Cardinal Gibbons, St. Thomas Aquinas set to play for titles
For the first time since 1987, high school football state championships will be decided in Broward County.
Inter Miami’s DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale will host five state championship games from Thursday through Saturday, and better yet — two Fort Lauderdale teams will have the opportunity to win titles in front of a hometown crowd.
On Thursday, Cardinal Gibbons faces Cocoa in the Class 4A championship game. On Friday, St. Thomas Aquinas plays Tampa Bay Tech for the Class 7A title.
Here are my picks for each of this week’s state title games. I went 1- 0 last week when Chaminade- Madonna beat Tampa Berkeley Prep in the Class 3A title game. I am 112- 34 this season.
First, I’ll pick the games with the local teams. Then I’ll take a look at the other three title bouts.
Class 7A
St. Thomas Aquinas ( 13- 1) vs. Tampa Bay Tech ( 14- 0), Friday, 7 pm.: The Raiders have played in three consecutive state title games, and they’ve traveled all over the state to do it. In 2018, they lost to Lakeland in Orlando. They won the 2019 championship over Orlando Edgewater in Daytona Beach, and last year they beat Edgewater again, but this time in Tallahassee. With all those miles accrued, they’ve earned the right for a short trip to DRV PNK Stadium.
St. Thomas has been prolific on offense this year, scoring 598 points in 14 games. The Raiders have not scored fewer than 42 points in a game since their 23- 13 win over Dillard on Oct. 22.
Quarterback Zion Turner, who has led the Raiders to back- to- back titles, is having his best season yet. He has completed 67 percent of his passes and thrown 23 touchdowns against five picks. Turner has also run for 316 yards and 11 scores. Anthony Hankerson has had another strong season out of the backfield for St. Thomas. He has not racked up as many yards as he did last year, but that’s likely because the Raiders have had more success throwing the ball this season.
St. Thomas does not feature a dominant senior on defense like
Derek Wingo on the 2019 squad or Dallas Turner on last year’s team. But that hasn’t stopped the Raiders from keeping opposing teams in check. St. Thomas has held teams to about 11 points per game, and they’ve gotten solid production from seniors like defensive lineman Kyrie Samuel, linebackers Derrieon Craig and Michael Renoit and defensive back Jerrod Cameron. Juniors Conrad Hussey and King Mack have also played big roles in the secondary, each picking off four passes.
Tampa Bay Tech has effectively held off all its Tampa- area competition this season, outscoring opponents 479- 174. The Titans have potent offensive playmakers in running back James Evans ( 1,009 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns) and Iowa State commit Greg Gaines ( 830 yards, 10 touchdowns) at wide receiver.
The Titans have four defensive linemen with more than 20 tackles for loss this season: senior Keyon Clark ( 36 tackles for loss, 17 sacks), junior Antonio Camon ( 28 tackles for loss, nine sacks), junior Donteye Drew ( 28 tackles for loss, seven sacks) and junior Jaheim Borden ( 23 tackles for loss, eight sacks). Tampa Bay Tech has also excelled at taking the ball away, picking off 15 passes and recovering 18 fumbles.
If the Raiders win on Friday, they will claim the 13th state title in school history — two more than No. 2 Jacksonville Bolles. If St. Thomas protects the football and can run its offense without too much disruption, that’s what I believe will happen. St. Thomas Aquinas 28, Tampa Bay Tech 14
Class 4A
Cardinal Gibbons ( 10- 2) vs. Cocoa ( 11- 1), Thursday, 7 p. m.: Like its crosstown rival St. Thomas, Cardinal Gibbons is also looking to repeat as champions. The Chiefs beat Bolles in Tallahassee last year to claim the Class 4A crown. This year, Gibbons faces Cocoa in a rematch of last season’s state semifinals. The Chiefs won that game by 30 points, but I think this year’s contest will be closer.
