Jacksonville Fl- The Ed White Commanders came into the contest heavy home favorites, yet saw their season come down to the final moments Friday night. It was the visiting Tallahassee Rickards Raiders who jumped out early and never looked back, even with a late Ed White rally in the FHSAA Class 4A Region 1 playoffs.
Click for Photo Gallery Rickards Versus Ed White
The Raiders established control early, using their defense to set the tone. With 5:42 remaining in the first quarter, Rickards stopped Ed White on fourth down, forcing a turnover on downs and keeping the Commanders off the scoreboard.
The Raiders quickly turned that defensive stop into points.
Jordan Kelley to Adyn Grant TOUCHDOWN Tallahassee Rickards! They lead Ed White 7-0, 1st 4:20 https://t.co/sPbnwsZY8P
— Duval Sports D1 (@DuvalSports) November 14, 2026
At the 4:20 mark, Jordan Kelley connected with Adyn Grant for the game’s first touchdown. The extra point gave Rickards a 7-0 advantage.
Kelley wasn’t finished. After the Rickards defense stopped Ed White on 4th down by stuffing the powerful Commander rushing attack, Rickards responded with plays from their playmakers.
Early in the second quarter, he found Curtayis Cooper for another touchdown pass, extending the Raiders’ lead to 14-0 with 11:34 remaining in the half.
Jordan Kelley strike again! This time to Curtayis Cooper! Touchdown!! Tallahassee Rickards shocking Ed White early 14-0, 11:34 2nd https://t.co/qvijaAJeq9
— Duval Sports D1 (@DuvalSports) November 14, 2026
Meanwhile, the Rickards defense continued to make life difficult for the Commanders. Devarion Bass, Marlon Wilson, Seddrick Holloway Jr and the Raiders’ defensive unit helped shut down Ed White’s offense, stopping the Commanders on fourth down for the third time in short-yardage situations.
Rickards continued to attack through the air. Kelley faced down the blitz and connected with Davion Crumitie, who was wide open for another touchdown. It was Kelley’s third touchdown pass of the night, giving the Raiders a surprising 21-0 advantage with 8:55 remaining in the second quarter.
Rickards carried its 21-0 lead into halftime.
Davion Crumitie @DavionCrumit1e WIDE OPEN!! Jordan Kelley throws his third Touchdown pass of the night! Tallahassee Richards is up BIG early vs Ed White! 21-0, 2nd 8:55 https://t.co/7KnGs98z8J
— Duval Sports D1 (@DuvalSports) November 14, 2026
Commanders Fight Their Way Back
Ed White needed something positive to start the second half, and the Commanders got exactly that.
The Commanders recovered a fumble on the opening kickoff and quickly turned the opportunity into a touchdown. Running back Rontrez Loyd helped get Ed White on the scoreboard, cutting the deficit to 21-6.
Touchdown Ed White! 21-6 Rickards leads , 3rd @rontrezloyd_ath https://t.co/B68F9dHyaw
— Duval Sports D1 (@DuvalSports) November 14, 2026
However, Kelley and the Raiders had another answer. After a big return on the ensuing kickoff, Rickards was set up in prime position to score. It didn’t take long for Kelley to work his own field magic again.
Kelley connected with Donterrious Figgers for his fourth touchdown pass of the night, pushing the Rickards advantage to 28-6.
Jordan Kelley tosses his 4th touchdown pass of the night! 28-6 Donterrious Figgers @figgsdatruth https://t.co/50erLSF1DE
— Duval Sports D1 (@DuvalSports) November 14, 2026
Ed White missed out on several opportunities to stop the Raiders early in the game. After failing to convert the extra points after their score, they failed to stop the Raiders on the ensuing possession. Then on offense, they unraveled allowing the Raiders to beat them to the punch time and time again.
The Raiders’ defense landed the next blow, thanks to Tyler Walker Jr. who came up with an interception on a reverse-pass, stopping another Ed White possession and helping Rickards maintain control.
