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.

As the scores rolled in last Friday night from across Florida in the state semifinal round of the playoffs and Miami-Dade and Broward County programs were on top, there were some smiling faces.

When the 2025 Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) state finals begin on Wednesday and culminate Saturday night at Pitbull Stadium on the campus of Florida International University, five schools from the two counties will be represented along with two from Palm Beach County.

Chaminade-Madonna will be making a school-record 10^th straight trip to the finals, looking for a fifth consecutive win in 1A under head coach Dameon Jones.

For head coach Roger Harriott and his St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders, this week’s appearance in the 5A final will be the seventh consecutive for the six-time defending state champions.

Defending 4A state champion Plantation American Heritage and head coach Mike Smith will be back to defend their title after a huge state semifinal road win some 620 miles away.

First year Miami Northwestern head coach Jaquatin Victrum and his Bulls return to the 3A state championship game for a rematch with Jacksonville Raines in a battle of unbeatens.

After head coach Brian McCartney and West Broward upset Buchholz in Gainesville, the Bobcats will make their first ever appearance in the state title game in 6A.

Here is a look at how this week will stack up:

CLASS 1A

STATE SEMIFINAL

Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna 35, Jacksonville Trinity Christian 0

West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman 48, Tampa Carrollwood Day 33

Thursday, Dec. 11, 12:30 p.m.

Pitbull Stadium, FIU, Miami

No. 2 West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman (11-3) vs. No. 1 Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna (11-2)

CLASS 3A

STATE SEMIFINAL

Miami Northwestern 52, Orlando Bishop Moore 21

Jacksonville Raines 28, Sarasota Booker 8

FINAL

Friday, Dec. 12, 7:30 p.m.

Pitbull Stadium, FIU, Miami

No. 2 Jacksonville Raines (13-0) vs. No. 1 Miami Northwestern (13-0)

CLASS 4A

STATE SEMIFINAL

Orlando Jones 35, Port Charlotte 23

Plantation American Heritage 31, Fort Walton Beach Choctawhatchee 14

FINAL

Saturday, Dec. 13, 12:30 p.m.

Pitbull Stadium, FIU, Miami

No. 3 Plantation American Heritage (8-5) vs. No. 1 Orlando Jones (12-2)

CLASS 5A

STATE SEMIFINAL

Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas 45, Fort Myers Riverdale 13

Lakeland 40, Ponte Vedra 13

FINAL

Thursday, Dec. 11, 7:30 p.m.

Pitbull Stadium, FIU, Miami

No. 3 Lakeland (12-2) vs. No. 1 Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (13-1)

CLASS 6A

STATE SEMIFINAL

West Boca Raton 14, Seffner Armwood 13

Pembroke Pines West Broward 24, Gainesville Buchholz 17

FINAL

Friday, Dec. 12, 12:30 p.m.

Pitbull Stadium, FIU, Miami

No. 4 Pembroke Pines West Broward (12-2) vs. No. 3 West Boca Raton (12-2)

MIAMI-DADE/BROWARD INFORMATION YEAR-ROUND. https://larryblustein.com/

For the past 55 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, we get to as many events as possible to see the athletes LIVE. Follow us on Facebook (Larry Blustein), Instagram (OurBoyBlu) and Twitter (@PrepRedzoneFL). Contact us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The stage is set, and whether it’s home here in south Florida or around the state, local football teams are now down to the state semifinals.

Winners of this round will converge on Pitbull Stadium on the campus of Florida International University (FIU) next week to crown seven state champions.

Yesterday we broke down the 1A-3A teams from Miami-Dade and Broward Counties, and today, we will shine the spotlight on defending state champions Plantation American Heritage (4A), six-time defending state champion Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (5A), and first-time state semifinalists West Broward (6A) and Miami Palmetto (7A).

CLASS 4A

STATE SEMIFINAL

No. 3 Plantation American Heritage (7-5) at No. 2 Fort Walton Beach Choctawhatchee (12-1), 7:30 CST. The defending state champions make the longest trip in history for a state semifinal – with several questions that will need to be answered.

Head Coach Mike Smith and his staff have done everything possible to keep this team together this season, playing easily the most challenging schedule in the state with numerous injuries along the way. It will certainly be a lot to ask for them to bring home a win.

The Indians are perhaps the most like a south Florida team the Panhandle has with plenty of size, speed and superior coaching.

