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Fort Lauderdale, FL — The standard at St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) is simple, win a state championship. The Raiders extended its lead on the rest of the state with 13 state championships with a win over Tampa Bay Tech at DRV PNK Stadium Friday night with a 42-14 triumph.
It Was Over When…
St. Thomas (14-1) extended its large lead in the second half. In the third, Zion Turner would find a wide-open Isaiah Hardge for a 21-yard touchdown pass and later in the period Anthony Hankerson would score his third touchdown rush of the evening, a 16-yarder with 2:23 left. The scores would initiate a running clock.
“I’m a senior, I’m a leader of this team,” said Hankerson. “I don’t get another game back, being able to leave this field with an exclaimation mark, it means a lot.”
In the fourth quarter with the game well in hand, Hankerson and other seniors on the offense walked off the field together which was symbolic of them finishing their careers in their final game as Raiders.
“We did a little curtain thing,” said Hankerson. “[We] waived to the crowd, said our goodbyes, we left out on the field tonight, me and all my brothers.”
Game Story
The Raiders were methodical on their first drive marching 63 yards on seven plays scoring on a 30-yard rushing touchdown from Hankerson (Extra point missed). The senior running back somehow kept his balance and fended off a Titan to get in the end zone.
The Raiders score first as @STA_Football’s @Hankk_22 keeps his balance and fights off a defender to the end zone.
St. Thomas up 7-0 over Tampa Bay Tech. @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/edq9UlnHTd
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) December 18, 2021
The 2022 talent doubled his touchdown total on the next drive with a four yard score (Two-point conversion converted on a Turner run).
“Start fast, finish strong, do it right, do it light,” said Hankerson. “That’s a great team though.”
Anthony Hankerson @Hankk_22 goes in for his second touchdown of the game. @STA_Football up 14-0 with 3:42 left in the first quarter. @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/bVWCmrgPFj
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) December 18, 2021
The drive was set up by a mishandled punt that the Raiders would recover at the Titan 14-yard line. The compact halfback found a hole on the right side and scored from four yards out.
St. Thomas would quickly open up a three-score lead taking advantage of a Tampa Bay Tech (14-1) 12-yard punt from the one-yard line. Senior quarterback Turner would punch it in to help open up a 21-0 lead.
“This is the position we wanted to get to, this is all we ever work for,” said Turner about making it to the championship game. “We attacked their weaknesses and we just executed.”
The Titans would not get shut out in the first half as Iowa State signee Greg Gaines III caught a 44-yard catch down the sideline. Gaines would finish off the drive with an amazing one-handed catch while having his other arm held by the defender.
Senior Greg Gaines, @IowaStateFB signee, scores for @TBTFootball to keep pace.
Score 21-7 St. Thomas leads 2nd quarter. @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/6FOHm9QYzc
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) December 18, 2021
On the next drive, Auburn signee Camden Brown, had an equally impressive catch. Turner threw it to the corner of the end zone and Brown dove for the football and scored on a 21-yard touchdown.
.@CamdenBrown7, the @AuburnFootball signee with the diving touchdown for @STA_Football.
St. Thomas leads Tampa Bay Tech 28-7 with 5:33 to go in the half. @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/SPELMiWVAl
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) December 18, 2021
The Raiders took a 28-7 lead into the half.
“We never ever get comfortable, we don’t ever feel satisfied,” said Head Coach Roger Harriott. “I think that type of edge enables us to play hard for 48 minutes.”
Big Time Players
Zion Turner, Quarterback, St. Thomas Aquinas – The senior completed 10 of his 13 passes for 102 yards throwing for two touchdowns, and had 7 rushes for 65 yards and a rushing score plus a two-point conversion rush.
Greg Gaines III, Wide Receiver, Tampa Bay Tech – The senior had seven catches for 131 yards and a touchdown.
Anthony Hankerson, Running Back, St. Thomas Aquinas – The 2022 prospect had 11 carries for 117 yards and three touchdowns.
Javion Mackey, Wide Receiver, Tampa Bay Tech – The senior had eight catches for 63 yards.
Mason Taylor, Tight End, St. Thomas Aquinas – The LSU signee had four catches for 54 yards and a touchdown taken off the board with an erroneous out-of-bounds call.
Khalil Hunter, St. Thomas Aquinas – The senior had six tackles as a half-sack and a half tackle for loss and QB hurry.
Derrieon Craig, St. Thomas Aquinas – The senior had 8 tackles and one tackle for loss.
Justin Fevier, St. Thomas Aquinas – The senior had seven tackles, a sack, and 1.5 tackles for loss.
Jeremiah Johnson, Tampa Bay Tech – The senior had seven tackles and a forced fumble.
St. Thomas joins Miami Central in 2021 winning its second three-peat is school history.
