7A CHAMPIONSHIP – St. Thomas Wins 12th Title

After beating Orlando Edgewater by a few points in the 2019 7A state title game, many expected much of the same this past Saturday night from once beaten St. Thomas Aquinas and twice beaten Orlando Edgewater. Saving the best game for last,<strong> Roger Harriott’s </strong>Raiders and<strong> Cameron Duke’s </strong>Eagles once again battled it out for all four quarters, and in the end, St. Thomas Aquinas had won its 12^th state football title, 31-21, on a beautiful night at Bobby Bowden Field at Doak Campbell Stadium. <img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-86360" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2020/12/Tallahassee2020-XXXX-14-300x187.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="187" />The win breaks a tie that the Raiders held along with Jacksonville Bolles, who were beaten this year by Cardinal Gibbons. <strong>STA GETS OUT OF THE GATE FAST</strong> The Raiders struck first with 6:21 left in the opening quarter when<strong> [player_tooltip player_id="49995" first="Anthony" last="Hankerson"] </strong>ran it in from the 4 and a 7-0 lead. The Eagles tied the game at seven with 6:52 left in the first half on a 9-yard run by sophomore <strong>Cedric Baxter.</strong> St. Thomas Aquinas regained the lead at 14-7 when junior running back<strong> [player_tooltip player_id="49995" first="Anthony" last="Hankerson"] </strong>dazzled the crowd with a 12-yard run for a score. The Raiders extended the lead to 21-7 with 1:32 left in the first half on a 46-yard interception return by<strong> [player_tooltip player_id="32668" first="Ja’Den" last="McBurrows"], </strong>who stepped in front of a<strong> Canaan Mobley </strong>pass. The Eagles would not go away – as they moved in to cut the lead to 21-14 on a 3-yard run by Baxter as the half came to an end. After trading possessions in the third quarter, the Raiders made it 24-14 with 3:11 left on a field goal by <strong>Max Larsen</strong> from 32-yards out. The Eagles came right back at the 1:31 mark of the third quarter on a 4-yard run by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="50188" first="Jeremiah" last="Connelly"]</strong> and it was 24-21 St. Thomas Aquinas. Hankerson gave the Raiders a 31-21 lead with 9:15 left in the fourth quarter on a 9-yard run. <strong>DEFENSE MAKES AN IMPACT</strong> Every game in the state finals has featured some impressive defensive performers – and this game is no different. St. Thomas featured <strong>Kylan</strong> <strong>Stephens, King Mack, [player_tooltip player_id="32622" first="Dallas" last="Turner"], Derrieon Craig, [player_tooltip player_id="32655" first="Jaydon" last="Hood"], Isaiah Taylor </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="32856" first="Tyson" last="Russell"].</strong> The Eagles boasted <strong>Christopher Fulse, [player_tooltip player_id="50188" first="Jeremiah" last="Connelly"], Kevin Butler, D’Antre Robinson </strong>and <strong>Chrishaun Anderson.</strong> <strong>OFFENSIVE PROSPECT STANDOUT</strong> Having solid defensive players is always vital to the success of any team. The Raiders had receivers<strong> [player_tooltip player_id="32652" first="Bralon" last="Brown"], Antonio Spencer, Mason Taylor, Maurice Newton </strong>and<strong> [player_tooltip player_id="50184" first="Camden" last="Brown"].</strong> Edgewater’s <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="32649" first="Tommi" last="Hill"], Kye Rivers </strong>and<strong> [player_tooltip player_id="32624" first="Christian" last="Leary"] </strong>are always going to be solid. <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 </em></strong> <strong><em>Social Media on @PrepRedzonefl.</em></strong>