Raines vs. Ribault: What to watch in Northwest Classic football

NORTHWEST CLASSIC FOOTBALL, 57TH EDITIONWho: Ribault (5-4) at Raines (9-0).When: 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31.Where: Earl S. Kitchings Stadium (The Graveyard).Series history: Raines leads 42-14.Last year: Raines 53, Ribault 0.Outlook: Winner of its last 23 games overall and reigning Class 3A champion, Raines is going for its series-record 10th consecutive Northwest Classic victory. Ribault last won the Northwest Jacksonville rivalry in 2016.Playoff positioning: Raines has clinched District 3-3A and is expected to receive the No. 1 seed in Region 1-3A for the FHSAA playoffs beginning on Nov. 13. Ribault stands No. 16 in Region 1-4A and is well outside the playoff berths in the MaxPreps standings.When Ribault has the ball: This was a shutout last year, and despite Ribault's improvement, it still shapes up as advantage Vikings. The Trojans have a 1,000-yard passer this year in junior Leo Taylor, while Jayden Mills averages 7.9 yards per carry. But Raines' pass rush, particularly Troy Butler and Chenaniah Doran, presents a major challenge for anyone. The Raines defense is hungry for the football, from Zion Green and Tacori Allen in the secondary to Johdeem Jones (four fumble recoveries) and Nate Bennett at linebacker.When Raines has the ball: Agile running back TJ Williamson (699 yards) brings the explosiveness that has boosted the Vikings through up-and-down stretches earlier in the season. Sophomore QB Sa'Mon Ellison-Morgan, now a four-star recruit for Rivals, has made strides since the season's start with 1,234 passing yards and numerous athletic receiving targets. Breon Bethea and Benson Candy have several defensive highlights for Ribault, but as in 2025, the Trojans' top threat is edge rusher Jalen Peters. He has 10 tackles for loss this year and made three sacks in last year's Northwest Classic.This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Raines vs. Ribault: What to watch in Northwest Classic football