Rickards Makes First Trip To Title Game
When the 2020 season began, the Tallahassee area had a few teams that everyone was picking to reach the state finals this year. Rickards was not one of them.
What the Raiders did this season was play hard and kept focus – and somewhere – there was hope that this program, which has plenty of talent and solid coaching, would make a run. They did!
This team, which had never advanced this far in its tremendous school history, came up with a stunning 26-24 win over Dunnellon, and now, they will be home for the state championships when they take on Plantation American Heritage holds on to beat Dunnellon 26-24 and advance to Class 5A state title game.
The trip to Doak Campbell Stadium was made possible – when cornerback Kameron Bell came up with an interception.
Rickards is vying to become Tallahassee’s first public school to win a state title since Godby in 2012.
THE RAIDERS PATH TO 10-1
With only a 20-7 setback to defending state 3A runner up Florida High, this magical season was indeed one to remember.
Wins over Tallahassee Lincoln (14-7), Tallahassee Godby (16-12), Talahassee Leon (16-12) and Tallahassee Chiles (35-10) gave this program a push headed into the playoffs.
In the playoffs, the Raiders turned it up with wins over Jacksonville Ed White (21-14), Pensacola West Florida (38-16), Jacksonville Ribault (44-26), Baker County (14-10) and Friday night’s thrilling 26-24 win over Dunnellon.
THE RAIDERS FILE
SCHOOL: Tallahassee Rickards
HEAD COACH: Quintin Lewis
2020 RECORD:10-1
CLASSIFICATION: 5A
RAIDERS TO WATCH
2021 – Caleb Acoff, WR/DB
2022 – Jeremiah Acosta, LB
2022 – Kevin Baker, RB
2021 – Alvin Bell Jr., OLB
2021 – Kameron Bell, DB
2021 – Braylon Boyd, WR
2022 – Akari David, DE
2022 – Robert Davis, WR
2022 – Ivan Donaldson, DB
2021 – Orian Ellis, S
2022 – Tavian Enzor, WR/DB
2021 – De’andre Francis, RB
2021 – Malik Franklin, DB/WR
2022 – Jamarion Garvin, WR
2021 – Darius Glee, OL
2022 – Kentarious Hall, DB/WR
2021 – Cory Hayes, DE
2022 – Darius Houston, DB
2022 – Preston Loggins, DE
2021 – Alondrae Madry, WR
2021 – Avantae Madry, WR
2021 – Terrance McPherson Jr., OLB
2022 – Timothy Miller, OLB
2022 – Gabe Nance, Athlete
2022 – Jayden Paden, WR/DB
2021 – Trevon Riles, LB
2022 – Andrevious Robinson, RB
2022 – Jaylan Smith, OL
2022 – Demarcus Towels, OG
2022 – Derek Townsend III, WR
2022 – Michael Townsend, QB
2022 – Greg Turner Jr., WR
2022 – Myron Ward, OL
2023 – Rico Watkins, QB
2021 – Torey Walker, WR/DB
2022 – Lionel Whitaker, DB/WR
2021 – Christopher Williams, OL
2021 – Jeremiah Williams, LB
You Can Contact Larry Blustein with prospect or team information at: Foridakids1@aol.com. We are also on Social Media on @PrepRedzonefl.