Cardinal Gibbons features a well- balanced offense, and they can put points on the board through the air or on the ground. Quarterback Dylan Rizk, who transferred from American Heritage- Delray, has completed 68 percent of his passes for 1,933 yards and 16 touchdowns against nine interceptions. He has also run for 437 yards and eight touchdowns. Lead running back Kamari Moulton has also had an excellent season, rushing for 904 yards and 16 touchdowns.
The Chiefs defense is led by several standout players. R Mason Thomas is one of South Florida’s top defensive ends. The Iowa State commit has 62 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and 11 sacks so far this year. His teammates on the defensive line, Ahmad Moten and Greg Otten, make life difficult for opposing offenses. Linebacker and Coastal Carolina commit Tray Brown is the team’s leading tackler, and he has 13 tackles for loss and three sacks.
Cocoa has a lot of talent on both sides of the ball. Three- star senior quarterback Davin Wydner has thrown for 3,328 yards with 21 touchdowns and eight picks. Three- star running back OJ Ross has racked up 1,791 rushing yards with 36 touchdowns this year.
On defense, four- star safety Cedrick Hawkins makes life difficult for opposing offenses. He has 106 tackles and three interceptions so far this season.
The Chiefs are looking for the third state title in program history, while Cocoa is seeking its fifth and first since 2016. These two powerhouses will go toe- to- toe, and I think it could be a photo finish. Cardinal Gibbons 21, Cocoa 20
Class 8A
Apopka ( 12- 2) vs. Venice ( 13- 1), Saturday, 1 p. m.: This Saturday’s matinee features an Orlando- area power against one of the Gulf Coast’s best teams.
Apopka, which lost regular- season games to Orlando Edgewater and Lakeland, escaped a close contest in the regional finals against reigning Class 8A champion Sanford Seminole. The Blue Darters followed that by shutting out Port St. Lucie Treasure Coast’s prolific Wing- T offense. Apopka has stars on defense like four- star UCF commit Nikai Martinez, three- star Coastal Carolina commit Josiah Robinson and four- star junior Kaven Call.
Venice has plenty of talent, too. Venice’s only blemish on its record is a loss to Cardinal Gibbons, and it beat Edgewater, Cocoa and Miami
Columbus, among others, during its excellent season.
Apopka is looking for its fourth state title, while Venice is trying to win its third. Venice 28, Apopka 13
Class 6A
Pensacola Pine Forest ( 12- 1) vs. Tampa Jesuit ( 14- 0), Saturday, 7 p. m.: Spare a thought for Pine Forest. The Pensacola football team has to travel about 650 miles ( depending on the route taken) to get to the stadium for Saturday’s game, and the team set up a GoFundMe page to try to pay the expenses for the long trip. Lose Saturday’s game, and that long bus ride home will feel even longer. Unfortunately for the Eagles, they are the underdog in this title game.
Jesuit, the only team to beat St. Thomas Aquinas this season, has run roughshod over opponents this year, outscoring them 533- 97. Jesuit stars like safety and Clemson commit Wade Woodaz and fourstar junior linebacker Troy Bowles lead the way for the Tigers.
Pine Forest hopes to win the fourth title in school history, while Jesuit is looking for the program’s second championship ( and first since 1968). Jesuit 35, Pine Forest 20
Class 5A
Miami Central ( 11- 2) vs. Merritt Island ( 13- 1), Friday, 1 p. m.: Perennial powerhouse Miami Central started the season with two losses against California’s St. John Bosco and Las Vegas power Bishop Gorman. Since then, the Rockets have reeled off 11 consecutive wins, beating opponents by a combined score of 504- 108.
Miami Central can beat teams in any fashion. It has a strong passing game, led by wide receivers Lamar Seymore and Joshisa Trader, and can run the ball well. The defense can shut down just about any opponent. Miami commit Wesley Bissainthe is one of the nation’s top linebackers, and junior defensive end Rueben Bain is a dominant force on the line.
Merritt Island, which has won three state titles ( but none since 1979), has had a good season, but I can’t see the Mustangs sticking with the Rockets, who will likely win the program’s eighth state championship. Miami Central 45, Merritt Island 14