Aquinas bests Heritage for Broward supremacy
St. Thomas Aquinas and Plantation American Heritage, two of the premier private school programs in the nation and who measure success nothing short of state championships, squared off before a national television audience (ESPN2) on Friday night.
Even though there were no state championships to be won, each was looking to enter next week’s state playoffs with momentum and bragging rights following the big showdown, which marked the first meeting between the two powers since 2014.
When it was over nearly three hours after it started, it was St. Thomas, still smarting from an upset loss to Cardinal Gibbons two weeks ago that ruined any hopes of a possible national championship, that emerged with the win, knocking off the Patriots 33-23 at Aquinas’ Brian Piccolo Stadium before a small crowd as the game was played with a limited number of fans (2 guests per player on both teams) with COVID-19 restrictions still in place.
St. Thomas head coach Roger Harriott can mainly thank his defense for the win. That’s because the Raiders not only forced five Heritage turnovers, but found the end zone on three of them.
“Our defense was just unbelievable out there tonight,” Harriott said. “They did a great job of flying around to the ball and making plays. They never relented.”
And with a passing game that was virtually nonexistent (QB Zion Turner completed 4-of-8 passes for 26 yards), Harriott also was forced to turn to his big offensive line and stud running back Anthony Hankerson.
Hankerson was the ultimate workhorse, grinding out 168 yards on 28 carries which included a 21-yard touchdown in the third quarter.
“Give it up to the O-line. None of this happens tonight if they’re not out there opening up some holes for me,” Hankerson said. “Tonight was important because we wanted to get some momentum heading into the playoffs.”
The Raiders, who are ranked No. 30 nationally (Max Preps), finished their abbreviated regular season 3-1. They will now set out in search of a record 12th state championship and, after enjoying a first-round bye next week, will play on the road at either Lehigh Acres or Sarasota on Nov. 20.
Things could not have started any better for the Raiders as they blew out to a 20-0 lead just a minute into the second quarter.
When Turner was stuffed for no gain from the half-yard line on a fourth-and-goal on St. Thomas’ opening possession, the Raiders turned it into a touchdown on the next play anyway.
Heritage quarterback Vinson Davis couldn’t handle a high snap from the shotgun standing in his own end zone. Linebacker Christian Gonzalez fell on the loose ball for a Raider touchdown, the first of those three defensive scores.
“It was just a mindset going out there that it’s all about making plays and we were fortunate enough to make some out there tonight,” said Gonzalez, who also had a sack and five tackles. “You’ve got to give it up for our D-line, they were the ones up front making it easier for the linebackers and defensive backs.”
Following a quick Heritage three-and-out, the Raiders took over at midfield and moved 50 yards in eight plays. Turner took it over from two yards out when he sprinted outside and dove for the pylon and it was 13-0.
Things got worse for Heritage on the next series when, following a timeout, Dylan Romig replaced Davis for one play at quarterback and it turned in to a disaster when a screen pass to running back Mark Fletcher was instead picked off by Kylan Stevens and returned 61 yards for a score.
But the Patriots, who finished their abbreviated regular season 5-2 and will play host to Palm Bay in a first-round play-in game next week, rallied to get right back in the game.
First came a 58-yard touchdown run by Davis who ran a perfectly executed read/option, faking to Fletcher and keeping it around the left side sprinting to the end zone untouched. They trimmed their deficit to 20-14 just 1:10 before halftime when, after a St. Thomas personal foul on a punt return gave then a short field at the Raiders’ 33, they were in the end zone in just three plays, Fletcher scoring from 12 yards out when Davis pitched to him on an option play at the last second.
When Chris Maron nailed a 23-yard field goal midway through the third, Heritage had cut the St. Thomas lead to three.
That’s when Hankerson answered the call as he led his team on an eight-play, 70-yard drive, carrying the ball on six of those plays and finishing it off with that 21-yard score to make it 26-17 with 3:36 left in the third.
When the fourth quarter arrived, it was time for one final curtain call from the defense. On the first play of the quarter, Fletcher coughed up the ball at his own 20. Defensive back Derrieon Craig was right there to scoop it up and rambled 25 yards to the end zone to make it 33-17. Thanks to a blocked punt that gave them the ball at the Aquinas three, Heritage scored on a Davis 3-yard keeper with 3:20 left but the two point conversion, which would’ve made it a one possession game failed.
