WEEK 7 STANDOUTS: St. Thomas Aquinas Gets Season Started

One of Florida’s top programs – Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas started the 2020 season last Friday night – and after several hours of waiting out a lightning delay, the Raiders came away with an impressive 25-13 win over TRU Prep Academy. After completing a perfect season in 2019, the Raiders were rusty in their opener against a Saints’ squad that was ready to play with a 3-0 record. <img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-62965" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2020/10/Florida-Player-Spotlight-4-300x188.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="188" />Make no mistake, the Raiders are going to be very tough this season – defending their 7A state title. Junior quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="50029" first="Zion" last="Turner"] </strong>showed he is going to be very special once again – as well his junior running back<strong> [player_tooltip player_id="49995" first="Anthony" last="Hankerson"] – </strong>and senior receivers<strong> [player_tooltip player_id="32652" first="Bralon" last="Brown"] and [player_tooltip player_id="32692" first="Quincy" last="Skinner Jr."]</strong> -as well as speedy <strong>Maurice Newton</strong> and <strong>Antonio Spencer.</strong> Also looking very impressive are tight end [player_tooltip player_id="32821" first="Antonio" last="Johnson"], offensive linemen <strong>Gunnar Hansen</strong> and <strong>Joshua Sauickie</strong>, and nationally-rated kicker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="32754" first="Noah" last="Botsford"].</strong> Up front, defensively, Alabama-bound DE <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="32622" first="Dallas" last="Turner"]</strong> along with <strong>Adetola Daranijo</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="32626" first="Tyreak" last="Sapp"]</strong> remain solid. So do senior LB <strong>Caden Martinez</strong>, and quality defensive backs <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="32668" first="Ja’Den" last="McBurrows"], [player_tooltip player_id="32856" first="Tyson" last="Russell"]</strong> and <strong>Isaiah Taylor.</strong> <strong>TRUE PREP GETS PLENTY OF RESPECT</strong> There were no moral victories in this game. TRU Prep Academy, formerly NSU University School, came to play four quarters and come away with a win. There was little argument that TRU Prep receiver/defensive back/ punter <strong>Brandon Inniss</strong>, was the best player on the field – and he’s just a sophomore. He was a nightmare against anyone who covered him. Clemson-bound OT <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="32627" first="Marcus" last="Tate"]</strong> showed why he is one of the best linemen in the nation – more than holding his own against top-flight defensive prospects. As well as Inniss and Tate played, fan finally got the opportunity to watch Middle Tennessee QB commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="32778" first="Nick" last="Vattiato"]</strong>. All night long he kept the Saints right in the game – with his arm strength and ability to make plays. Other TRU Prep athletes to jump on to the radar screen included defensive standouts: <strong>Jeremy Acosta, NG, [player_tooltip player_id="32909" first="Emile" last="Aime"], Haywood</strong> McQueen and <strong>Carlos Dales</strong>, LB, defensive back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="32843" first="Ricardo" last="Hallman"] </strong>and kicker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="32713" first="John" last="Cannon"].</strong> Offensively, there were running <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="32779" first="Max" last="Balthazar"]</strong>, and receivers <strong>Fredrick Cage, Vincent Pagano</strong> and <strong>Dylan Robinson</strong>. <strong>WEEK 7 STARS WERE MAKING AN IMPACT</strong> Bradenton Christian 2025 QB<strong> Zander Smith </strong>threw for 522 yards and 6 TDs in his second varsity start. At 6-2. 205, his work in the classroom is as good as it is on the field. Miami Dade Christian standout junior <strong>Darian Anderson</strong> scored twice on special teams – bringing back a kick 80 yards for a score and a 55-yard punt return in a win over Key West. Wiregrass Ranch sophomore <strong>Bryson Rodgers </strong>had 304 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns in a win over East Bay. Jacksonville Trinity Christian’s <strong>Caleb Stevenson</strong> stroked a game-winning field goal with four seconds to play downed nationally-ranked American Heritage, 3-0. <strong>Christian Schultz</strong> booted a game-winning 38-yard field goal as time expired to keep Jacksonville Sandalwood perfect at Ocala Trinity Catholic, 17-14. <strong>Chris Calhoun</strong> rushed for 40 yards and finished 12 of 18 for 166 yards and two passing touchdowns. <strong>Joe Morrison</strong> picked off three passes as Jacksonville Lee exploited six turnovers to down host Lake City Columbia in Lake City, 38-21. