St. Thomas Aquinas Defeats Edgewater For 7A Title

     The St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders overcame the Edgewater Eagles 28-23 for the FHSAA Class 7A state championship on Saturday night at Daytona Stadium in Daytona Beach. The Raiders won their 11th state title which ties the Florida high school record with Bolles. St. Thomas Aquinas captured their eight title in the last 13 years.
     Edgewater(13-2) took a 7-0 lead at 8:33 of the first quarter. Running back Christian Leary dashed down the field for a 54-yard touchdown.
     The Raiders lost the ball on downs at the Eagles two-yard line midway through the second quarter. The Eagles capped the ensuing drive five plays later as Leary sprinted in from 75 yards away with 4:42 remaining for a 14-0 lead.
     St, Thomas Aquinas(14-0) answered back quickly with a four-play, 80-yard drive at the 3:41 mark. Running back Anthony Hankerson bolted on a touchdown run from 63 yards out and cut it to 14-7.
     In the third quarter, defensive back Blaine Anderson intercepted a ball from Eagles quarterback Canaan Mobley and the Raiders started at their 44-yard line. STA quarterback Zion Turner rushed out of the pocket and scored on a 13-yard run with 2:42 left to tie the contest 14-14.
     The Raiders got their first lead of the game with one second left in the third. Turner again scrambled and ran the ball in from 13 yards away to give them a 21-14 lead.
     Edgewater drove deep into Raiders territory on their next possession. They had to settle with a 25-yard field goal by Joey Ruggiero at 9:22 of the fourth quarter and trailed 21-17.
     St. Thomas Aquinas moved out to a 28-17 lead with 6:04 remaining as they scored on their third straight drive. Turner connected an 11-yard touchdown pass to wide Marcus Rosemy.
     The Eagles stayed in the game with 4:18 to go and they were down 28-23. Mobley found wide receiver Tommi Hill on a 26-yard pass play on the front right side of the end zone for a touchdown.
     Edgewater had a chance on the final play of the game at the Raiders 23-yard line. Mobley threw a pass that was intercepted by Rosemy in the back right corner of the end zone with no time remaining.