Raider Press Box

DOG GONE

The undefeated Aquinas Raiders (11-0) face the South Broward Bulldogs (10-1) in a regional semifinal playoff elimination game.  Just three weeks ago, the Raiders handed the Bulldogs their only loss of the season, 51-7, in a game that decided the the district championship.  The rematch once again will be played at Brian Piccolo Stadium on Friday night. 

In Round One of the playoffs, St. Thomas crushed the Coral Springs Colts, 66-8, with a running clock that began at the start of the 3rd quarter.  The Aquinas offense rushed for 4 touchdowns and passed for 3; while the defense and special teams added one TD each.

RB James White, only played a half, but the senior scored three times while rushing for 176 yards on 6 carries.

Running back Dami Ayoola scored on a run and a pass reception.  Jamal Wilson opened the scoring for the Raiders with a 39 yard touchdown run.  Lamarcus "The Freak" Joyner hauled in a 25 yard touchdown pass from QB Jake Rudock (8 passes-6 completions-3 touchdown passes with 117 passing yards).

Senior defensive lineman Dorian Grant blocked a Colt punt and recovered the ball in the end zone for the touchdown.  LB Vinnie Mauro was the leading tackler with 5.

Aquinas' Rashad Greene fielded a Coral Springs' punt at the Raider 47 yard line and weaved his way to a 53 yard punt return.

In what's becoming a weekly routine, kicking specialists, Mike Palardy and Ben Hopfinger, combined for 11 kickoffs resulting in 11 touchbacks giving Coral Springs no return yardage.  Palardy and Hopfinger have kicked 21 consecutive touchbacks in St. Thomas' last 3 games.  The Raiders did not punt.  Hopfinger added a 32 yard field goal in the 2nd quarter.

South Broward

The Raiders look to extend their current winning streaks-35 consecutive games, 11 straight playoff wins-against the Bulldogs and retain their number one national ranking.

There's no dog gone chance for South Broward as the Raiders will extend both of their winning streaks in front of a Thanksgiving weekend crowd of Raider alums.  Aquinas plays one game at a time and heads to the Class 5A Regional Final as the Bulldogs season ends. 

Raider Press Box Prediction:  Raiders by 35 

OFFENSE AND DEFENSE

The St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders (10-0) begin defense of their back-to-back Class 5A State Championships against the Coral Springs Colts (7-3) in a regional quarterfinal playoff game Friday at Brian Piccolo Memorial Stadium. 

On Senior Night the Raiders, the nation's top ranked team, jumped out to a 21-0 halftime lead against the Cypress Bay Lightning and coasted to its 34th consecutive victory, 35-0, in its third nationally televised game of the season. 

 

St. Thomas, which hasn't lost since a 43-41 loss to Deerfield Beach on October 12, 2007, took command of the game on its first drive of 94 yards in 8 plays to take a 7-0 lead on a 4-yard run by James White. QB Jake Rudock went 3 for 3 for 65 yards on the drive and finished the first half 7 for 7 for 139 yards.

Rudock threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to James Dolan, while Rashad Green returned a punt 73 yards for a score and added a 25-yard touchdown reception from Rudock. Vinnie Mauro capped off the scoring with a 60-yard fumble return.

Kicking specialists Ben Hopfinger and Mike Palardy added 5 points after touchdown, as well as, kicking six touchbacks.

Raider defenders stuffed the rushing attack of the Lightning holding Cypress Bay to 99 yards on 53 carries and 107 yards total offense.  Leading tacklers for Aquinas were John Childress with 8.5, Dean Fillichio with 4.5, Rey Kirton and Vinnie Mauro both with 4.

Coral Springs

The Colts finished as the runner up in Class 5A - District 15 to Coconut Creek.  The Springs offense has averaged 18.4 points per game, while their defense has held their opponents to an average of 16.2 points per game.

 

The high-powered Raider offense is averaging 42 points per game, while their defense has recorded 3 shutouts and has only allowed more than one touchdown in a game once.

 

Look for the Raiders to continue their regular season form and outrace the Colts on offense and defense.  Aquinas moves on in the playoffs with their 35th consecutive win and their 11th straight playoff victory. 

