For Bolles and Raines football, the record watch is on in Miami.
When Bolles meets Sarasota Cardinal Mooney in the Florida High School Athletic Association Class 2A championship on Dec. 10, and when Raines plays Miami Northwestern in the Class 3A final two nights later, the record books could be changing as fast as the scoreboard.
High school football statistical feats to watch at Pitbull Stadium:
Willie McClendon set the previous mark in 1987, rushing for 42 touchdowns for University Christian.
While Edwards won’t be able to catch the overall Northeast Florida touchdown record of 55, which belongs to Derrick Henry from his record-breaking 2012 season at Yulee, the Bolles back is on course to climb even higher in the region’s top 10 for single-season yardage.
With 2,532 rushing yards through 13 games, Edwards has overtaken the likes of Frankie Franklin (1995, Sandalwood), Ciatrick Fason (1999, Fletcher) and Leon Washington (2001, Jackson) during the regionals.
Still ahead of him are three Derrick Henry seasons, including the area-record 4,261 in 2012; Maurice Wells of Sandalwood (3,075 yards, 2003); McClendon (2,969 yards, 1987); Bilal Ally of Clay (2,909 yards, 2015); and Jamauri Wakefield of Providence (2,537 yards, 2014).
Watch Bolles-Cardinal Mooney on NFHS Network
While not all records are complete, Burroughs’ career receiving yardage (3,658) ranks first among FHSAA receivers in Jacksonville and stands only 30 yards from the 3,688 yards of Suwannee legend Matt Frier between 1985 and 1988. For career yardage, the total for Ryan Ellis of Nease between 2003 and 2005 has been variously calculated at 3,539, 3,789 or 3,923 yards.
Burroughs also needs one touchdown catch to reach 50 for his career, extending his own record for Jacksonville FHSAA schools. Still, for Burroughs, statistics aren’t the ultimate goal.
“It was never about numbers,” Burroughs said. “It was just playing the game that I love.”
One more touchdown pass would also make Cole the first QB in Jacksonville’s FHSAA history to hit the 40-TD mark through the air in two different seasons. He threw for 43 last year, exceeded only by Johnson (47 in 2014) and Nease’s Tim Tebow (44 in 2004).
Watch Raines vs. Northwestern football on NFHS Network
Raines’ Butler calls audible
One Jacksonville player who’s already in record mode is Raines receiver Ziyon Butler.
Butler, who closed his Graveyard career with a 68-yard catch-and-run from Cole in the 28-8 victory over Sarasota Booker on Dec. 5, made Jacksonville’s most significant flip of the NCAA early signing period by switching from Georgia State to Middle Tennessee on Dec. 3.
He’s one of two Vikings heading to Middle Tennessee along with receiver Ethan Sherman, who is projected as a college cornerback.
During the regional tournament, Butler moved into the top spot on the Vikings’ all-time receiving list compiled by Raines historian W. Earl Kitchings, ahead of Bobby Williams (1,743), George Webb (1,682), Ronald Patterson (1,498) and Rick Wells (1,431).
Several of the famous NFL receivers to come from the school, including Kenny Burrough, Terry LeCount and Pro Football Hall of Famer Harold Carmichael, aren’t on that list because they played other positions during their time at Raines.
New forward Rutherford boosts Mandarin
Freshman forward Chauncey Rutherford stands several inches shorter than many of his Mustang teammates, but the freshman came up big off the bench in Mandarin’s 3-1 victory over Creekside on Dec. 3 — with a little vocal support from the stands.
“My uncle was actually here in the crowd and he’s been yelling the whole game,” he said. “It gives me adrenaline.”
Adrenaline, and goals. In the 74th minute, Rutherford snapped a 1-1 tie, netting the go-ahead goal off a rebound. Moments later, he broke away for an insurance goal off Emir Trto’s pass in the 75th. He nearly notched a hat trick a minute from the final whistle, but his shot glanced off the goalpost.
Not bad for a varsity newcomer.