Tyler Walker Jr @TylerWalkerJr1 INTERCEPTION Rickards has stopped two consecutive second half drives of White Rickards 28-6 https://t.co/g1lcyH7UZ9
— Duval Sports D1 (@DuvalSports) November 14, 2026
But the Commanders refused to surrender. Being down in games was not a new occurrence for them. They were down versus Oakleaf, down versus Camden County, and in both games they came back for the victory. Coach Lawrence Johnson kept the faith and White found hope.
That hope came in form of star quarterback King Boylston. Clearly nursing an injury from previous games that kept him out, he still mustered the resilience his team needed by founding the end zone on a short run up the middle with 10:29 remaining in the fourth quarter.
The play cut the deficit to 28-12 and yet the Commanders renewed hope soured with another failed 2-point conversion. This one was costly because it would’ve cut the lead to 14.
Ed White TOUCHDOWN! It’s not over!! 28-12 Richards leads 10:29 4th @KingBoylston with the run! https://t.co/zl0LVtPZEp
— Duval Sports D1 (@DuvalSports) November 14, 2026
Ed White Makes It Interesting
The Commander’s hope renewed in the fourth quarter as it became a battle of momentum.
Defensive lineman Mark Shiloh delivered a massive hit that forced a fumble, which was recovered by Sidney Smith for Ed White. The turnover gave the Commanders another opportunity to make the game interesting.
Mark Shiloh with the MASSIVE HIT! FUMBLE!! Recovered by Sidney Smith! @MarkShiloh11 https://t.co/kBiFh0GuCL
— Duval Sports D1 (@DuvalSports) November 14, 2026
King Boylston took advantage, scoring another touchdown following the fumble recovery. Ed White converted the opportunity into points and suddenly trailed just 28-18 with 6:21 remaining. Another costly failed 2-point conversion took the wind out of the Commander’s sails. Something Ed White seemed to master all year, was a mess in the playoffs.
King Boylston scores again after the fumble recover by Ed White! They now trail Rickards 28-18, 4th 6:21 @KingBoylston https://t.co/vvjW07xyp4
— Duval Sports D1 (@DuvalSports) November 14, 2026
However, the Commanders made the most of their momments when the defense stepped up again for the team. Defensive back Jacquari Parks came up with an interception with 3:50 left in the fourth quarter, giving Ed White another chance to complete the comeback.
Jacquari Parks INTERCEPTION!! Ed White with life down 28-18 ,3:50 4th @JacquariParks1 https://t.co/1tV9yB3dgD
— Duval Sports D1 (@DuvalSports) November 14, 2026
Ed White had the ball back, down 28-18 However, Rickards had one final defensive answer.
Jerkyson McGrew came up with the game-sealing interception, ending Ed White’s comeback attempt and securing a hard-fought 28-24 victory for the Raiders. A late score by Ed White wasn’t enough as time expired.
Rickards built a commanding 21-0 first-half lead before holding off a furious Ed White comeback to escape with a 28-24 victory in the opening round of the FHSAA Class 4A Region 1 playoffs.
Interception by Jerkyson McGrew sealed it for Tallahassee Rickards! Ed White falls 28-24 in Class 4A Region 1 Round 1 Playoffs @@Rhsathletics1 https://t.co/c33O3ETaEq
— Duval Sports D1 (@DuvalSports) November 14, 2026
The Raiders will advance to the regional semifinals, where they will travel to face the St. Augustine Yellow Jackets on Friday, November 20.
St. Augustine advanced with a convincing 42-7 victory over Tallahassee Lincoln. The Yellow Jackets enter the matchup with a 10-1 record, setting up an exciting second-round showdown
A Tough Ending to a Competitive Season
For Ed White, the loss was a difficult way to end a season that featured the Commanders competing for a postseason opportunity in Class 4A.
Ed White erased a 22-point deficit and put itself in position to steal a playoff victory. Unfortunately, the early turnovers on downs and the four-touchdown passing performance by Kelley proved difficult to overcome.
