The Raiders travel to Ohio to begin the 2009 Season against the Columbus Upper Arlington Golden Bears in the Herbstreit Football Series. St. Thomas Aquinas is starting out 2009 where they left off in 2008 - atop the national prep polls. The game will be televised live on ESPN.
Aquinas Head Coach George Smith begins his 33rd Raider season with an overall career record of 333 - 65. Coach Smith returns a number of outstading players for their Senior year. On offense OL, Brandon Linder and RBs Giovanni Bernard and James White will lead the Raiders. The defense will look to DBs Brian Robinson, Cody Riggs and Reynaldo Kirton along with LB Vinnie Mauro and DL Matt Stokes to provide the leadership. Newcomers DB/WR Lamarcus Joyner and DB Keion Payne should provide addtional support. Kicking Specialist Michael Palardy, a University of Tennessee commit, will handle both the kicking and punting duties.
The Raiders have won 24 consecutive games. Can anyone defeat Aquinas in 2009? Well, maybe; but not in Columbus, Ohio.
Look for the ready Raiders to shake off jet lag and first game jitters by the second quarter and run over the Golden Bears in front of a national television audience.
Raider Pressbox Prediction: Raiders by 14
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