Thousands of jubilant supporters welcomed the Raines Vikings football team home Saturday as state champions after their dramatic 23-22 victory over Miami Northwestern, avenging last year’s championship loss to the same team.

The undefeated Vikings returned to a hero’s welcome at Raines High School, where crowds gathered with signs, music, and fireworks to celebrate the team’s triumphant revenge tour completion.

“We changed a lot of things and how we operated just for that moment,” Vikings head coach Donovan Masline said. “The kids were locked in, no playing. They were hunting, were together, they believed in each other, they believed in the coaching, and it showed last night.”

The victory resonated deeply across Jacksonville’s Northside community, representing more than just a win on th

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