Raines Hosts West Boca Raton in Open Playoff
The Raines Rams, ranked seventh by the MaxPreps algorithm, host West Boca Raton in a Florida High School Athletic Association Open division playoff game.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Football
Raines football team, 10-0 and on a 24-game winning streak, hosts West Boca Raton, which is 9-1, on Thursday in a Florida High School Athletic Association Open division playoff game. The matchup is the first under a new Open division that places the top eight teams in MaxPreps rankings into a separate bracket.
Why it matters
Raines was ranked seventh by the MaxPreps algorithm, which forced the team to play on the road instead of defending its Class 3A state championship from last year. The Open division was created this season, and the algorithm used to slot teams into it has not been explained.
Raines running back TJ Williamson is averaging 7.6 yards per carry with 809 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns this season. Raines has 26 total takeaways from its defense and special teams, while the MaxPreps algorithm that placed the team seventh has not been explained.
The players
Raines High School
Raines High School is a public school in Jacksonville, Florida, whose football program has won the Class 3A state championship and competes in the Florida High School Athletic Association.
West Boca Raton High School
West Boca Raton High School is a public school in Boca Raton, Florida, that competes in the Florida High School Athletic Association playoffs.
Florida High School Athletic Association
The Florida High School Athletic Association is the state governing body that oversees interscholastic athletics and playoffs for public and private high schools in Florida.
The details
There are two four-team pools in the Open division, and each team plays three games against the rest of its pool. The top two teams in each pool advance to the state semifinals. Next week's pool games are Miami Columbus at Raines and Miami Central at West Boca Raton.
Timeline
Raines hosts West Boca Raton on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, at 6:30 p.m.
Next week, Miami Columbus visits Raines and Miami Central visits West Boca Raton in pool play.
Season Trajectory
The Open division places the top eight teams in MaxPreps rankings into a separate bracket, changing how Florida's defending champions reach the state semifinals. Raines, the defending Class 3A champion, must win two pool-play rounds of road games instead of defending its title directly.
The new Open division means teams ranked in the top eight by MaxPreps play a separate bracket, so fans tracking the postseason should check the pool standings each week. Pool results determine who advances to the state semifinals, so each game carries direct bracket consequences.
The takeaway
The Open division structure means a team's seeding algorithm ranking can decide whether a defending champion plays at home or on the road. Readers following the Florida playoffs should track pool standings closely, since only two teams from each four-team pool advance.
What happens next
Miami Columbus visits Raines and Miami Central visits West Boca Raton in next week's Open division pool games.
Further reading
For more on the local team's season, see Football coverage in Jacksonville.
Source note: This article includes information reported by News 4 Jax.
