Racine Wins Gridiron Bowl XIV

The Racine Raiders scored ten unanswered points in the fourth quarter to beat the West Sound (WA) Rebels, 27-18, in the Gridiron Developmental Football League's Gridiron Bowl XIV national championship game in Landover, Md. on Saturday night. Raiders quarterback Andre Locke was named the game's most valuable player after rushing for two touchdowns and passing for a third. Locke completed passes to nine different receivers. He finished the game 18-of-28 passing for 236 yards and rushed eight times for 34 yards.

The Raiders claimed the team's 10th national title and first since 2014. Racine finished the season 15-0, the first undefeated season since 2014, and collected franchise win 667. The ten national titles and 667 wins are the most of any minor league football team in history. The Raiders defeated seven previously unbeaten teams and had wins over teams representing 11 different states plus the District of Columbia.

The Raiders would start the fourth quarter with the football and had a nearly seven-minute drive stall at the West Sound 11-yard line. Gonzalez booted a 28-yard field goal to give Racine a 20-18 lead with 7:14 left in the game.

West Sound went for it on fourth down deep in their own territory on the next drive and failed to convert. Racine took over at the West Sound 28-yard line. Locke misfired on a second down play but was hit late by Vikah Lefau setting the Raiders up with a first down at the Rebels 14-yard line. Locke connected with tight end Dillon Flores and Flores stretched for the goal line but came up short. Locke would take it in from a yard out on the next play and Gonzalez added the extra point to give Racine a two possession lead at 27-18 with 2:58 to play.

Read more game details here: https://www.gdfl.org/news/racine-raiders-claim-10th-national-title-to-cap-70

Watch the game here: https://www.youtube.com/live/WajPr5x19BQ?si=Go1AzXVJegBXlzMU

The Raiders dominated their postseason opponents with 43-0 shutout of the Tri-City Outlaws in the first round, they defeated the Huntsville Rockets 41-10 in the quarterfinals and Syracuse Strong 31-8 in the semifinals.