The Regional Final Playoff Game, also called Round 3 of the FHSAA Football Championships, has been very good to the Raiders. Since the playoffs were expanded to 5 rounds in 1993, Aquinas has reached this round eleven times with a record of 9 wins and 2 losses.
The Raiders will face the Melbourne Palm Bay Pirates (9-3) at Brian Piccolo Memorial Stadium in a state history making 81st playoff game for St. Thomas. The Raiders and Pirates have never met in a football game. The run-oriented Pirates have also had a successful football program winning the state championship in 2000 and 2002 under long-time coach Dan Burke.
Only once has Aquinas been defeated in a regional-final home game (5-1) with that loss coming in 1998.
The Raiders commit piracy on the artificial turf and rob Palm Bay of a Final Four appearance.
Raider Press Box Prediction: Aquinas by 10
