Fort Lauderdale, FL — The Raiders of St. Thomas Aquinas have been on a mission after losing to Lakeland in the 2018 state title game. Aquinas is now one win away from achieving that goal. The Raiders shut out Venice 42-0 at home behind sophomore quarterback Zion Turner’s four touchdowns. The first-year starter Turner threw for two touchdowns and rushed for two touchdowns and continues to build confidence with every game.
“Every game we’re getting better and better,” said Turner. “It’s a good feeling to know if you get the ball to your wide receiver on a one-yard pass that they can take it for six.”
Turner started this game with a one-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Turner nearly scored on the previous play but was marked short of the goal line on an 11-yard run. Later in the half, Turner would add to the Raider lead when he found one of his big-play receivers, Marcus Rosemy. The Georgia commit caught the ball close to the sideline and broke tackles en route to the endzone.
Aquinas up by two scores now as @GeorgiaFootball commit @rosemy_marcus gets in breaking tackles en route to the end zone. @STA_Football up 14-0 on Venice. @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/7s214OCbWq
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) November 30, 2019
Just before halftime, Turner would find Pittsburgh commit Jahvante Royal for his second touchdown of the night. Royal, similar to Rosemy would weave his way through defenders on his way to paydirt.
HALFTIME: Jahvante Royal adds to the @STA_Football total with this touchdown just before the break. Raiders cruising 21-0 over Venice. @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/RhHjWIkhH8
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminReport) November 30, 2019
St. Thomas would take a 21-0 lead into halftime and would not look back. Turner would finish the game completing 7 of 12 passes for 82 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 73 yards two rushing scores.
“We’re excited about another opportunity to represent St. Thomas in another FHSAA state championship,” said Head Coach Roger Harriott. “They are a formidable force and a playoff rival which is healthy for us.”
This was the fourth straight time that the two schools met in the state semifinals. St. Thomas has won three out of the four meetings within that span with last year being the only year that the winner did not win the state championship.
“It feels great to get back. We manage it with humility. We take it one play and one game at a time. Our guys have done an exceptional job of establishing a brotherly love type of atmosphere.”
In the second half, it was more of the Zion Turner show as he would take the football on a designed rush through the Venice defense for a 41-yard touchdown. On the other side, Venice could not get anything going on offense. The Indians would take some chances in the air and those changes did not go in their favor. Ja’Den McBurrows would accept an errant pass and returned the football 30 yards for a touchdown to make it a 35-0 game in the third quarter and start a running clock. McBurrows had two interceptions on the night and his teammates Colby Dempsey, and Jerrod Cameron would also register interceptions for the Raiders.
“It’s a Bonnie and Clyde relationship,” said Turner of the relationship he has with his defense. “We riding with each other until the wheels fall off. Next stop Daytona.”
The Raiders still undefeated will face Edgewater (Orlando) on December 14th in Daytona. St. Thomas will be going for their 11th state title as this is their 19th state championship game appearance.
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