 

 

Raider Press Box Prediction:  Raiders by 35 

 

 

 

NATIONAL STAGE

For the third time during the 2009 season, the St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders (9-0) appear on live national television as the Cypress Bay Lightning (5-4) visit "The Picc" on Senior Night to wrap up the regular season.

In last week's showdown of undefeated teams, the Raiders rolled over district foe the South Broward Bulldogs, 51-7, in front of a standing room only crowd.  The Raiders built a 30-0 halftime lead. The running clock "mercy rule" was started early in the third quarter.

With the victory, Aquinas won its 33rd game in a row, 54th straight district game and captured the District 16-5A championship--its' 13th district title in a row and 26th overall. 

James White lead the Raider offense with 121 yards on 11 carries scoring on runs of 31 and 32 yards.  Lamarcus Joyner ran for a seven yard touchdown and scored on a 99-yard kickoff return to open the second half.  Quarterback Jacob Rudock returned from an ankle injury and tossed two touchdown passes -- 33 yards to Rashad Greene and 13 yards to Phillip Dorsett.

Back up Sophomore QB Max Lescano connected with Austin Bombich on a 17 yard touchdown pass marking the first career touchdown for both players.

Kicking specialist Mike Palardy added a 32 yard field goal along with four extra points.  Ben Hopfinger also chipped in two extra points along with four kickoffs for touchbacks.

Led by the Raiders' leading tackler, Vinnie Mauro, the defense shut down the Bulldog rushing attack.  For the second straight game, Sophomore Cole Champion provided solid defense with four tackles from his linebacker position. 

Cypress Bay

The Lightning finished as runner up in their Class 6A district play to earn a playoff spot. 

Cypress Bay's Head Coach, Mark Guandolo, is one of the winningest coaches in South Florida.

Friday night's weather forecast calls for clear skies with no lightning strikes at Brian Piccolo Memorial Stadium.

Look for the Raiders to close out their 2009 regular season undefeated -- winning their 34th straight game and retaining their number 1 national ranking. 

Raider Box Prediction: Raiders by 25

Live Coverage

CBS College Sports Network will provide a nationwide live broadcast of the game beginning at 8:00 PM EST. Check your local cable listings for game night coverage. 

670AM, WWFE will provide live streaming internet coverage beginning at 8:00 PM EST.

 

DREAM ON

The St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders (8-0) welcome the undefeated South Broward Bulldogs (8-0) to Brian Piccolo Memorial Stadium in a game that will decide the District 16-5A championship.  The Bulldogs look to keep their dream season alive; as the Raiders attempt to hold on to their #1 national ranking.

Last week the Raider defense dominated the Deerfield Beach Bucks to help St. Thomas earn a 27-0 victory in a non-district game. 

Vinnie Mauro again lead the St. Thomas defense with 9 tackles which included a forced fumble, 4 tackles-for-loss and 2 sacks.  With the Raiders leading 13-0, sophomore LB Cole Champion intercepted a Buck's pass and returned it 21 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter.

Raider RB James White rushed for two touchdowns of 3 and 62 yards.  White broke free out of the Wildcat formation for his 62 yard score to finish the Raider scoring. 

Kicking specialist Michael Palardy added two field goals (35, 32 yards) and three extra points. Palardy punted once for 62 yards.

The Bucks, the last team to defeat the Raiders over two years ago, managed to record an additional lowlight in their loss.

With Raider backup QB Max Lescano playing for injured starter Jake Rudock, a Deerfield Beach defender snatched Lescano's quarterback wristband with his play card inside from his wrist. The Buck's defender quickly passed the wristband to a Deerfield assistant coach who pocketed it.  The game officials questioned the assistant who after initially denying that he had the Raider's play card, finally flung the wristband back on the field.  So much for sportsmanship.

South Broward

The Bulldogs have had a dream 2009 season so far. South Broward's fantasy of a district championship comes crashing down this Friday as they realize it was all just a pipe dream. 

Aquinas collars the dawgs winning their 13th consecutive district championship and winning their 33rd game in-a-row.

Raider Box Prediction: Raiders by 22