Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
St. Thomas back in state title game
FORT LAUDERDALE — Venice’s starting running back came into Friday’s Class 7A state semifinal with the showy numbers, but it was Mike Epstein who stole the show.
The St. Thomas Aquinas senior scored four touchdowns in the first half to help propel the Raiders to a lopsided 46-8 win over Venice at Brian Piccolo Stadium.
St. Thomas Aquinas will face Tampa Plant on Friday at Orlando’s Camping World Stadium in the state championship. The Raiders are looking to become the first Broward County team to win three consecutive state titles.
“Just being a part of [being the first area team to three-peat] would be so special,” said Epstein. “These last few weeks, we’ve been on a run. We’ve been putting up points and focusing on our game plan. We’re really tough to beat when we’re on our game.”
On Friday night, the Raiders’ defense put the clamps down on a Venice offense that was averaging 48.8 points per game. Senior running back Matthew “Speedy” Laroche, who entered the night with 2,665 yards rushing and 37 touchdowns, was unable to replicate his earlier success against a tenacious Raider defense. Laroche was held to under 100 yards rushing for the first time this season, finishing with 60 yards on 18 carries.
Meanwhile, Epstein — who missed all of last season with a torn ACL — was a one-man wrecking crew in the first half, finishing 71 yards rushing on 14 carries and hauling in four catches for 80 yards. The Illinois commit set the tone quickly for the Raiders, scoring twice in the first quarter to help St. Thomas Aquinas race out to a 21-0 lead.
“Michael Epstein is an extraordinary talent,” said St. Thomas Aquinas coach Roger Harriott.
In the second quarter, Epstein went back to work. Facing a fourth-and-goal from the Venice 2-yard line, Epstein broke a tackle at the line of scrimmage and sprinted into the end zone for his third score of the night, giving the Raiders a 28-0 lead.
The senior, playing in his last home game, showed off his versatility as well. With St. Thomas Aquinas backed up on its own nine-yard line, Epstein took a short screen pass from Jake Allen, cut to the outside and raced 57 yards into Indians territory. Epstein later scored his fourth touchdown on an 8-yard completion.
Allen, a University of Florida commit, picked apart the Venice secondary, finishing the game 9 for 11 with 182 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Senior receiver Jordan Merrell caught two touchdown passes in the win.
St. Thomas Aquinas will go for its 10th overall state championship next week.