11-05-2025
Thanks to dramatic final play, Miami Edison wins its first state title in flag football
This was Poetry in motion – literally.
As Rakyia Louis' pass floated 50 yards, everyone on both sidelines stopped to stare, knowing that either euphoria or the stress of overtime awaited on this final play of the 2025 flag-football season.
Louis avoided two defenders in the backfield before letting loose with her massive throw to wide receiver Poetry Auguste, who caught the ball five yards deep in the end zone, giving the Edison Red Raiders the first state championship in program history.
With that catch at the buzzer, Edison defeated previously unbeaten Wildwood, 26-20, in a thrilling Class 1A final at the AdventHealth Training Center in Tampa that neither team will soon forget.
'As soon as Rakyia let it go, I knew it was six points,' Edison coach Vincent Hall. '(Wildwood's defensive back) is going to be really good, but she's a freshman, and Poetry is a senior.'
Edison never trailed in this game. However, Wildwood rallied to tie the score, 20-20, and the Wildcats had a first-and-goal at Edison's four-yard line with just two minutes left in the game.
But that's when Edison defensive coordinator Mikey Sheehan called an exotic blitz, and it worked. The Red Raiders got Wildwood's quarterback to freeze momentarily, and that led to a sack.
'It was a double-rusher blitz,' Hall said, 'and we switched the defense at the snap of the ball.'
After the sack, Edison got the ball and drove to about midfield before calling timeout with four seconds left.
Auguste, who had been shaken up on the previous play, told Edison's coaches she was fine, and Hall drew up a play with her in mind.
Hall had three players stay in to block: Imani Rogers, Camille Canidate and Malayisa David.
Brianna Bogan then ran a post to tie up a safety in middle of the field. Torri Cotman ran a fly pattern on the right side, and that meant Auguste was in single coverage on the left.
Louis, though, had to step up in the pocket to avoid the rush before looking to her right to move a possible help defender from drifting over to Auguste.
'Not many girls can make that throw that far and keep it on a line,' Hall said. 'But Rakyia can.'
The rest was up to Auguste.
'I saw Poetry get behind the defensive back,' Hall said. 'I'll take Poetry one-on-one against anyone.'
Indeed, it was Poetry in motion.
THIS AND THAT
▪ Louis threw four TD passes on Saturday – three to Auguste and one to David. After throwing a pair of interceptions in the state semifinals, Louis came out firing on Saturday.
'Even if the game had kicked off at 6 a.m., she would've been ready,' Hall said of Louis. 'She was locked in.'
▪ Of the 13 players on Edison's roster, six are freshmen, which bodes well for the Red Raiders' future.
▪ Palmetto's flag-football players and coaches, who lost in the state semifinals on Friday, stuck around in Tampa to cheer on Edison, chanting: '305! 305!'
