For the first time since 2002, Glades Central will not be playing in the second round of the playoffs.
The Raiders’ streak ended Saturday when they lost 40-18 to Miami-Washington, the nation’s top-ranked team, in the Class 4A regional semifinals at Traz Powell Stadium. The defending state champion Tornadoes have won 23 consecutive games.
Although the Raiders made the playoffs for the 11th consecutive season, they did not have the year they expected, finishing with their first losing record (5-6) in two decades.
“It’s not the way we wanted to end the year, but I’m proud of each of the boys and the coaches,” coach Roosevelt Blackmon said. “We did get in the big dance.”
The game started well for Glades Central. The Raiders scored first on a safety, when Washington quarterback Treon Harris was called for intentional grounding in his own end zone in the first quarter.
But the Raiders struggled to score from there, and their defense couldn’t stop the Tornadoes. Washington scored 40 unanswered points behind two touchdown passes from Harris. The senior signal-caller threw for 108 yards despite sitting out most of the second half.
By the end of the first half, the Raiders trailed 33-2.
“They’ve got the speed — definitely,” Blackmon said of the Tornadoes.
Glades Central didn’t help its own cause, committing nine penalties. The Raiders also had a punt blocked deep in their own territory that resulted in a touchdown for Washington (11-0).
Glades Central, which was held to just 20 rushing yards, scored in the third quarter on Antonio Brown’s 27-yard fumble return for a touchdown. The Raiders’ final score came in the fourth when Jonathant Istache threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Jamarius Way.
John Carroll 56, Pope John Paul 13: Jordan Watkins threw two touchdown passes and ran for two scores, leading the Rams (10-1) to the rout of the Eagles (5-6) in the Southeastern Football Conference championship at FAU Stadium. Daryl Norwood and Edwin Thomas each scored two touchdowns for John Carroll, which topped 40 points in each of its victories this season. DeQuan McGriff scored both Pope touchdowns.
About the Author