AMERICAN HERITAGE PATRIOTS, W 31-28

Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna, L 28-24

New Orleans Edna Karr, Louisiana, L 24-17 (OT)

Miami Central, L 31-21

Plantation, W 28-13

Pembroke Pines Flanagan, W 31-0

Miami Norland, W 41-21

Southwest Ranches Archbishop McCarthy, L 13-10

Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas, L 19-12

Fort Pierce John Carroll, W 50-20

Plantation, W 48-7

Archbishop McCarthy, W 25-20

12/5 - @Fort Walton Beach Choctawhatchee

CHOCTAWHATCHEE INDIANS

Gulf Shores, Alabama, W 21-14

Navarre, W 42-0

Crestview, W 28-0

Pensacola Pine Forest, W 28-0

Niceville, W 42-7

Panama City Beach Arnold, W 40-7

Santa Rosa Beach South Walton, W 38-6

Tallahassee Rickards, W 31-0

Fort Walton Beach, W 42-3

Enterprise, Alabama, L 20-16

Pensacola Booker T. Washington, W 49-6

Lake City Columbia, W 27-20

St. Augustine, W 31-28

12/5 – Plantation American Heritage

CLASS 5A

STATE SEMIFINAL

No. 4 Fort Myers Riverdale (12-1) at No. 1 Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (12-1), 7. It’s the same old story every year for the Raiders of St. Thomas Aquanis. It’s just another game on the way to state for head coach Roger Harriott and his football program – while the Raiders of Riverdale will be playing the biggest game in school history.

St. Thomas Aquinas is loaded in every phase of the game and has played an elite schedule once again this season – while Riverdale’s path has not been as tough.

You have to be truthful about this contest. St. Thomas Aquinas can name their own score – anything else would be a major upset!

RIVERDALE RAIDERS

Estero, W 21-16

South Fort Myers, W 43-18

Fort Myers Gateway, W 55-0

Cape Coral Mariner, W 42-3

Fort Myers Cypress Lake, L 14-8

Lehigh Acres East Lee, W 62-6

Fort Myers, 44-21

Cape Coral, W 25-15

North Fort Myers, W 28-7

Lehigh, W 9-6

North Fort Myers, W 47-22

Immokalee, W 21-14

Bradenton Manatee, W 28-26

12/5 - @Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas

ST. THOMAS AQUINAS RAIDERS

Santa Ana Mater Dei, California, L 26-23

Lauderdale Lakes Boyd Andeson, W 72-6

Miami Christopher Columbus, W 42-7

Davie Western, W 45-6

Hollywood McArthur, W 31-7

Hollywood Hills, W 63-0

NFL Academy London, W 41-38

Coconut Creek Monarch, W 31-20

Plantation American Heritage, W 19-12

Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna, W 27-21

Palm Bay Heritage, W 58-7

Coconut Creek, W 45-13

Hollywood McArthur, W 34-7

12/5 – Fort Myers Riverdale

CLASS 6A

STATE SEMIFINAL

No. 4 Pembroke Pines West Broward (11-2) at No. 1 Gainesville Buchholz (12-1), 7:30. This is really a tough game to gauge. We know that Buchholz is tested and very talented with tremendous coaching and has played an amazing schedule, but West Broward has shown over and again that when they don’t self-destruct, they can be a major obstacle.

What head coach Brian McCartney and this team have accomplished this year is truly impressive, but this may be the toughest game they have played since the opener against Corner Canyon, Utah.

WEST BROWARD BOBCATS

Corner Canyon, Utah, L 38-13

Camden County, Georgia, L 32-13

Plantation, W 31-6

Pembroke Pines Flanagan, W 20-8

Miramar Everglades, W 55-0

Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons, W 49-38

Miami Beach, W 54-0

Miramar, W 52-8

Miami Dr. Krop, W 49-0

Davie Western, W 35-7

South Plantation, W 56-13

Coconut Creek Monarch, W 38-12

Miami Southridge, W 30-27

12/5 - @Gainesville Buchholz

BUCHHOLZ BOBCATS

Ocala Vanguard, W 15-13

Vero Beach, L 28-24

Gainesville Eastside, W 29-19

Bradenton Manatee, W 30-13

Richmond Hill, Georgia, W 21-0

Ponte Vedra Nease, W 27-7

Gainesville, W 44-0

St. Augustine Tocoi Creek, W 42-7

St. Johns Bartram Trail, W 50-16

West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman, W 34-30

Oviedo, W 49-41

Ponte Vedra Nease, W 29-17

Jacksonville Mandarin, W 27-20

12/5 – West Broward

CLASS 7A

STATE SEMIFINAL

No. 4 Miami Palmetto (11-2) at No. 1 Vero Beach (13-0), 7. This will be the Panthers first ever opportunity to reach the state finals, and they are indeed proving plenty of people wrong all season. They have talent and great coaching that has kept them in every game this season.

