Ten plus months have gone by since the St. Thomas Aquinas football team has been together, playing in a game.

That all should come to an end this evening – when the Raiders and head coach Roger Harriott, shine those helmets for the first time in the 2020 season.

When the Raiders host TRU Prep Academy at 7:00, a lot will have changed – and you see it immediately.

No fans will be at tonight’s game. Only a streaming event that you can watch in the comfort of your home.

Covid-19 has taken a huge toll on everything – and while some have chosen to ride out this pandemic safely, others have not shared that opinion – and here we are – St. Thomas Aquinas, winners of 15 straight last season, will join 2A Champagnat Catholic and 3A Chaminade-Madonna as the defending champions looking to protect their crown.

With 4A Booker T. Washington and 8A Christopher Columbus opting to not play in the state championship series for the best interest in their own student/athletes, Miami Northwestern (5A) and Miami Central (7A) will join in next week to get ready to defend what has been the Bulls’ for three years.

The Raiders come into this season stacked. No other word for a program that lost some key players, but added just as many – or more.

What was not an experienced part of their game in 2019, is deemed experienced this year.

From top-flight and highly-regarded seniors, the underclassmen are getting noticed just as quickly.

TRU PREP STANDING TALL

Make no mistake if TRU Prep Academy’s ongoing story doesn’t make you think twice about the power of doing, nothing will.

For those of you know the story, we won’t bore you, but in short----many of these student athletes playing under the “umbrella” of TRU Prep Academy are students at NSU University School. A school that has produced amazing students in the classroom, but high-rated athletic talent as well.

When NSU said that because of the pandemic, there would be no fall athletics – including football.

Because the school was no longer offering the sport, and several prospects on the team needed the attention, some impressive people stepped up with ideas and the power to implement them.

Armed with some very impressive football players, the Saints will match into St. Thomas Aquinas and will be ready to play.

While this team is coming off three straight wins – against Winter Haven Akelynn’s Academy Palm Glades (61-0) and last week against defending 2A state champion Champagnat Catholic (47-29), the mountain does not get any higher than this.

CHECKING OUT THE TEAMS

St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders

HEAD COACH: Roger Harriott

2020 RECORD: 0-0

CLASSIFICATION: 7A

RAIDERS TO WATCH IN 2020

2021 – Carter Bass, WR

2021 - Allan Baugh, DL

2021 – Noah Botsford, P/PK

2021 - Bralon Brown, WR

2022 – Camden Brown, WR

2021 – Rohan Brown, OLB

2021 - Adetola Daranijo, DL

2021 - Marco Fugar, OL

2022 – Travis Gammage Jr., DL

2022 - Anthony Hankerson, RB

2021 - Gunnar Hansen, OL

2021 - Jake Harrington, WR

2021 - Jaydon Hood, LB

2021 - Antonio Johnson, TE

2021 – Caden Martinez, LB

2021 – Ja’Den McBurrows, CB

2021 – Tyson Russell, DB

2021 – Boaz Saint Vil, G

2021 - Tyreak Sapp, DL

2021 - Joshua Sauickie, OL

2021 - Quincy Skinner Jr, WR

2022 – Jordan Smith, RB

2021 – R.J. Sorenson, DE

2021 - Isaiah Taylor, DB

2022 – Mason Taylor, TE

2021 - Dallas Turner, DE

2022 - Zion Turner, QB

TRU Foundation Saints

HEAD COACH: Mario Smith

2020 RECORD: 3-0

CLASSIFICATION: Independent

SAINTS TO WATCH IN 2020

2021 – Jeremy Acosta, NG

2021 – Emile Aime, LB

2021 – Donte Alexander, WR

2022 – Dawson Alters, C

2021 – Nygel Ashley, CB

2024 – Chris Balhtazar, S

2021 – Max Balthazar, RB

2021 – Fredrick Cage, WR

2021 – John Cannon, PK

2023 – Lucas Castro, OL

2024 – Marlon Cochran, RB

2024 – Andrew Crowley, OL

2021 – Tamari Jones-Cummings, FS

2024 – Carlos Dales, LB

2023 – Connor Donahue, DB

2024 – Ian Donahue, WR

2024 – Kaleb Duncan

2022 – David Espinso Jr., OT

2024 – Chris Ewald, DB

2022 – Justin Fevrier, OL/DL

2021 – Ricardo Hallman, CB

2021 – Jacques Holloway

2023 – Brandon Inniss, WR/S

2022 – Cahlede Jackson, NG

2024 – Semaj Jackson, RB/S

2024 – Kaden Jacques

2022 – Jeremiah Jasper, OL

2024 – Jarvis Juste

2024 – Alon Kochav, K

2021 – Shai Kochev, LS

2024 – J.T. Madison, WR

2022 – Dominic Mathis, OLB

2024 – Jhamari Hall, OLB

2021 – Hayward McQueen, LB

2022 – Knight Nakanishi, OLB

2021 – Taj Nashid, OL

2021 – Vincent Pagano, WR/RB

2024 – Zayquan Patterson, Athlete

2021 – Dylan Robinson, WR

2023 – Dominic Stephens, Athlete

2023 – Ben Sherota, WR

2024 – Roderick Stewart

2024 – Cecil Stone, QB

2024 – Bryce Stringer, DE

2021 – Marcus Tate, OT

2023 – Alex Thomas, LB

2024 – Duane Thurman

2021 – Nick Vattiato, QB

2024 – Jimmy Williams, OL

2024 – Ricardo Williams, WR

2022 – Deshawn Willoughby, DE

2024 – Jett Yurgealitis, QB

OTHER LOCAL FRIDAY GAMES

Benjamin at Gulliver Prep, 4

Chaminade-Madonna at Clearwater Academy

Champagnat Catholic at American Heritage (Delray)

Dade Christian vs. Key West at Tommy Roberts Memorial Stadium

Doral Academy at Cardinal Gibbons

Everglades Prep at Somerset Silver Palms, 4

Immaculata- La Salle at Westminster Academy

Somerset Academy (Pembroke Pines) at North Broward Prep

Somerset South Homestead at Archbishop McCarthy

The King’s Academy at Calvary Christian (Fort Lauderdale)

Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) at American Heritage (Plantation), 7:30

For the past 50 years, we have spent more time on football fields than anyone in the country. From games to practices, camps, combines and 7-on-7 events, nobody has evaluated more football talent than we have. We will remain steadfast to promote all south Florida’s high school football prospects. Follow us on Facebook (Larry Blustein- SFHSports) and Twitter (@SFHSSports - @larryblustein). Contact us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..