South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
Winning the late show
St. Thomas Aquinas waits out rain, TRU Prep Academy to take season opener
FORT LAUDERDALE — St. Thomas Aquinas had already waited months to start its 2020 season. Whatwould a couplemore hours matter?
The Raiders waited out a two-hour, 40-minute weather delay before beating TRU Prep Academy 25-13 in their season openerthat startedonFriday night andendedearlySaturdaymorning.
“We’re here, we’re healthy, we’re alive to live another day and continue to try to be safe,” St.
ThomascoachRogerHarriott said.
After the rain swept through, it looked like St. Thomas, which entered the game ranked third in the nation by MaxPreps, might dominate Its opponent. TRUPrep, whichismadeupmostly of former UniversitySchool players, fumbled on its opening drive, and the Raiders scoredona 27-yardtouchdown pass fromjunior quarterback Zion Turner to senior receiver Quincy Skinner Jr.
But the Saints, who entered the game 3-0 this season, came right back. Quarterback Nick Vattiato tossed a 20-yard touchdown pass to four-star sophomore Brandon Inniss, givingTPAa 7-6 lead.
The Saints got out ahead when Inniss took a snap in theWildcat formation andpunchedina 1-yard score. Inniss finished the game with seven catches for 112 yards, 6 rushing yardsandtwototal touchdowns.
The Raiders tied the game before halftime on a short goalline run by Turner, who finished the night with 15 completions on 23attemptsand206passing yards.
The Raiders took a lead when Turner tossed a 5-yard touchdownpass to senior wide receiver
MauriceNewton, whokept his feet inbounds as he fell to the sideline. Turner found Newton a second time on the Raiders’ next drive, throwing a 36-yard touchdown pass to the senior.
“MauriceNewtonis a live wire,” Harriott said.“He’s explosive. He’s a playmaker. Anytime you can get the ball in his hands, he can take advantage of it.”
St. Thomas’ defense buckled down in the second half, keeping TPA from scoring again. Senior defensive back Ja’Den McBurrows had two interceptions, while defensive end and four-star
Alabama commit Dallas Turner notched four sacks, including one that forceda turnoverondownson TPA’s final drive.
“That’sanexplosiveoffense, and I think they caught us off guard a little bit,” Harriott said. “Football is really about matchups. They have a tremendous pass game and a quick game, and they were able to take our D-linemen out of it for a little bit. But I think oncewe got into a rhythm, coach [Jason] Taylorandhis defensive staffmade some adjustments and our guys responded at halftime and came out here and finished the game.”