By Dave Brousseau
FORT LAUDERDALE – The unrepresented drive for a record seventh consecutive state football championship is now within reach for St. Thomas Aquinas.
Led by senior quarterback Mason Mallory, the Raiders dismantled Riverdale (Fort Myers) 45-13 in a Class 5A state semifinal at home on Friday.
Mallory passed for 210 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while adding a two-yard rushing touchdown. He’s accounted for 2,715 all-purpose yards and 31 touchdowns through 14 games.
“This begins with our weeks of preparation,” said Mallory. “We make sure to keep everything consistent. Even though we’ve won six straight titles, it never changes. All we do week in, and week out is execute. That’s the name of the game.”
Aquinas (13-1) will play rival Lakeland (12-2) for the Class 5A state title on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at South Dade Kia Field at Pitbull Stadium.
The Raiders have faced the Dreadnaughts seven times in state title games, winning just twice, including the 34-0 victory for the 5A title last year.
Nationwide, a total of 11 teams has won at least seven consecutive state championships, with the national record of 14 held by Honolulu St. Louis (Hi.) from 1986-99 and Sioux Falls Washington (SD) from 1951-64.
The Raiders’ victory extended their playoff winning streak to 34 games, while outscoring their opponents 1473 to 380 during that stretch.
“This is a great feeling,” said Aquinas coach Roger Harriott. “The expectation and preparation is what it’s all about about our routine. We’re devoted for taking it one play at a time. Playing for a championship is our culture.”
St. Thomas Aquinas scored on each of its six possessions in the first half.
After a 19-yard field goal by placekicker Johnny DiSalvatore on the Raiders opening drive, the touchdowns kept coming.
Jaden Desir scored on a 30-yard run with 3:39 left in the opening quarter, followed by a Mallory 17-yard scoring pass to Julius Jones Jr. for a 17-0 lead in the first quarter.
The second quarter was no different as running back Isaiah Calixte recovered a loose ball in the end zone, a two-yard Mallory to Jones 2-yard TD pass and a Mallory two-yard run as the half ended with a 38-0 lead over the Riverdale.
With a running clock in full effect as the second half underway, Riverdale earned two touchdowns. Both scores came from running back Marquan Young on a three-yard run in the third quarter and an 84-yard touchdown as the game neared completion.
Those touchdowns were bookends to Aquinas running back Kayin Liddie’s 65-yard scoring run.
Prior to the late Riverdale touchdowns, they were held to under 100 yards of total offense.
“From an effort standpoint you got to fly to the ball,” said junior defensive end Wyatt Smith. “We just need to play physical.”
In the four playoff victories this season Aquinas outscored their opponents181-40.
Dave Brousseau is a veteran journalist who worked at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and is a longtime BCAA Correspondent. Need to reach out to him? Contact him at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.