St. Thomas Aquinas and the term “domination” go hand in hand. Hence, the Raiders have won 15 state titles and have produced over 30 NFL draft picks.
What transpired Friday night was yet another example of why STA is one of the best high school football programs in the country.
Under the flashing colored LED lights at Brian Piccolo Memorial Stadium, St. Thomas Aquinas beat the Dillard Panthers 58-0 after a 37-point first quarter performance.
The Raiders are out-scoring their opponents 414-109 this season, but the truth of the matter is that Dillard was supposed to put up a fight Friday night.
No one expected the Raiders to beat Dillard by 58 points, not even St. Thomas Aquinas head coach Roger Harriott.
“We didn’t expect that (a blowout) either,” coach Harriott said after the game. “That was a formidable opponent as everyone knows. They’ve done some great things over the course of the season. We were just able to capitalize on some of the mishaps early. Like any other teenage game, once you establish the momentum, it’s difficult to recover.”
The six-time state champion head coach is absolutely right about Dillard being a formidable team. The Panthers came into the game with a 5-3 record, including wins over Stranahan, Miramar, Plantation, Fort Lauderdale, and Boyd Anderson.
The 58-point loss won’t define Dillard, however, as they have a massive showdown against Blanche Ely next Friday night in what is called the Soul Bowl. Dillard and Blanche Ely are both expected to make the playoffs, but a win would be crucial for both bragging rights and seeding in the FHSAA Playoffs.
Speaking of the FHSAA Playoffs, that’s when St. Thomas Aquinas will play next as the Raiders finished the regular season with a 9-1 record, winning nine straight games to end the season.
The Raiders will be focusing on “giving a state championship type effort” next week during their bye, per coach Harriott.
“We got a little break,” St. Thomas Aquinas running back Jordan Lyle said postgame. “We are going to get a lot of guys back that were injured. We are going to be ready to come back better than ever.”
Lyle is a three-star running back who is committed to Ohio State.
“I felt a family bond with them,” the 6-0, 180 pound running back said when talking about his commitment to the Buckeyes. “It’s just a connection, especially with the running back room. Coach Alford produces great running backs and I just look forward to it.”
OJ Frederique, another three-star on St. Thomas Aquinas, is looking forward to the playoffs.
“We are going to take it one game at a time,” the 6-0, 176 pound cornerback said. “We are going to play fast and physical and we are going to see what happens.”
Frederique is committed to Miami alongside teammates Chance Robinson (wide receiver) and Ryan Mack (defensive back).
“What led to that decision was the love they showed from day one,” Frederique said. “The relationship I have with the coaching staff and the fanbase is great.”
St. Thomas Aquinas now controls their own destiny as they are expected to be the No. 1 seed in 3M Region 3.
Can the Raiders win a fifth straight state title and their 16th state title in program history?
