Ever since losing to the now No. 1 team in the state, Tampa Jesuit, this has been a much different St. Thomas Aquinas football team.
While the Raiders had beaten Plantation American Heritage (24-16), Miami Monsignor Pace (56-6), Western (31-21), Cooper City (69-0), South Plantation (62-0) and Cardinal Gibbons (39-14) last week, the focus was on last Friday – a meeting that this program took serious.
When the football classifications were made for this year by the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA), all eyes were on a district where two Broward powers would have a chance to clash for the first time in many years.
With national powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas winning the past two 7A state titles, and have a stronghold on the class, along comes Fort Lauderdale’s Dillard High.
Perhaps the theme of the past two weeks in south Florida high school football is how many points you can score on the opponent to make them look bad.
Let’s face it, you can tell the schools who pour it on are the ones who are frankly NOT used to the winning spotlight and believe that the only way they can continue to gain acceptance is to make sure that they rub it in. Remember, paybacks are often hell – and have no chill when trying to get even!
Here we are again as the season is winding down and football talent is taking over in south Florida.
From freshmen to seniors, athletes are turning heads and programs are making that final stretch run for the playoffs, which will begin in the next three weeks.
When it comes to football in south Florida, especially this time of year, you will notice that the contenders have a way of separating themselves from the pretenders.
Last week, four teams in the Top 20 in south Florida went down, paving the way for those elite programs to make their way toward the top.