Marcus Benjamin @_benjaminmoney
Deerfield Beach, FL – Two of the best teams in the state up to this point of the season met on Friday night in what was suppose to be the featured game of the week. The contest was not a contest at all. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) smashed Deerfield Beach 38-6 in a statement win over the 8A state title contender.
“We wanted to make statement,” said Head Coach Roger Harriott. “We channeled that anger into some positive motivation. We were extremely adamant about redemption in the last two weeks.”
After a humbling loss to Miami Central two weeks prior, St. Thomas had a fortnight to prepare to come back with a vengence to prove their greatness. On Deerfield’s home field they did just that. Linebacker Anthony Solomon scored two touchdowns for the Raiders as they cruised to running clock victory.
“I was preaching to this team all week,” said Solomon. “We have a target on our backs and on our chests every week. Redemption was our main focus and is our main focus for the rest of the year. Come out strong was the main key.”
St. Thomas started the game with some razzle dazzle from the first play from scrimmage. Xavier Restrepo found Marcus Rosemy on a halfback pass for a 50-yard touchdown that ignited the Aquinas sideline.
Deerfield would settle for a punt in their own territory on the following possession when disaster struck. The snap went over the head of the punter and Solomon recovered the football for the first of his two scores.
Deerfields offense started in unfavorable field position for much of the game. Pinned inside the 5-yard line, the home team managed a 10-yard punt which set the Raider offense up at the Buck 22-yard line. The Raiders would cap this drive with a Daniel Carter 1-yard score on fourth down.
.@KING__CARTER5 plunges into the endzone on fourth down to extend the @STA_Football lead over Deerfield Beach in the first half. @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/XhBSjGlKGt
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminMoney) October 6, 2018
Later in the half, another blunder on special teams would prove costly as the punter caught the ball with his knee on the ground. The Raiders would score with a Nigel White touchdown on that drive and would also add a field goal before the half to take a commanding 31-0 lead into halftime.
“We feel like we are 48-minute team and we take a lot of pride in that,” said Coach Harriot. “When it gets to halftime we have a 24-minute chant and we ask ‘what kind of team are we’ and they say a second half team.”
Solomon shut the door on any chance of a come back with the first play from scrimmage in the second half. The Miami commit was sent on a blitz and was able to strip the quarterback, recover the fumble and run into the endzone for his second score. Solomon was awarded the Football Hotbed MVP honor on a night where sack artist Jason Pierre-Paul was in attendance and honored at halftime.
“We are not going to take a second for granted,” said Coach Harriot. “We wanted make sure that we gave our best championship effort.”
St. Thomas will continue their quest for a 7A state championship at Fort Lauderdale High School. Deerfield will look to rebound against Stoneman Douglas (Parkland) at home.
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