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Fort Lauderdale, FL — It has been a long ten months for the defending 7A state champions. Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas took their home field for the first time since walking off as champions in Daytona, Fl. last December. The Raiders, ranked #2 in the nation by USA Today, picked up right where they left off with a hard-earned 25-13 victory over Tru Prep Academy Friday night. The game was delayed two and a half hours due to lightning in the area and played with no fans in the stands.
“It was great man,” said senior defensive back Jaden McBurrows. “During those ten months we waited, we were in meetings every day. Now we are here and now we are going to go all the way.”
The @UMichFootball commit @Mcburrows_Jaden gets his second interception of the game for @STA_Football and takes this one to the house. Score called back for an illegal block. St. Thomas closing in on a hard earned win over Tru Prep Academy. pic.twitter.com/3tgAIbs9CH
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) October 17, 2020
McBurrows, a Michigan commit, had a stellar junior season and recorded six interceptions and also added four blocked punts. In this game, the senior registered two interceptions including one in the fourth quarter that would potentially seal the victory for St. Thomas. McBurrows was often matched up against stand-out wide receiver Brandon Inniss, who McBurrows admits got the best of him in the first half.
“Brandon’s a great kid, great athlete,” said McBurrows. “It was a great competition he got me in the first quarter, but the second half he didn’t get nothing, I had to shut him down.”
.@UMichFootball commit @Mcburrows_Jaden gets his first pick of the season for @STA_Football. pic.twitter.com/EnsQCv1hZ5
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) October 17, 2020
Inniss would score Tru Prep’s only touchdowns of the game. The first, a 22-yard strike from Middle Tennessee commit Nick Vattiato, and the second a direct snap that the sophomore would sneak in from one yard out. Inniss would complete the game with seven catches for 112 yards, and two rushes for six yards. Vattiato completed 18 of 36 passes for 238 yards.
.@SaintsTpa strikes back with a @brandon5star2 22-yard touchdown catch. Throw from @canesqb11. This sophomore Inniss is electric. Saints take the lead 7-6 in the first quarter. pic.twitter.com/P8HOFdaSl7
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) October 17, 2020
Turnovers and penalties would ultimately prove to be the difference in this game. This was a chippy game throughout as plenty of unsportsmanlike penalties were called in favor of the home team. After a fumble recovery by Caden Martinez on Tru Prep’s first drive, St. Thomas would cash-in shortly after with a 26-yard touchdown catch by senior wideout Quincy Skinner. St. Thomas would win the turnover battle four to one.
Quincy Skinner with an easy 26-yard touchdown catch from @_ZionTurner to open up the scoring for @STA_Football. STA up 7-0 on Tru Prep with 9:46 left in the 1st qtr. pic.twitter.com/CJXAucCJ6a
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) October 17, 2020
“Statistically the team that wins the turnover battle has the advantage,” said St. Thomas Head Coach Roger Harriott. “We’re going to get the ball to bounce our way at times. Whether it’s turnovers, field position in regards to special teams, or putting the opposition in position to make mistakes and get penalized. That’s kind of our game.”
In the second quarter, junior running back Anthony Hankerson would bust through the line for a big gain that would set up a one-yard QB sneak by junior Zion Turner. The score would help tie the game at 13 at halftime. Turner had a solid day throwing the football completing 15 of his 23 passes for 206 yards, throwing for three touchdown passes, and zero interceptions.
“Zion’s a competitor,” said Coach Harriott. “He’s turning into a fierce leader. He’s still maturing. He really did a good job at halftime of motivating his teammates.”
Tru Prep Academy, (3-1), a new school created as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic located in Opa-Locka, is a team mostly composed of players and coaches from Nova Southeastern University School commonly known as University School. University School was eliminated from the 4A state playoffs last season by Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons in the regional semifinals. The Tru Prep Saints, playing as an independent, started its season undefeated with wins over Akelynn’s Angels Christian Academy, Palm Glades Prep Academy, and a dominating 47-29 win over defending 2A champion Hialeah Champagnat Catholic last week.
In the second half, the Raiders defense put a stranglehold on the Saints offense holding them to zero points. Alabama commit Dallas Turner recorded four sacks in the game and forced Vattiato to make tough throws under pressure. Zion does a great job of buying time and finding open receivers for chunk yards including two touchdown passes to Maurice Newton. The senior wide receiver’s two scores in the third quarter made it a 25-13 game.
Newton exploded down the sideline weaving through defenders for his second score.
St. Thomas Aquinas (1-0) hosts Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons (2-0) next week while Tru Prep Academy will look to get back on track in two weeks as they take on Miami Monsignor Pace.
