Daytona Beach, FL — One of the most successful programs in the history of the state of Florida was tested in the 7A state championship game at Daytona Stadium Saturday night. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) edged Edgewater (Orlando) 28-23 to bring home a championship to South Florida for the first time since 2016. The win also put St. Thomas in a tie with Jacksonville Bolles for the most championships in the state.
“I’m really proud of our guys it was a rewarding victory,” said Head Coach Roger Harriot after being doused with the Gatorade bath. “Congratulations to the past teams. We are grateful to have an opportunity to be a part of that.”
The game came down to the very last play with four seconds left. Edgewater quarterback Canaan Mobley launched the football from the 23-yard line trying to find his go-to receiver Tommi Hill, but the ball would be intercepted out of bounds by Georgia commit Marcus Rosemy. The St. Thomas Aquinas sideline exploded with elation and as the mission of avenging last year’s championship game loss to Lakeland was achieved.
“You try to have faith but it’s tough, said Harriot after putting the championship medal around his neck. “We felt like it was important to keep our word. I told our players that we would be back for that 2018 team and we were able to do it we took it one play at a time. We have an extraordinary group of young men.”
The Raiders found themselves down by two scores for the first time this season. Edgewater started their first drive from their own one-yard line and nearly gave up points in the form of a safety on first and second down. On third down, the Eagles would convert on completion to junior Christian Leary from junior quarterback Mobley. Leary was not done as he would get the edge on a designed run and take it to the house for 54-yard touchdown. The 99-yard touchdown drive by the Eagles set the tone for the evening.
St. Thomas would try to equalize going for it on fourth down from the three-yard line in the second quarter. Sophomore quarterback Zion Turner would connect with Jake Ray for a short completion short of the first down with 6:22 left in the half. Edgewater would extend the Eagle lead when Leary would break loose again for an explosive 75-yard touchdown. The Raiders found themselves unfamiliar territory down 14-0.
“All props to number one and number six,” said Florida commit Derek Wingo referring to Isaiah Connelly and Leary. “They were toting that thing. Early on they got us, we were a little shook, we were able to get back in the second half and make some adjustments and go play football.”
Connelly rushed for 132 yards on 28 carries while Leary rushed for 141 yards on six carries.
Those adjustments would come in the form of a commitment to the running game led by Anthony Hankerson. Aquinas would got back on track offensively when the sophomore Hankerson broke free for a 63-yard touchdown run up the middle. Hankerson Just before the half, Zion Turner would scramble to the 28-yard line setting up a 46-yard field goal attempt. Noah Botsford would come up short on the field goal try keeping it a one-touchdown game at halftime.
Hankerson rushed for 190 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries.
“We knew that we could get our gameplan going,” said Harriot. “We needed to just settle down and execute.”
One of the momentum shifts for the defense came at the 5:19 mark in the third quarter. St. Thomas got their first turnover of the game when senior Blaine Anderson stepped in front of a Mobley pass for an interception. The Raiders would inject a heavy dose of Hankerson on the ensuing drive and Turner would finish the drive with an eleven-yard touchdown run.
“We know what Anthony is capable of, we all know what our offense is capable of,” said Turner. “We just have to put everything together and play our hearts out.”
Edgewater would go three and out on the ensuing possession and Aquinas would use a variety of zone-read run plays to march down the field. Turner would go in for his second rushing touchdown of the game on the drive, this one from 13 yards to make it a 21-14 game.
In the fourth quarter, the Eagles would break a big run on their next drive as Isaiah Connelly broke free for a 37-yard run. The Raiders defense would hold the Eagles to a field goal as Joey Roggiero for a 25-yard field goal.
Turner would also show the crowd at Daytona Stadium that he can throw the football. Turner would hit Jahvante Royal on a 3rd down and 7 to keep the drive moving and later would find Rosemy on a fade route in the corner of the end zone for an 11-yard touchdown with 6:04 to go in the game. Turner completed 13 of 20 passes for 112 yards and touchdown.
Also, displaying their ability throwing the ball was Mobley. The junior threw a gorgeous pass to junior Hill for a 26-yard touchdown. Hill caught the ball over the shoulder in the corner of the endzone to help make it a 28-23 game with 4:18 left in the game. Mobley completed 22 of 32 passes for 208 yards and a touchdown.
On St. Thomas’s next possession, the Raiders were faced with a 4th down and one on their own 29 and elected to punt. Mobley would get the ball back and complete three passes to Hill including a 29 yarder that would take his team the Aquinas 23-yard line. Edgewater outgained St. Thomas 487 to 398 in total yards.
This win for St. Thomas Aquinas (14-0) completed the South Florida sweep setting a record for that area for the most state championships won in a year with seven. Edgewater (13-2) is still looking for their first state title but Coach Harriot believes that they will be back.
“Hats off to Edgewater, they’re an exceptional team. I know exactly how they feel on the other side. I’m sure they’ll do great things and they’ll be back.”
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