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="49983" first="Jaheim" last="Singletary"]</strong> scored the go-ahead TD. <strong>Preston Strope</strong> topped the 200-yard, surpassing 1,000 for the season while adding three touchdowns as Creekside shut out Jacksonville Atlantic Coast, 29-0. Green Cove Springs Clay junior <strong>Al’Querious Ray</strong> was at it again this past week, rushing for 205 yards and two scores against Menendez (2-3), one week after going for 243 yards and three TDs in a 49-7 win over Menendez. St. Augustine running back <strong>Ty Baxter</strong> had 217 yards rushing on 17 carries, with five touchdowns in a 56-21 win over Matanzas. <strong>Joe Carter</strong> scored two rushing touchdowns, a receiving touchdown and a pick-six to lead Jacksonville University Christian to a 35-0 win over Foundation Academy. Starke Bradford County used a huge performance by <strong>Erric Smith</strong>, who accounted for over 150 yards in a 28-6 win over Gainesville PK Yonge. <strong>Cyncere Wilson’s</strong> 75-yard kick return with 4:06 left proved to be the difference as Port Orange Spruce Creek beat Orange City University, 27-22. The North Fort Myers defense came up with their fourth shutout of the year, beating Fort Myers Dunbar, 17-0. Senior end <strong>Cash Davis</strong>, senior linebacker <strong>Conner Leyden</strong> and senior lineman <strong>Paxton Walker</strong> forced five punts, two turnovers and made two stops on fourth downs. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="50188" first="Jeremiah" last="Connelly"]</strong> stripped Kissimmee Osceola quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="50039" first="Chad" last="Mascoe"]</strong> after chasing him from behind and <strong>Bryce Turner</strong> scooped the ball on a bounce near midfield and returned it for a score as Orlando Edgewater won 31-24. Lake Howell quarterback <strong>Koen Koller</strong> ran for two touchdowns and passed for two as the Silver Hawks cruised to a 41-0 home win over Winter Springs. <strong>Sean Johnson</strong> threw four TD passes in the early going and The First Academy rolled to a 63-0 win against Trinity Prep (0-3). Orangewood Christian senior <strong>Kaderris Roberts</strong> scored four TDs and the Rams (3-3) won 48-26 vs. visiting West Oaks Academy. <strong>Wilkerson St. Juste</strong> ran for three TDs and <strong>Dontavious Rogers</strong> ran for two scores as Central Florida Christian Academy’s defense forced four turnovers and the Eagles rolled to a 55-14 home win against Spring Hill Bishop McLaughlin. Titusville Astronaut RB <strong>Abreon Torres</strong> ran for six touchdowns in a 63-24 road victory. The War Eagles are 4-0, while home team Holy Trinity dropped to 1-3. His scores went for 1, 45, 20, 73, 21 and 1 yards Versatile <strong>Brady Denaburg</strong> added to his resume with a 52-yard field goal and also threw touchdown passes of 10 yards to <strong>Dallas Donahue </strong>and 8 yards to <strong>Darin Myers</strong> in a 54-0 win over Cocoa Beach. Junior quarterback <strong>Ty Summerall </strong>threw for 186 yards and three touchdowns in Lake Wales’ 41-16 victory fover Hardee County Junior quarterback <strong>Paxton Coon</strong> connected on 10 of 14 passes for 133 yards and a pair of touchdowns to give George Jenkins a 21-6 win over Poinciana. <strong>Joey Cheshire</strong> had a pair of receptions, one for a 17-yard touchdown, and <strong>Deshawn Wilson</strong> caught four balls for 56 yards and one for a score for 21 yards. Running back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="50051" first="Jaylon" last="Glover"]</strong> ran for four touchdowns and caught a pass for another score as Lakeland Lake Gibson rolled. Senior running back/linebacker <strong>JJ McKinley</strong> had three pass receptions, an interception and returned a punt for a touchdown. Once again, Miami Gulliver Prep standout <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="50285" first="Jayvon" last="Only"]</strong> led the way in a win over North Palm Beach Benjamin with 11 assists, two tackles for loss, an interception return of 98 yards, a forced fumble and 7.5 tackles. <strong>Amir Brown</strong> rand for 161 yards and 3 TDs in Daytona Beach Seabreeze’s win. Tampa Jesuit senior QB <strong>Joe Pesnansky</strong> completed 11 passes for 323 yards and 3 TDs in a win over Tampa Robinson. Clearwater Central Catholic DB <strong>Johntavious Bonner</strong> returned an interception for a touchdown that set the tone on defense. He also scored on a reception with 34 seconds left that proved to be the game winner against Sarasota Cardinal Mooney. Tampa Cambridge Christian senior LB <strong>Noah Kent</strong> finished with 11 tackles, a forced fumble and broke up a pass in a win against Jordan Christian Prep. Lutz Steinbrenner sophomore RB<strong> Kirby Vorhees r</strong>ushed for 195 yards on 12 carries and scored four touchdowns in a win over Blake. <strong><em>You Can Contact Larry Blustein with prospect or team information at: <a href="mailto:Foridakids1@aol.com">Foridakids1@aol.com</a>. We are also on Social Media on @PrepRedzonefl.</em></strong>