Lewis uses his early experiences to turn around Rickards football program

By St. Clair Murraine

Outlook staff writer 

Rickards High School football coach Quintin Lewis is of the belief that he could only teach what he knows. Part of that is putting his players in a position to build a brotherhood and demonstrate pride on the field.

So when the Raiders defeated Dunnellon 26-24 last Friday to advance to the FHSAA football championship game for the first time in school history, it seemed to affirm that what he’s been preaching to his players came to fruition. They never stopped believing in each other, even when they were down 12-7.

During his years as a player at Rickards, Lewis learned how camaraderie and commitment to the next man’s success would result in victories. The three years he spent playing on the offensive line next to Kahari Wood turned out to be essential to what he learned and is now teaching his players.

It’s been that way from Day One after Lewis became head coach at his alma mater in 2012.

“I talk about my experience in high school and what my leaders on my team helped me do,” Lewis said. “It was a great environment and I thought if we could have that family-like environment on a team that is very talented we could do a lot of things.”

Indeed the Raiders have done plenty of great things, while compiling a 10-1 record. They will take the single most important step for the program when they face American Heritage at 7 p.m. Friday in the Class 5A championship game at Doak Campbell Stadium.

The Raiders managed to rally past Dunnellon, which came into the game with an unbeaten record when Terrance McPherson blocked a punt and picked the ball up to score the go-ahead points.

Prior to last Friday’s win, the closest the Raiders had gotten to reaching the final two was in 1995 when Lewis and Wood played on the right side of the offensive line. Lewis wore the No. 73 jersey and Wood’s was No. 74.

They coordinated on every running play, creating space for the ball carrier.

“He and me side by side kind of took things over,” Wood recalled.

Wood, son of City Commissioner Dianne Williams-Cox, said he followed the team all season. He tracked the games he couldn’t make in person and relied on updates by phone from former teammate or through social media.

“I’m extremely proud right now because, not only is the team doing well, but it has someone who embodies the spirit of the program in coach Lewis,” said Wood, who lives in Port St. Lucie. “You look at coach Lewis, he is 100 percent what Rickards football is all about. It’s a well-deserved feat for him right now.”

After leaving Rickards in 1996, Wood went on to play at Tulane. When his playing days were done with the Green Waves, Wood came to FAMU and earned a masters degree in physical therapy. 

Lewis took in all that Wood had taught him on the line and put it into play during his senior season.

“He was like my big brother,” Lewis said. “As I was learning the game of football, he taught me everything. We were side by side.”

However, Lewis said all of his teammates contributed to his success, including leaders like Freddie Moore, Casey Godwin and others.

Godwin, who played offensive guard for the Raiders, praised Lewis for turning Rickards into a respected football program.

“I think what coach Lewis is doing is teaching about not just football but the game of life,” said Godwin, who still lives in Tallahassee. “He is teaching them how to be good citizen, how to fight through adversities and to believe in themselves despite the odds.

“To see coach Lewis making history being the first Rickards High School team to play for a state title is very special for our boys here on the Southside.” 

A year after his senior teammates left Rickards, Lewis went to play football at Bethune-Cookman University. He got his first coaching job as an assistant at Crescent City High School, where he eventually became head coach three years before coming back to Rickards.

Coaching at Rickards is something Lewis had always wanted to do since growing up on the Southside.

“This is where I wanted to be,” he said. “I told my family when I was 10 years old that I want to be the head football coach at Rickards High School and I wanted to be a teacher. I accomplished both of those things before the age of 35.”

After coming back to Rickards, he immediately began to build a program based on what he learned when he played for the Raiders. He insisted on finishing games, but had to enduring watching his team come up short more than a few times. That was especially obvious during the past three seasons.

The proof that this is a different football team couldn’t be more obvious than the outcome of their game against Baker County. The Raiders trailed that game 10-0 at halftime before winning 14-10.

That win set the stage for Rickards to face Dunnellon for the right to play in the 5A state championship game.

“We just kept fighting,” Lewis said. “I just said give me everything you have. Let’s commit to that as a family.”

What the football team has done up to this point is the latest major achievement for athletics at Rickards. The school recently opened new softball and baseball fields.

Academically, the school recently attained a B ranking based on students’ test results and teachers’ performance in the classroom. 

All of that as the school celebrated its 60th year in September.

While the Raiders’ success on the field is getting a lot of attention, athletic director Claudette Farmer, said there are intangibles that have contributed to the success.

Namely, she said, a renovated locker room that that features television and a new audio system has strengthen the brotherhood among players.

“By putting that in, it changed a few things with the pride and I think he (Lewis) has got a rounded staff that is totally committed,” said Farmer, who is in her third year as athletic director. “They put a lot of time in. They are there all times of night.

“There is a lot of determination and pride to do well; perform well. Everybody wants to do well.”