The Raiders captured their unprecedented state-record sixth consecutive state title and 16th FHSAA state championship overall. STA have won 13 state championships in the past 18 seasons since 2007. They extended their postseason winning streak to a state-record 30 games.
The Dreadnaughts knocked off the Raiders in a FHSAA championship game four times on six occasions. They accomplished it in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2018.
St. Thomas Aquinas(12-3) scooted out to a 3-0 lead with 3:52 to go in the first quarter. Nicholas Romero kicked a 32-yard field goal.
The Raiders struck again with eight seconds left in the first to give them a 10-0 lead. Quarterback Andrew Indorf tossed a screen pass to running back Cedric Wyche II on the right side and he rambled 18 yards into the end zone.
STA increased their lead to 17-0 at the 8:58 mark of the second quarter. Running back Chance Washington raced through the right side of the line on a six-yard touchdown run.
At the start of the second half, Raiders kick returner Ah'mari Stevens returned the kickoff 45 yards to the Dreadnaughts 45-yard line. The drive concluded with a 22-yard field goal by Romero at 7:58 of the third quarter for a 20-0 advantage.
Lakeland(13-1) looked like they were about to close the gap late in the third. A pass by quarterback Zander Smith was intercepted by defensive back Zayden Gamble and he returned it 78 yards to the Lakeland 20-yard line with 1:40 to go in the quarter.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, St. Thomas Aquinas expanded it to 27-0 at the 11:56 mark. Washington rushed up the middle from two yards out.
It became 34-0 for the Raiders with 5:16 left in the fourth. Indorf was able to sneak the ball in through the middle for a one-yard touchdown.
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