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Davie, FL — Since the 90s, St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) has been one of the national perennial powers in high school football. The Raiders have two national championships (2008, 2010) and last won a state championship in 2016. On Friday night, St. Thomas took one step closer to achieving a third national championship by completing an undefeated regular season with a 41-16 win at Western (Davie). The Raider defense forced seven turnovers and matched the Raider offense scoring two touchdowns.
“A lot of people say defense wins championships,” said Florida Gator commit Derek Wingo. “Finishing was our motto for almost this whole season. Being able to finish this season undefeated is great but, we just got to look forward to the next half of the season.”
Senior Colby Dempsey @cdemps2 of @STA_Football denies James Williams of a touchdown here at the goal line. Dempsey had two interceptions and nearly had a third in the rout of Western. @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/kfrLz3omBc
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) November 2, 2019
The Raiders came into the week ranked 2nd in the nation by USA Today behind Mater Dei (CA). If the defending national champions in Mater Dei stumble with a loss in the California playoffs and St. Thomas completes their postseason undefeated, the Raiders will be in strong consideration for a third national title. Aquinas last lost to Lakeland in the 2018 7A state title game. Lakeland has been ranked #1 in our Football Hotbed Rankings all season.
“Big losses like that can carry on forever,” said Wingo. “A loss like that to Lakeland is definitely something that carries on.”
Wingo leads this Raider defense that continues to put points on the scoreboard.
The Raiders took a 3-0 lead into halftime but found themselves down 7-3 after freshman quarterback Colin Hurst found senior Erik Rozanski for a five-yard touchdown pass. The Wildcat score was set up by a James Williams strip and recovery deep in Raider territory. The four-star junior Williams caused three turnovers in the game as he would snag two interceptions in the first half.
That’s number 2 for @Begreat_20. James Williams dives for the interception for @WHSFball. Wildcats still trail 3-0 to St. Thomas in second quarter. @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/s8nfPsoGH8
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) November 1, 2019
The former Miami 2021 commit would also score on offense with a beautiful over the should catch late in the game.
.@WHSFball gets this touchdown late as @Gip_Nephew5 connects with @Begreat_20. Score 41-16 Raiders with 4:59 left. @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/5wOhfpYCUS
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) November 2, 2019
Aquinas would strike back quickly.
On the ensuing kickoff, junior Ja’den McBurrows would return the football for a touchdown breaking several tackles en route to the end zone. McBurrows would leave this game with a leg injury and did not return. McBurrows was seen walking on his own on the sideline.
Junior Tyson Russell would score next on a pick-six from a deflected pass fielded from midfield. Russell would weave his way through Western tacklers to put his team up two scores 17-7. The Wildcats would counter with a field goal but failed to recover an onside kick after adding the three points.
On offense, the Raiders are led by sophomore quarterback Zion Turner who started his first regular-season for St. Thomas this season. Immediately after the attempted onside kick, Turner found Pittsburgh commit Jahvante Royal on a go route down the right sideline for their first offensive touchdown. Head Coach Roger Harriott is confident the offense, who played without Georgia commit Marcus Rosemy (on the sideline in a walking boot), can get the job done in the postseason.
“The offense has some improvement to do, but we have the ability to get it done. It was an extremely close game right up until the middle of the third quarter. A couple balls bounced our way [and] the defense stepped up..”
Colby Dempsey registered two interceptions in the game including a pick-six that would extend the Raider lead 33-10 in the fourth quarter.
Colby Dempsey adds to the @STA_Football total with this pick six. Score now 33-10 over Western in the fourth quarter. @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/3ABWXeO4Va
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) November 2, 2019
Senior Blaine Anderson and junior Adetola Danijo would also intercept Wildcat passes on the night. The Raiders would recover two fumbles as well to notch the seven turnovers.
Junior DL Adetola Daranijo of @STA_Football gets the interception off of the deflection here. One of five interceptions forced by the Raiders at Western. @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/TM6Q61U8KZ
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) November 2, 2019
“It’s been going on all season,” said Coach Harriott of the non-offensive touchdowns. “The defense executed well, you can’t take anything away from them. They’re flying around coming down with turnovers and putting the ball in the end zone. I’m optimistic about our chances in the postseason.”
St. Thomas (9-0) will go into the playoffs as the number one seed and likely will host South Plantation next week in region 4 of 7A, while Western (7-2) will likely be the number four seed and host South Dade (Homestead) in region 4 of 8A next week. Aquinas completes its first undefeated regular season since 2010 and is going for its 11th state title.
The official playoff brackets will be released early next week.
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