Booker T. Washington Tops Bolles For 4A Title

     The Booker T. Washington Tornadoes edged the Bolles Bulldogs 25-21 in the FHSAA Class 4A state championship on Wednesday night at Daytona Stadium in Daytona Beach. The Tornadoes won their sixth overall state championship and last won a state title in 2015. The Bulldogs were attempting to win a FHSAA record 12th overall football state championship.
     The Tornadoes fumbled the ball away at their own 47-yard line two minutes into the contest and Bolles(11-2) capitalized on their first drive. Wide receiver Davis Ellis made a five-yard catch from quarterback Ben Netting and fumbled it. Running back Kade Frew picked up the loose ball at the nine-yard line and went into the left side of the end zone for a Bulldogs 7-0 lead at 6:58.
     Booker T. Washington(13-2) bounced back on the next possession and scored at the 4:24 mark to even it up 7-7. Quarterback Torey Morrison connected a 22-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jacorey Brooks in the back right corner of the end zone.
     The Bulldogs responded and reclaimed the lead 14-7 with 12 seconds remaining in the first quarter. Nutting tossed the ball to Frew on the right sideline. He cut to the right hash marks and got into the end zone from 24 yards away.
     In the second quarter, the Tornadoes closed it down to 14-10 at the 9:14 mark. Jose Mejia was able to kick a 23-yard field goal.
     Bolles extended their lead to 21-10 with 6:17 left in the second. Frew caught a swing pass from Netting and raced down the middle of the field for a 46-yard score.
     Neither team scored in the third quarter. Booker T. Washington cut the deficit on their fifth possession of the second half with 5:25 to go in the fourth quarter. Morrrsion connected a four-yard touchdown pass to Brooks in the corner of the end zone. Morrison threw to the left side to wide receiver Adam Moore on the two-point conversion and they trailed 21-18.
     The Bulldogs committed their first turnover of the contest with 4:26 left when Nutting fumbled the ball at his own 30-yard line. The Tornadoes drove down the field and capped it on a 15-yard run by Morrison to the right side with 2:50 remaining for a 25-21 lead.