to go. Jackson will play in a state semifinal game next week for the first time since 2000.
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