Booker T. locks up No. 1 seed in region by beating Palmetto in regular-season finale

Booker T. Washington is officially going into the postseason on top.

Two months after they dug themselves a first-half hole against Palmetto, the Tornadoes finally played the second half a postponed game from September and rallied to beat the Panthers, 21-16, in both teams’ regular-season finale Thursday at Traz Powell Stadium in Miami. The win sends Booker T. Washington into the playoffs as the No. 1 seed in Region 4-2A.

“This gives us a little something to be able to work toward for next week,” Tornadoes coach Ice Harris said. “We feel good about where we’re at to get the win and now to be able to move on going into the playoffs.”

Booker T. Washington quarterback Nylan Maine threw for a touchdown and ran for another, and the Tornadoes (7-2) hung on—thanks in large part to a pair of 15-yard penalties by Palmetto—after the Panthers (6-4) got into the red zone with a chance to win on their final drive of the game.

Maine capped the first drive of the second half—a nearly nine-minute march from Booker T. Washington’s own 20-yard line—with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Tornadoes wide receiver Anton Smith to give the Tornadoes a 15-10 lead, then ran for a 25-yard touchdown on Booker T. Washington’s next drive after the Tornadoes forced a three-and-out from Palmetto on the Panthers’ first possession of the half. The Tornadoes went ahead 21-10 with 10:21 remaining.

Maine finished 8 of 14 for 67 yards as a passer—and started 8 of 9—and ran for 43 yards on eight carries in the second half.

“Those two drives really show who we are as an offense,” Maine said, “and how we can stack drives.”

Palmetto answered with its only scoring drive of the second half, with Panthers running back Varian Terry running 34 yards for a touchdown, and then Booker T. Washington missed two chances to put away Palmetto.

First, the Tornadoes got across midfield, only to stall out when Maine threw an incomplete pass on fourth-and-4 from the Panthers’ 48. Booker T. Washington followed the turnover on downs by forcing another three-and-out, but the Tornadoes then went three-and-out themselves and gave Palmetto one final chance.

The Panthers took over with 3:49 left at Booker T. Washington’s 47 and quickly got down to the 11, aided by a pass interference in the end zone. From there, everything went awry.

On third-and-2 from the 11, Palmetto running back Ethan Lopez took a direct snap and got stuffed as a flag flew into the middle of the offensive line. Not only was the run unsuccessful, but the Panthers also committed a chop block, plus another personal foul. Palmetto went from a short fourth-down chance to third-and-32. Florida commit Ben Hanks Jr. intercepted Panthers quarterback Andre Bailey on fourth down and the Tornadoes escaped.

In Harris’ third year back at Booker T. Washington, the Tornadoes will go into the playoffs as perhaps the team to beat—just like the old days.

“We had some adversity at the beginning of everything. … We had to make sure we got the culture in terms of who we are at Booker T. Washington Senior High School,” Harris said. “If we do it the way we’re supposed to get it done our culture in here, we can do a pretty good job in the playoffs.”