St. Thomas Aquinas Tops Lakeland For 17th FHSAA Title

     The St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders blanked the Lakeland Dreadnaughts 29-0 in the FHSAA Class 5A state championship in South Dade Kia Field at Pitbull Stadium on the Florida International University campus Thursday night. It was a championship rematch between both high schools from last year and the seventh time they have faced each other in the state title game since 2004. The Dreadnaughts, who have a 4-3 FHSAA Football Finals all-time edge, were shut out in the title game last season. 

     The Raiders captured their state-record FHSAA seventh consecutive state title and state-record 17th overall FHSAA state football championship. They have won 14 state crowns in their last 19 seasons. 

They have reached the FHSAA Football Finals 18 times in the past 22 seasons. STA now has a state-record 35-game playoff winning streak. 

     The Dreadnaughts looked to win their first state title since 2023 and their 10th overall state championship in school history. They made their fourth straight state championship appearance. 

     St. Thomas Aquinas(14-1) got on the scoreboard during their first possession at the 8:23 mark in the first quarter. Johnny DiSalvatore kicked a 19-yard field goal to make it 3-0. 

     The Raiders increased their lead to 6-0 with 51 seconds left in the first. Salvatore was able to kick a 30-yard field goal.

     Aquinas defensive back Jaden Carey intercepted a pass by Lakeland(12-3) quarterback Kelin Hendrix at the Raiders 26-yard line almost three minutes into the second quarter. It did not lead to any points on their ensuing drive. 

      STA had one more possession in final two minutes of the first half. Salvatore booted a 30-yard field goal with no time remaining in the second for a 9-0 halftime lead.

      In the third quarter, Raiders defensive back Zayden Gamble picked off an interception near midfield 10 seconds into the second half. It led to a 33-yard field goal by DiSalvatore for a 12-0 advantage at the 10:11 mark. 

      On the Dreadnaughts next possession, punter Brycen Fischer could not handle the snap and would turn the ball over on downs at their own 14-yard line. DiSalvatore was able to boot a 33-yard field goal with 7:21 to go in the third and St. Thomas Aquinas led 15-0. 

       Lakeland had their best scoring opportunity of the contest early in the fourth quarter, however they turned the ball over on downs at the Raiders 31-yard line. STA responded with a three-play, 69-yard drive that was capped off on a one-yard touchdown run by running back Jaden Desir up the middle with 8:00 left in the fourth for a 22-0 lead. 

       Hendrix fumbled the ball on his own 29-yard line at the 6:57 mark of the final quarter and it was recovered by defensive lineman Mekhi Bradley. Running back Morris Choice rushed through the right side of the line from six yards away to give the Raiders a 29-0 lead with 6:27 remaining in the fourth.