Miami Northwestern overpowers Jacksonville Raines to win Class 3A state title

Leon Strawder throws for 361 yards and 4 TDs, runs for another score as Bulls rumble past Vikings

Miami Northwestern quarterback Leon Strawder (#12) is brought down by Venice High defensive end Asharri Charles (#5) on a quarterback keeper earlier this season. Strawder threw four TD passes and ran for another score to lead the Bulls past Jacksonville Raines, 41-0, for the state title on Dec. 14. / Mike Lang / Sarasota Herald-Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Florida High School Athletic Association's (FHSAA) high school football state championship series has reached its final day as two more state titles are on the line.

Acting as the grand finale for Saturday's action is the Class 3A championship game featuring the Miami Northwestern Bulls (11-2) squaring off with the Jacksonville Raines Vikings (13-0) at 7:30 p.m. from Pitbull Stadium.

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Predicting the winner of the 2024 Florida high school football 3A state championship

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High School On SI will be providing live updates all afternoon.

(Keep refreshing page for live updates from the game)

	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	F
Miami NW	7	7	21	6	41
Raines	0	0	0	0	0

RECAP

MIAMI -- If defense wins championships, then Miami Northwestern certainly proved that point on Saturday night in the Class 3A state title game,

Utilizing superior speed and strength, Northwestern (12-2) shut out Raines, 41-0, to capture its eighth state championship, first since 2019. The Bulls recorded their fourth shutout in the postseason and fifth overall.

Offensively, Northwestern was no less impressive as quarterback Leon Strawder threw for 361 yards and four TDs and ran for a score. He threw three TD passes to three different receivers in the third quarter, alone, as the Bulls stretched a 14-0 halftime lead to 35-0. Strawder's TD pass to Nicholas Lennear forced a running clock.

"My team worked hard," Strawder told NFHS Network. "We put in the work this summer. We came out there and played ball."

Also, for Northwestern, Elijah Hardy ran for a TD and caught a 65-yard TD pass, the latter on the opening possession of the second half. Calvin Russell Jr. caught two TD passes.

It also made a winner out of Northwestern coach Teddy Bridgewater, a former NFL quarterback who returned to his alma mater to coach this season. "I am very proud," he told NFHS Network after the game. "They worked hard all year to get to this point. It's very rewarding."

For Raines, quarterback Timothy Cole ripped off some nice runs, but was stopped on a 4th-and-goal from the 1 in the second quarter and threw an interception inside the Bulls' 5-yard line in the third quarter. But he and the Vikings were pressured most of the night by Northwestern.

The game also featured numerous penalties and a fight between the teams midway through the third quarter that resulted in a long delay and at least four players being ejected.

PREGAME

Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time

Miami Northwestern is chasing its eighth state title, first since 2019. Jacksonville Raines is a three-time state champ, having last won it in 2018.

Miami NW coached by former NFL QB and NW alum Teddy Bridgewater.

Miami NW wins coin toss, defers to 2nd half,

FIRST HALF

FIRST QUARTER

MIAMI NW forces 3-and-out but Raines converts 1st down on fake punt, However, offsetting penalties wipes out first down, Raines punts,

Northwestern driving downfield behind running of Elijah Hardy.

NW at Raines 2-yard line,

TOUCHDOWN! Junior Elijah Hardy pounds the ball into the end zone for 2-yard TD! Northwestern leads Raines, 7-0, on 5:23 left.13-play, 70-yard drive.

STUFFED! DeAngelo Thompson helps Northwestern force 3-and-out. Raines hits poor 26-yard punt,

Northwestern star QB Leon Strawder hurts shoulder, leaves field for one play,

Miami Northwestern drives to Raines 3-yard line but gains only 1 yard on 4th down. Officials apparently give Bulls an extra down.

END OF FIRST QUARTER: Northwestern 7, Raines 0.

SECOND QUARTER

STUFFED! Northwestern RB Elijah Hardy fumbles the ball on pitch, stopped on extra down for tackle for loss at 7-yard line. TURNOVER ON DOWNS

RAINES on the move behind QB Timothy Cole, at its own 49-yard line, Timeout Northwestern 8:12 left.

RAINES QB keeper by Cole to the NW 6-yard line, First down,

RAINES at 1-yard line, 4th down

STUFFED! Raines QB Timiothy Cole stuffed at Northwestern 1-yard line! Turnover on downs,

NORTHWESTERN punts to Raines 48-yard line.

RAINES takes final timeout of 1H, 2:42 left.

RAINES 4th-down pass skips off ground into the hands of Adron Walker. Incomplete pass. Turnover on downs!

TOUCHDOWN! Northwestern 6-foot-5 WR Calvin Russell Jr. makes leaping grab of 6-yard TD pass from Leon Strawder in the back left corner of the end zone, Bulls make PAT and lead 14-0 with 19 seconds left in first half.

END OF FIRST HALF: Miami Northwestern 14, Jacksonville Raines 0,

FIRST HALF STATS: Northwestern 164 total yards, 30 rushing, 134 passing. Raines 98 total yards, 60 rushing, 38 passing,

SECOND HALF

THIRD QUARTER

TOUCHDOWN! Northwestern takes second-half kickoff and scores when QB Leon Strawder fires a pass to Elijah Hardy, who takes it the house on a 65-yard catch-and-run! Northwestern leads Raines, 21-0, with 10:35 left,

Both schools struggling with penalties.

Lewon Lurry Jr. stuffs Raines run and Vikings punt.

TOUCHDOWN! Leon Strawder throws 6-yarder to Calvin Russell Jr.! Russell makes his 2nd TD catch of the game, and Strawder throws his 3rd TD pass as Northwestern takes a 28-0 lead against Raines with 7:10 left.

Rain starts to fall at Pit Bull Stadium with 6:43 left in 3Q,

FIGHT BREAKS OUT at Class 3A state championship game between Miami Northwestern and Jacksonville Raines with 6:31 left in the 3Q. Law enforcement on the field.

OFFICIALS EJECT 1 Raines player, 2 Northwestern players after big fight after Raines incomplete pass. At least one punch thrown, multiple helmets ripped off.

Tensions cause big delay in Class 3A state championship game. Northwestern coach Teddy Bridgewater visibly upset on sidelines.

BIG RUN by Raines QB Timothy Cole and then hit late out of bounds, Another penalty. At least 1 more player ejected.

INTERCEPTION! Nicholas Lennear picks off Raines QB Timothy Cole,

ONE of the most heavily penalized games of the season unfolding in Class 3A state championship game between Miami Northwestern and Raines. A whopping combined 24 penalties so far.

TOUCHDOWN! Northwestern QB Leon Strawder long 48-yard TD pass to Nicholas Lennear! Bulls make PAT and take 35-0 lead. Running clock. Strawder 17 of 24 for 323 yards and 4 TDs!

END OF THIRD QUARTER: Northwestern 35, Raines 0

FOURTH QUARTER

Running clock as Raines takes possession.

Raines punt blocked.

Northwestern up 35-0 with 6:00 left.

TOUCHDOWN! Northwestern QB Leon Strawder scores on 1-yard keeper. PAT fails. Bulls lead Raines, 41-0. Four TD passes, 1 TD run for Strawder.

FINAL SCORE: Northwestern 41, Raines 0.

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