They have proven that the defense can be an asset, and at times, the offense has been really impressive under head coach Mike Manasco and his staff.

Let us once again not hide anything – and while this is the furthest that the Indian have gone since 1981 – they are loaded with talent and by far the toughest team that the Panthers will play this season. The schedule that they played – especially the first three games – matches anyone in the state series this year.

For Palmetto to come back with a win, they will have to play their best game of the season – on both sides of the ball!

PALMETTO PANTHERS

Miami Booker T. Washington, W 35-0

Miami Southridge, L 34-34

Miami Christopher Columbus, W 24-21

Miami Killian, W 42-21

Coral Gables, W 43-0

Homestead South Dade, W 45-7

Miami Northwestern, L 28-0

Miami High, W 43-7

Fort Myers Bishop Verot, W 20-10

Coral Springs Coral Glades, W 42-0

Miami Christopher Columbus, W 27-10

Miami Lakes Barbara Goleman, W 65-41

12/5 - @Vero Beach

VERO BEACH INDIANS

Melbourne Eau Gallie, W 41-31

Gainesville Buchholz, W 28-24

Cocoa, W 38-3

Port St. Lucie West Centennial, W 37-0

Fort Pierce Central, W 21-13

Miami Booker T. Washington, W 42-13

Rockledge, W 42-7

Pahokee, W 53-14

Port St. Lucie Treasure Coast, W 49-0

Pembroke Pines Somerset Academy, W 43-0

Clermont East Ridge, W 57-10

Orlando Lake Nona, W 56-14

Orlando Dr. Phillips, W 49-23

12/5 – Miami Palmetto

FIT 1A-3A

STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

Dunnellon 13, North Miami Beach 7

MIAMI-DADE/BROWARD INFORMATION YEAR-ROUND. https://larryblustein.com/

For the past 55 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, we get to as many events as possible to see the athletes LIVE. Follow us on Facebook (Larry Blustein), Instagram (OurBoyBlu) and Twitter (@PrepRedzoneFL). Contact us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

2025 Road To Miami & The Villages Charter.

Once again on Thursday night the South Florida High School Sports Radio Show took center stage with seven impressive guests.

Each and every week, the FM 104.3 WQAM radio program attracts the newsmakers in high school sports, recruiting college sports – not only locally, but throughout the country.

The show gives listeners an opportunity to hear about college football programs statewide from the media that cover them. It also focuses on the coaches who use the state of Florida – Miami-Dade and Broward Counties in particular.

The show, which has run for nearly two decades, has become a popular listen for recruiting fans as well as high school sports purists, focusing on c

Here is a look at the way Thursday went:

On Friday night, all seven classes from south Florida playing in the state semifinal round of the high school football playoffs will be looking to advance to 2025 state championships Dec. 10-13 at Pitbull Stadium in Miami. Bill Daley from the Miami Herald stopped by to break all the classes down.

BILL DALEY ON THURSDAY NIGHT. https://www.audacy.com/podcast/south-florida-high-school-sports-radio-5af98/episodes/bill-daley-miami-hearld-d3022

The Florida Gators have a new head coach to move forward with – and while fans have been snake bitten over the past decade with coaches in Gainesville, Jon Sumrall comes to town with some credentials that could put this program back in the spotlight once again. Kevin Brockway from the Gainesville Sun talked about the new hire.

KEVIN BROCKWAY ON THURSDAY NIGHT. https://www.audacy.com/podcast/south-florida-high-school-sports-radio-5af98/episodes/kevin-brockway-gainesville-sun-526c9

On Friday evening, the West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman Crusaders will be playing for the chance to compete for a 1A state title in Miami next week. Veteran head coach Jack Daniels looked at his team’s chances against unbeaten Tampa Carrollwood Day.

COACH JACK DANIELS ON THURSDAY NIGHT. https://www.audacy.com/podcast/south-florida-high-school-sports-radio-5af98/episodes/jack-daniels-west-palm-beach-cardinal-newman-fa97a

2025 Road To Miami & The Villages Charter. https://larryblustein.com/news/2025-road-to-miami-the-villages-charter

MIAMI-DADE/BROWARD INFORMATION YEAR-ROUND. https://larryblustein.com/

For the past 55 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, we get to as many events as possible to see the athletes LIVE. Follow us on Facebook (Larry Blustein), Instagram (OurBoyBlu) and Twitter (@PrepRedzoneFL). Contact us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Thursday, December 4^th South Florida High School Sports Radio Show Rewind.