The number one nationally ranked St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders hosted a preseason kickoff classic at Brian Piccolo Stadium on Thursday night and handled the Dillard Panthers 31-7. Both teams, who made the playoffs as district champions in 2013, met each other last year in a preseason game with STA victorious 21-10.
In the first quarter, James McCourt finished the Raiders first possession with a 31-yard line drive field goal that clang off the crossbar and over at 6:27 to make it 3-0.
On their next possession, running back Jordan Scarlett went through the left side and down the left sideline for a 66-yard touchdown run with 1:46 left in the first quarter. Zachary Cicero kicked the extra point and extended their lead to 10-0.
Aquinas had a touchdown negated at 10:08 of the second quarter when left inside linebacker Velvario Faulkner returned an interception 67 yards for a score.
They would add on to their lead when quarterback Jake Rizzo found wide receiver Devante Peete on a crossing pattern from 16 yards away with 8:15 remaining in the first half. Christopher Kirtley converted the extra point for a 17-point margin.
St. Thomas Aquinas made it 24-0 as fullback Khambrel St. Hubert rumbled up the middle from 18 yards out for a touchdown with 5:52 to go in the second quarter.
Dillard got their only touchdown in the fourth quarter when the Raiders fumbled the ball in the own end zone to cut the deficit to 31-7.
The Raiders face the defending FHSAA Class 5A state champion American Heritage Patriots at Sun Life Stadium in their opening game next Friday while the Panthers travel four miles west on Sunrise Boulevard and challenge the Plantation Colonels at PAL Field.
No comments:
Post a Comment