ORT LAUDERDALE – The nationally televised GEICO Kickoff Showcase on ESPN placed 13-time FHSAA state champion St. Thomas Aquinas in a positive light this past Saturday (Aug. 27).
The Class 3M favorite posted a 48-37 win over St. Joseph’s Prep (Pa.) that featured a balanced attack on the offensive side of the ball and a defense that made key stops when necessary.
This could be a precursor of what to expect from St. Thomas Aquinas (1-0) throughout the regular season and the FHSAA 3M playoffs.
Let us start with Hezekiah “Champ” Harris, who started his promising senior season off with 14 pass completions in 19 attempts for 240 yards and three touchdowns.
One of Harris’s scoring passes was to senior tight end and Virginia commit TeKai Kirby, who caught a 59-yard pass and took it to the house in the first quarter.
The Harris-Kirby connection will be one to watch this season.
Their score helped put St. Thomas Aquinas up 14-7 over St. Joseph’s Prep, setting the stage for what would turn out to be an 11-point margin of victory.
“We needed a fast start,” Harris told media members after the game this past Saturday. “We came out. We were motivated. We wanted to show all the work we put in the offseason, and we wanted to display it in this game.”
St. Thomas Aquinas eventually increased the lead to 21-7 over St. Joseph’s Prep (0-1).
The second quarter was a challenge moment for the home team.
“We cooled off a little bit,” Harris said. “Here we say when we face adversity, we get motivated.”
The second half proved to be a successful one for St. Thomas Aquinas in parts, which was enough to seal the deal.
“It’s a huge confidence boost for our team, playing on a national stage like this,” Harris said. “It displayed everything. Our talent, our grit, our attitude, our effort. Everything.”
JUNIOR RUNS: St. Thomas Aquinas junior running back Jordan Lyle scored twice on the ground – a 22-yarder that put his team up 7-0 early one and a 65-yarder that gave his team a 28-17 lead in the third quarter.
LOCAL ACTION: St. Thomas Aquinas senior linebacker and Belle Glade native Keyshawn Johnson had five tackles and one sack. The first play of the game was Johnson’s tackle in the backfield with 11:56 left in the first quarter.
NEXT GAME: St. Thomas Aquinas (No. 5 ranked team in the nation by MaxPreps) will be on the road against Fort Myers (0-1) this Friday night (Sept. 2; 7 p.m.).
PHOTO CREDITS: Chuck Bethel
