ORLANDO – The Booker T. Washington Tornadoes placed themselves in the FHSAA record books permanently following their fourth consecutive state title in a 43-23 thriller over Raines at the Florida Citrus Bowl. Not only did they tie a record with just two other teams in history, but they set two records for the longest INT return (100 yards) and the longest touchdown pass in history with at 92 yards. They’re the first team in history to win three different titles with three different coaches AND quarterbacks. The victory caps off one of the most tumultuous seasons the Tornadoes have endured in many years.

Booker T. entered the game with five losses–something they haven’t experienced in at least a decade. In fact, the Tornadoes were 29-0 the past two years entering 2015 and were 55-2 over the past four years. Their five losses were to in-county rivals plus St. Thomas Aquinas. Their title is also the third won with a different coach in successive seasons joining Live Oak-Suwannee and North Florida Christian. First it was Tim “Ice” Harris and then Tim “Ice” Harris Jr. and now Earl Tillman Jr.

The game itself was a tale of two halves–with one consistency–the Vikings thoroughly dominating the stat sheet, yet totally dominated by the Tornadoes in crunch time. Raines traveled to the red zone seven times during the course of the evening and came away with just three points. They carried a 26 minutes to 9 minutes advantage in terms of time of possession at the end of the third quarter. Then the fourth quarter happened.

Booker T. scored 29 points in the fourth quarter and scored a total of 36 from 5:15 remaining in the third quarter till their last touchdown with 5:33 remaining in the game. They began the fourth quarter with just 108 yards of total offense–they racked up 194 yards of total offense in the final frame alone. The Tornadoes also scored on a strip-six and then a scoop-and-score within 22 seconds.

Much like the first game of the afternoon in which Trinity Christian and American Heritage combined for 24 penalties and 234 yards, the Tornadoes and Vikings smashed that mark with 35 penalties for 309 yards on the evening. Raines ran a total of 83 plays to just 45 for Booker T. Washington. There were just three punts combined opposed to nine turnovers combined.