In the final game of the 2026 Broward County National High School Football Showcase, St. Thomas Aquinas made a major statement.
Facing the DeSoto Fighting Eagles, the Raiders easily cruised to a 38-14 victory. In a game that was essentially over by the first half, St. Thomas Aquinas dominated on both offense and defense. Plenty of players stood out for the Raiders, who firmly asserted themselves as one of the best high school teams in the country.
There is plenty of things to dive into, and it is time to get started! Welcome to another New Era Prep game recap!
The Raiders’ Defense Dominates
Against a very talented DeSoto team, the defense for St. Thomas Aquinas was dominant and completely shut the Fighting Eagles down.
DE Wyatt Smith had two TFLs and clogged lanes all night long. He showcased his strength and quickness consistently, ending plays himself or funneling them back to his teammates. LB Levi Champion was everywhere and was a force for the Raiders. He had tackles on almost every drive; Champion filled gaps and ranged from sideline-to-sideline. Playing a major role in shutting down the rushing attack for DeSoto, Champion’s stock is on a major rise.
The secondary was argubaly the best position group on the field for St. Thomas Aquinas on Saturday. Ohio State commit Jaden Carey had a pick-six, reading the pass perfectly before securing the interception. Samari Howard had his own impressive INT later in the game, ranging across the field before jumping the route. Andre Jones forced a fumble on a double pass flying downhill to make the big play. Zayden Gamble, a Notre Dame commit, looked like one of the best pure athletes on the field. Not only did he have two tackles for loss, but he also returned two punts for touchdowns, one of which actually counted on the scoreboard.
In Florida, and across the country, there may not be a better collection of talent on a defense than St. Thomas Aquinas. This unit is absolutely loaded, and against a fast-rising Columbus team next week, the Raiders have a chance to make another big statement.
St. Thomas Aquinas Shows a Versatile Offense
They did not have to carry the team against DeSoto, but the offense for St. Thomas Aquinas was impressive in its own right against DeSoto.
On his first touch of the game, Pittsburgh commit Tyler Reid took the handoff, broke a tackle, and raced for the opening points of the game. It was an impressive play that showed the upside the running back has within the Raiders’ offense. Collin Francis, another running back, added his own rushing touchdown late in the first half of the game. Offensive tackle Mark Matthews, a Texas A&M commit, was instrumental in opening the lane for Francis’s touchdown.
Wideout Julius Jones, a Notre Dame commit, was the best offensive player for St. Thomas Aquinas. Jones made plays in space, broke tackles, and showed great hands on a variety of throws. He caught a touchdown late in the game, winning his route early and coasting into the end zone to put the exclamation mark on his team’s Saturday night victory. It is clear why he is viewed as one of the elite overall wideouts in the 2027 class.
Depending on the drive, the St. Thomas Aquinas offense can beat opponents in a variety of ways. They can run the ball well, hit quick passes, and when needed, hit big plays down the field in the passing game. It is a unit that is a perfect complement to the Raiders’ offense, and they should continue to do very good things over the rest of the 2026 season.
SaRod Baker and Khing Thibodeau Provide Sparks for DeSoto
Saturday was not a great day for DeSoto in the slightest. However, two players did provide some sparks for the Fighting Eagles: Running back SaRod Baker and DE Khing Thibodeaux.
Baker, a Texas Tech commit and a four-star in the 2027 class, did not have the benefit of great blocking on the offensive line. However, he showed great vision and burst all throughout the game. It usually took multiple defenders to bring Baker down, even when the Raiders fully sold out to stop the run. Late in the game, when the score was already well in favor of St. Thomas Aquinas, Baker found much more running room. He notched a touchdown, showing some impressive strength as a runner to get into the end zone.
Thibodeaux, a fellow 2027 prospect, was great against the run when plays came in his direction. The defensive end displayed his speed and strength off the edge, getting into the backfield on multiple occasions. He was never washed out of plays, holding his ground against blockers. Thibodeaux also notched a sack, using his overall skill set to get home to the quarterback to end a drive. The 2027 prospect is a fun uncommitted prospect to watch going forward.
What’s Next?
DeSoto travels to Allen for a major Texas high school football matchup, while St. Thomas Aquinas welcomes a great Columbus Explorers team to Fort Lauderdale on Friday, September 4.
