Fort Lauderdale, FL — For the fifth straight year Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas met Venice in a Florida High School Athletic Association playoff game. The winner of this game has gone on to win three of the last four 7A state championships: St. Thomas winning last year and in 2016, Venice winning in 2017.
This year St. Thomas was dominant once again in a 29-8 win over their now cross-state rival.
“We’re not really focused too much on the actual team,” said Head Coach Roger Harriot. “We want to make sure that we put our guys in the best position possible to execute and not get so caught up in the emotional aspect of it.”
New to the rivalry is senior linebacker/edge rusher, Dallas Turner. Turner, an Alabama commit, and transfer from American Heritage Plantation blocked a punt and advanced the ball over the goal line for a touchdown in the second quarter. The score would make it a 22-0 lead at halftime and the feeling was very familiar to last year’s game that ended in a 42-0 shutout.
“I told one of the (defensive back) coaches I was going to block the punt,” said Turner. “We could’ve made more plays in the second half, but everybody makes mistakes everybody’s not perfect.”
Venice, behind the arm of quarterback Colin Blazek, attempted 57 passes but struggled to get his team in the end zone. In the third quarter, the senior threw into double coverage where Vanderbilt commit Tyson Russell and Isaiah Taylor, the son of hall of fame defensive end Jason Taylor who serves on the Aquinas coaching staff, caught the ball from a deflection at the goal line and navigated his way for 102-yard pick-six. The play seemed to deflate the Venice sideline and any hopes of a road playoff win.
How about a 102 yard pick-six by @isaiah_taylor4 of @STA_Football to open up a 29-0 lead on Venice in the 3rd quarter. @FootballHotbed @FlaHSFootball pic.twitter.com/K8gYhBinp5
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) December 5, 2020
“We have a bend but don’t break type of defense,” said Coach Harriot. “The kept us in the game, we have some things that we have to improve on with regards to playing sound clean football, but that’s why we line up. Every week is part of our progression process and we’re grateful to move on to the next round.”
FINAL: @STA_Football defeats @VeniceIndianFB 29-8 as Jarin Davis closes it out with this interception. @FlaHSFootball @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/mzuXf5OYjA
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) December 5, 2020
On offense, St. Thomas relied on heavy doses of the running game spearheaded by running back Anthony Hankerson. The junior rushed 31 times for 133 yards and two touchdowns in the first half and also scored on a two-point conversion.
“Our objective is to move the chains,” said Harriot. “Our offense is extremely tenacious. They’re tough. Our offensive line our wide receivers and obviously Hankerson and (Corey) Reddick do a good job, they complement each other well.”
St. Thomas Aquinas (6-1) moves on to play at Valrico Bloomingdale in the state semifinals next week and is looking to win its 12th state title. If the Raiders win their 12th championship, they would take the lead with the most state titles in the state of Florida. Aquinas currently tied with Jacksonville Bolles for state championships with eleven. Bolles is set to play Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons in the 4A state championship game in two weeks. St. Thomas’s lone loss of the season was to Gibbons 17-10.
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