JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Two overtimes, two heavy downpours, but only one team is practicing on Thanksgiving Day. The Baker County Wildcats (9-2) defeated the Raines Vikings (4-7) in an exciting double overtime thriller on the road, 33-32.
The first half ended with the score tied at 7. Raines came out fired up after a 75-yard touchdown from Quincy Burroughs, junior Wide Receiver, about three minutes into the game.
Around the five minute mark, the Wildcats found their running game. Jamarian Baker, junior Running Back, found a hole in the middle of the Vikings defense and ran all the way into the end zone.
The Wildcats defense showed up and showed out in the third quarter. De’heaven Clark, junior Cornerback, intercepted a Vikings pass and wasn’t stopped until he was 10-yards from the end zone. Later on junior Defensive Back Jamil Jones intercepted a Raines pass in the end zone showing textbook defense.
The third quarter ended with the Vikings on top, 20-14. Senior Scooby Graham (Wildcats) and sophomore De’Shyh Beaufort (Raines) contributed for their teams on offense in the third.
With 1:22 to play in the game, the Wildcats lined up at the 5-yard line and put the ball in the hands of their senior Quarterback, Carson Crawford. Crawford muscled his way straight down the middle of the Vikings defensive line for a 5-yard rushing touchdown. The Vikings defense would then block the extra point to leave the score tied at 20 by the end of regulation.
In overtime, the Vikings were on offense first. Junior Quarterback Carleton Butler Jr. scored off of a 6-yard run to put the Vikings up 26-20. But Crawford hit his twin brother, senior Wide Receiver, Camron Crawford with a 7-yard touchdown pass to force a second overtime at the Graveyard.
In the final overtime, Crawford completed a 14-yard pass to Graham and the extra point was made. This put the Wildcats up 33-26. The Vikings were given one last chance to score and did when Butler found Burroughs in the end zone. The Vikings decided to go for a rushing 2 point conversion but could not complete it. The Wildcats won 33-32 in double OT.
Baker County (9-2) will now be practicing on Thanksgiving Day to prepare for the Pine Forest Eagles (4-4). The Wildcats will continue their journey to states, on the road, next Friday at 7:30pm.