Class 3A, Region 4: Palm Beach Gardens Benjamin 20, Miami Westminster Christian 13: The Warriors were gifted a final opportunity to complete their comeback. With just under two minutes left and down by seven points, they forced and recovered a fumble at their goal line that set up a simple yet arduous task: March 99 yards down the field to keep their season alive.
The drive ended after three plays and 87 yards from their final destination. Quarterback Brian Nasr, hit as he threw and trying to find Jayden Higgins down the left sideline, threw an interception to sophomore Benjamin safety Trakwon Harris to seal Westminster Christian’s loss.
Westminster Christian has now been eliminated from the playoffs in the opening round for the third consecutive year. The Warriors’ last playoff win came in 2014.
“We knew this was going to be a close game,” fourth-year Westminster Christian coach Ed Holly said. “Benjamin is obviously a very good football program, but our guys were playing really well. ... It’s been such a strange season with COVID that not only for our guy but all the teams having to overcome all these different obstacles, it’s really a testament of what kind of young men we have.”
The Warriors certainly came into the game with a chance to advance. Westminster Christian went 3-1 during the regular season and had allowed just six total points in its final three games after opening the season with a 16-7 loss to Florida Christian.
But Benjamin, which went 1-3 in the regular season and will travel to face Miami Edison in next week’s regional quarterfinals, came up with the big plays late to close out a back-and-forth affair.
The game-winning score: A 6-yard rushing touchdown from senior Luke Cannata with 3:07 left to play. The touchdown capped a nine-play, 71-yard drive that took 4:37 off the clock and saw Benjamin convert a pair of third downs with quarterback sneaks.
Benjamin’s other two touchdowns came on an 8-yard Khani Jones rushing touchdown in the second quarter and a 55-yard catch-and-run by wide receiver Darrell Sweeting late in the third quarter.
Westminster Christian opened scoring with a 1-yard passing touchdown from Nasr to senior tight end Brian Teasdale that capped an 11-play, 80-yard drive in the first quarter. The Warriors tied the game at 13-13 with 1:34 left in the third quarter when freshman running back Malachi Keels’ 6-yard rushing touchdown completed a seven-play, 72yard drive. Nasr completed 4 of 6 passes for 46 yards on that drive. touchdowns and threw for a third, Monty Flanigan returned an interception for a touchdown, Gregory Janvier returned a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown and Calvary Christian’s defense pitched its fourth shutout of the season. Calvary Christian (5-0) will face Miami Palm Glades Prep Academy in the regional quarterfinals.
Class 2A, Region 4: Hialeah Champagnat 65, Belle Glades Glades Day 7: Defending Class 2A state champion Champagnat made quick work of Glades Day, jumping out to a 55-7 lead at halftime before working the running clock the rest of the way. Champagnat will travel to Naples to face First Baptist Academy in the regional quarterfinals.
Class 2A, Region 4: Fort Lauderdale Westminster Academy 20, Fort Myers Evangelical Christian 3: After going 2-6 in the regular season, the Lions went on the road and won their first playoff game since 1991. They will host Miami Christian in the Class 2A regional quarterfinals.
Class 3A, Region 4: Boca Raton St. John Paul II 49, Miami Everglades Prep 0: St. John Paul quickly built up a 35-0 lead in the first quarter and never looked back.
Krop 33, Hialeah 9: Quarterback Jake Golan led the way with 310 passing passing and three touchdowns. Davin Derival had 175 total yards and two touchdowns. Running back Nehemy Neptune had two rushing touchdowns. DE Timothy Summons had three sacks and DT Julius Weaver had two sacks and two tackles for loss. Senior Antonio Ferguson led the secondary with two big hits and eight tackles.
St. Brendan 62, Palm Glades 0: Damari Charlton was 4 of 5 passing for 122 yards and three touchdowns; Isaac Brown rushed for 112 yards and two touchdowns; Richard Dandridge had two receptions for 91 yards and two touchdowns; Christian Lowry had 48 rushing yards and one touchdown and one fumble recovery; Micheal Caldwell rushed for 52 yards and one touchdown; Carlos Junco had 4 tackles, 2 sacks; Eric Rangel had 7 tackles; Verdieu Guillaume had two tackles, two fumble recoveries and one touchdown.