St. Thomas Aquinas WIns 14th State Title

     The St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders knocked off the Homestead Broncos 38-21 in the FHSAA Class 3M state championship at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday night. The Raiders captured their fourth consecutive state title and their state-record 14th FHSAA football state championship. It gave STA their 11th state title in the last 16 seasons. 

     It was the first time in history that a Broward County high school met a Dade County high school in a FHSAA state championship game. Homestead was playing in their first state title contest in school history. 

     St. Thomas Aquinas(14-0) got an interception on the Broncos first possession. It led to an eight-yard touchdown by running back Jordan Lyle around the left end for a 7-0 lead at the 7:55 mark of the first quarter.

     Homestead(12-3) kept it close as they tied it 7-7 with 8:10 left in the second quarter. Quarterback Joshua Townsend tossed a seven-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Richard Dandridge on the right hash marks. 

     There was plenty of scoring between both high schools during the second half. The Broncos punted the ball to end their first possession of the third quarter. King Mack returned the punt 58 yards for the score at 10:31 of the third quarter to give STA a 14-7 lead.

     The Raiders would make it 21-7 with 3:26 to go in the third. Quarterback Hezekiah Harris sprinted down the left side from 17 yards away. 

     The Broncos cut the lead to 21-13 with 1:24 remaining in the quarter. Townsend connected a 14-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Javon Robinson in the middle of the field. The extra point by Keyon Martin was blocked by the defense. 

     In the fourth quarter, St. Thomas Aquinas pulled away from the Broncos. Nicholas Romero booted a 21-yard field goal at 10:10 for a 24-13 advantage. On the ensuing Homestead drive, Raiders defensive back Conrad Hussey intercepted a pass on the first play. Harris would later find wide receiver James Madison II beyond the left hash marks on a 24-yard strike with 7:16 left to give them an 18-point margin. 

     Homestead tried to stay in the contest. Robinson caught a five-yard touchdown pass in the front of the end zone from Townsend with 4:36 to go. They were able to make a two-point conversion on a Robinson run and trailed 31-21. 

     STA capped the game in the last couple of minutes. Running back Gemari Sands rumbled through the left side on a nine-yard touchdown run with 1:44 remaining for a 38-21 lead.