“I knew it was my chance,” he said.
Scoring from Rutherford and energetic chasing in the final 10 minutes from fellow freshman Dillon Graves both helped Mandarin avenge its only regular-season loss during the past 46 months.
The freshman wave is encouraging for the future of the Mustangs, who must soon prepare for the coming graduation of multi-year senior starters Luxiah Beard, Robert Calazans and University of North Florida signee Trto.
MaxPreps ranks Mandarin (7-1-1) at No. 19 in high school soccer nationwide and ninth in Florida, with the highest position among Northeast Florida teams.
Freeman joins 1,000-point club
Bolles guard Evie Freeman is now a 1,000-point scorer.
Signed with Tennessee Tech for both basketball and track, Freeman reached quadruple figures by scoring a game-high 14 in the Bulldogs’ 67-37 victory against Fletcher. She also averages 5.3 points and 3.0 steals this season.
Her achievement was one of several standout scoring performances on the court.
Godfrey on MAC Hermann list
Fleming Island’s Lia Godfrey, now in her senior year at Virginia after recovering from a 2023 knee injury, is among 15 semifinalists for the MAC Hermann Trophy in women’s college soccer.
Godfrey scored 11 goals, five of them game-winners, along with four assists on her way to ACC Midfielder of the Year honors at season’s end.
The semifinal list of 15 will be further trimmed to three on Dec. 10.
Sharks top early soccer ranking
Speaking of national rankings, it’s looking good already for Ponte Vedra girls soccer under longtimehead coach Dave Silverberg.
Ponte Vedra placed No. 1 in the nation in the Dec. 8 set of MaxPreps national rankings, following the Sharks’ 6-0-1 start. The Florida quartet of Montverde Academy, Lake Mary, Archbishop McCarthy and Plantation American Heritage rounds out the top five.
The Sharks have already tied Montverde, the only team to keep them out of the win column, and will face Lake Mary on Dec. 12. Dartmouth-committed Lily Morse leads Ponte Vedra with eight goals in seven games.
Around the area
Creekside defender Logan Griffin committed to Jacksonville University women’s soccer. … Bradford guard Ar’nayshia Griffin signed with Coastal Carolina women’s basketball. … Bolles runner Charlotte Joseph committed to Richmond women’s track and field. … Tocoi Creek’s Matthew Ritchie committed to New York University men’s swimming. … Columbia outside hitter Sinei Wood committed to Rollins volleyball. … West Florida’s Jacksonville-area air combination of Nease’s Marcus Stokes (3,297 yards passing, 30 TD) and Episcopal’s Corey Scott (63 catches, 1,018 yards) will both enter the transfer portal. … Former First Coast quarterback Rodney Tisdale Jr. was named Conference USA football freshman of the year at Western Kentucky. … Middleburg announced the return of Alan Burnsed as head baseball coach. … Former Fletcher receiver Troy Hillman announced his plans to enter the transfer portal from Benedict. … Fleming Island’s Brooke Reynolds finished third in 20:27 at the Florida Athletic Coaches Association All-Star Classic for girls cross country. … Providence’s Sam Loftin led locals with an eighth-place finish of 15:01 at the Running Lane Championships in Huntsville, Ala. … Bartram Trail’s Bryce Motycka ran 15:37 at Running Lane to further improve his school record. … Flagler Palm Coast girls soccer coach Pete Hald celebrated his 550th win on Dec. 5, 5-0 over Sandalwood. … Tocoi Creek won the Arlington Optimist Invitational in boys wrestling. … The Fortegra High School 9:12 Invitational for boys basketball returns Dec. 12-13 at Bolles. … Tampa Jesuit quarterback Will Griffin won the Florida Gatorade Player of the Year for football. … Winter Park outside hitter Amelia Mancino was named Florida Dairy Farmers Miss Volleyball, with Winter Park’s Stephanie Gibson as volleyball coach of the year.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Bolles, Raines football near records in FHSAA finals
Reporting by Clayton Freeman, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union
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