Raider Press Box

ROAD BLOCK

St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders (3-0) host the Byrnes High School Rebels (5-0) from Duncan, South Carolina in a showdown between the two top ranked teams in the nation.  The game is part of the Old Spice High School Showcase Football Series and will be broadcast live on ESPNU.  The Raiders look to extend their win streak to an all time record of 28 straight victories

In 90 degree plus heat, The Raiders beat Catholic school rival, Cardinal Gibbons, 35-7.  The Aquinas offense rushed for 221 yards and passed for 142 yards with running back James White leading the way.  White rushed for 105 yards and scored three touchdowns.  He scored on a 5 yard run and two touchdown passes of 6 and 10 yards.

The Raiders jumped out to a 13-0 lead on touchdowns by Jamal Wilson on the ground and Rashad Greene in the air.  Junior QB Jake Rudock completed 12 of 16 passes with an interception and two touchdown passes.

Brian Robinson lead the Raider defenders with 5.5 tackles including 2 tackles for loss.  LB Garth Jobb had 5 tackles with an interception and DB Reynaldo Kirton recorded 5 tackles.

Raider kicker Michael Palardy had his consecutive points after touchdown streak snapped at 45 straight when the Chiefs blocked his first quarter attempt.  Palardy was chasing the record of former Raider kicker Wesley Byrum (currently kicking at Auburn University) of 55 straight.

With a huge crowd expected for this Friday's game against Byrnes High, the game has been moved from Brian Piccolo Stadium to Lockhart Stadium.  Lockhart Stadium is the Raiders home away from home having won 17 straight games there.

This contest will feature a wealth of talented players on both teams includng two finalists for the U.S. Army Player of the Year - Aquinas' LaMarcus Joyner and Byrnes' Marcus Lattimore.

The Rebels on an 11 game winning streak bring a high powered offense to Florida. Their offense has averaged 61 points per game with a game high of 85.

With the home field advantage to Aquinas along with a strong Raider defense, the road is clear to keep the Raider win streak alive. 

Defense wins big games.   Continuing Tradition - One Game at a Time.

Raider Pressbox Prediction: Raiders by 3

 

RAIDERS STAY HOT

The St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders (2-0) head to Cardinal Gibbons High School  Friday for an afternoon game to be played under the South Florida heat.  This rivalry match up against the unbeaten Chiefs (2-0) is the longest-running series in Raider football history.  Both teams are coming off an open date last week.

Two weeks ago Aquinas fought hard for a 46-6 victory over a talented Boyd Anderson team. The Raiders overcame an uneven offense performance, with special team and kick return play carrying St. Thomas over the Cobras.

Raider kicker Michael Palardy kicked field goals of 34, 25 and 42 yards along with three points after touchdown to help keep the home team in control of the game.

After Raider LB Garth Jobb tackled the Boyd Anderson QB in the end zone for a safety, LaMarcus Joyner returned the free kick for a 78-yard touchdown.  Rashad Greene joined in with a 42-yard touchdown on a punt return in the third quarter.

Aquinas QB Jake Rudock finished with 8-15 passes with touchdown passes to Joyner (35 yards) and Phillip Dorsett (34 yards).

The Raider defense was lead by John Baglia with seven tackles which included two tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.  Senior linebacker Vinnie Mauro scored on a 48-yard fumble recovery.

The Raiders-Chiefs game marks the 20th anniversary of Cardinal Gibbons only victory over a George Smith-coached Raider team.  Head Coach Smith's record versus the Chiefs stands at 30-1 with his only loss coming in the 1989 season.

The Raiders look to extend their current consecutive win streak to 27 games which would tie their all-time consecutive win streak which spanned the 1999 and 2000 seasons.

The best way to enjoy this afternoon delight is to slap on the sun block, sport your designer sunglasses and sip a cool beverage.

In this year's edition of "The Catholic Bowl", the Raiders stay very hot and move to 3-0 on the season and keep their win streak alive, while they cool the Chiefs down.

Raider Pressbox Prediction: Raiders by 17

 

RAIDERS ARRIVE HOME, COACH SMITH ARRIVES AT 400

Aquinas opens their 2009 home schedule at Brian Piccolo Memorial Stadium facing the Boyd Anderson Cobras as George Smith reaches his 400th game as Raider Head Coach.

The Raiders (1-0) rolled over Columbus Upper Arlington, 52-7, dominating from start to finish.

The victory was the 25th consecutive win for the Raiders dating back to the 2007 season.

Giovanni Bernard led the St. Thomas offense with two rushing touchdowns while rushing for 119 yards on 12 carries.  In his first varsity start, junior quaterback Jake Rudock was 7 of 10 passing for 141 yards with two touchdown passes and a rushing TD.  LaMarcus Joyner and Jamal Wilson caught touchdown passes in the third quarter.  James White and Dami Ayoola also rushed for touchdowns.  Michael Palardy kicked 5 points after touchdown and Ben Hopfinger added 2 PATs.

Senior linebacker, Vinnie Mauro, recorded four tackles, while Cody Riggs and Keion Payne both intercepted passes for the Raider defense.

The Lauderdale Lakes Boyd Anderson Cobras (0-1) opened their season with a 20-15 loss to Cypress Bay in a closely contested contest. The Cobras feature a wealth of talented returning starters on both offense and defense.

The game will mark the 400th game Coach Smith has led the Raider footballers on the field.  His career record is 334-65 as the Aquinas Head Coach.

The all-time series between the Raiders and the Cobras stands 7-1 in favor of St. Thomas.  Aquinas is 4-0 versus Boyd Anderson in games played at Brian Piccolo Stadium.

Since "The Picc" opened in 1975, the Raiders are 30-4 in season home openers.

The Raiders win their 26th straight; put the snakes on a bus, and say see you later.

Raider Pressbox Prediction: Raiders by 10