Created by: Brylee Huff and Jacey Peters
LONDON, OH — In one of the most dramatic finishes, the London Red Raiders punched their ticket to the Regional Final with a thrilling 28–24 comeback victory over Jackson High School on Friday, October 14. A packed crowd at Bowlus Field witnessed a roller-coaster playoff battle that came down to the final 40 seconds and the steady arm of quarterback Blake Reay.
London opened the night strong, striking on its first possession when Reay connected with Kyler Russell for a touchdown to put the Raiders up early. Jackson answered through the air, and after one quarter, the teams remained deadlocked at 7–7.
The second quarter became a chess match. London locked down Jackson’s rushing attack, but the Ironmen continued to find yardage in the passing game. Reay delivered his second touchdown pass of the half, this time to McNeal, but Jackson countered with a scoring strike of their own. At halftime, nothing separated the two sides with a score of 14–14, setting up a tense playoff finish.
Jackson opened the second half with a grinding eight-minute drive, but London’s defense held firm in the red zone, forcing a field goal that gave Jackson a 17–14 edge. On the ensuing kickoff, momentum quickly swung back to the home sideline as Traivon Howard electrified the stadium with a stunning return “to the house,” flipping the score to 21–17, London heading into the fourth quarter.
Jackson regained the lead midway through the final period, punching in a touchdown to move ahead 24–21. With their season suddenly on the line, the Red Raiders took the field for one final drive.
London marched down to the Jackson 20-yard line, but found itself staring at 4th-and-8 with just 40 seconds remaining. The crowd rose to its feet as Reay dropped back, surveyed the defense, and fired a strike to McNeal in the end zone, a clutch touchdown that will be remembered for years. The Red Raiders reclaimed the lead 28–24, and the defense sealed the victory moments later.
With the win, London advances to the Regional Final, where they will face Tippecanoe High School on Friday, October 21, at 7 p.m. The game will be held at Skyhawk Stadium in Fairborn (1523 Commerce Center Blvd, Fairborn, Ohio).
The Red Raiders move on with momentum, resilience, and the confidence of a team that has stared down pressure and delivered when it mattered most.