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Fort Lauderdale, FL — The two most prominent schools in the city of Fort Lauderdale are 2.5 miles away from each other, but rarely do St. Thomas Aquinas and Dillard play each other. The last time the two teams matched up, in 2017, a 24-0 shutout for Aquinas.
Friday night, St. Thomas would emerge victorious with a 23-13 win on a rainy senior night at Brian Piccolo Stadium. A strong running game powered by senior running back Anthony Hankerson and special teams plays helped the Raiders hand the Panthers their first loss of the season.
“When I was here at St. Thomas High School our strongest foe was Dillard,” said Head Coach and alumnus Roger Harriott. “I know their coaches are going to do a good job of keeping their spirits up and getting them ready for the next game and the remainder of the playoffs.”
The win for St. Thomas (8-1) clinched yet another district title for the Raiders who could very well see the Panthers (7-1) in the playoffs. Aquinas is looking to win its third straight state championship this season.
“Every game we play is a championship game,” said Hankerson. “We came out, fought for a full 48, all four quarters, and we’re grateful to get the win.”
It Was Over When…
Conrad Hussey made two back-to-back big-time plays. Late in the fourth quarter, Dillard had a chance to tie the game with a short field goal, but the attempt was blocked by St. Thomas picked up by Hussey, who would take it all the way for a touchdown. The play flipped what would have been a tie game to a ten-point margin.
In an attempt to tie the game with a short field goal, kick is blocked by @STA_Football and picked up by @ConradHussey who takes it the distance for a touchdown.
St. Thomas up 23-13 over Dillard with 3:15 left in the game. @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/JULcYKYenc
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) October 23, 2021
On Dillard’s next possession, the Panthers would be intercepted by the junior to officially seal the victory for St. Thomas.
FINAL: This one-handed interception by @ConradHussey ends any chance of a Dillard comeback. @STA_Football defeats Dillard 23-13. @FootballHotbed @FlaHSFootball pic.twitter.com/64TdUfIxML
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) October 23, 2021
“I just saw the ball and I took off,” said the 2023 defensive back of the field goal return for a touchdown. “District champions, we own that title.”
Big Time Players
Anthony Hankerson, RB, St. Thomas Aquinas – The 2022 running back rushed 23 times for 126 yards scoring two touchdowns. There was an intent to run the football with Hankerson during this game and the senior pounded the football through the Dillard defensive line.
Second quarter: @STA_Football and Dillard are tied at 7. @Hankk_22 goes in here for the score to help tie the game. @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/J8F7zSj6nM
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) October 22, 2021
Devaughn Mortimer, WR, Dillard – The Florida State commit had the most explosive play in the game to start the second half. The senior took a short pass coming inside then spun out of three would-be tacklers and took it outside, used his speed to tightrope down the sideline for a 90-yard touchdown (Extra point missed). Mortimer would finish with 160 yards on five receptions.
.@Dillard_DHS scores to trim St. Thomas lead. @FSUFootball commit @MDevaughn22 spins out of the tackle and takes it 90 yards for the touchdown. Score 16-13 with 4:45 to go in the 3rd quarter. @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/PnFmWHO3lR
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) October 23, 2021
Dillard Struck First
The Panthers marched down the field and scored on their opening drive. Junior quarterback Armani Norcius found Edward Louis all alone for a five-yard touchdown. The Raiders and Hankerson would counter with a pair of 2-yard touchdowns in the first half. Sandwiched between the two Raider touchdowns, a safety scored because of an errant snap that would be recovered by Dillard in their own end zone.
“It’s good that we got the win, thanks to God,” said Hankerson. “There’s not a lot of celebrating going on. We still have a lot of work to do. We feel like the game was closer than what it should have been…this score being close is really a wake-up call for us, so we got a lot of work to do.
Elite defensive end Nyjalik Kelly injured his shoulder in the first half but returned in the second half and contributed putting pressure on the quarterback and registering at least one official sack.
Standout @Dillard_DHS defensive end @nyjalikkelly with the sack. pic.twitter.com/m86m1p4c95
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) October 23, 2021
Dillard moved up from 6A to 7A this year so this essentially now could be a clash we see every year. We may see a rematch of the two teams in this year’s playoffs. St. Thomas finishes its regular season at Nova (Davie) Friday night while Dillard hosts Plantation next week.
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