FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – National powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas looked to make their way back to the state championship game tonight as they hosted Gaither from Tampa.

The Raiders wasted absolutely no time getting on the board first as they relied on Jordan Lyle and his elusiveness to slide through defenders as he put Aquinas up early in the 1st with a 7-0 lead. However, Aquinas would find equal success through the air as Andreus Madison would get a nice open reception to put the Raiders up 14-0 to end the 1st quarter.

Moving on to the 2nd, Aquinas would tack on a pair of field goals to put them up 20-0. Jordan Lyle would get his second rushing touchdown of the night halfway through the quarter to put the Raiders up 27-0. Gaither would get their first touchdown soon after to cut the lead down to only 20 points, however the damage had already been done. With a minute left in the 1st half Lyle would once again score, this time off a wildcat play. Gaither would get the ball back only to turn it over to the Raider defense giving Aquinas another shot to score before the half ended. With eight seconds left in the half, Stacey Gauge would rush it in for a touchdown to give Aquinas a 40-7 lead going into halftime.

With the running clock starting as soon as the half begun, Aquinas would start with the ball. Naturally they scored once again as Julius Jones would capitalize off a slant to put the Raiders up by 40. Gaither would score in the early part of the 4th quarter with a goal line dive, cutting the lead down to 47-14.

With time running down Aquinas would kick another field goal to set the score at 50-14. As time ran out Aquinas had found themselves back at the peak of Florida high school football, securing a win and their 23rd visit to the state championship game. Aquinas will be looking to knock off Homestead in the state championship and claim their 15th championship in would should be an exciting matchup between two South Florida teams.