While many felt that a win over St Louis (Hawaii) in the GEICO State Champions Bowl Series in December would be enough to boost head coach Roger Harriott’s unbeaten St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders into the top spot nationally, it took into a new year for this program to get some respect.
Denied by Max Preps and USA Today for the No. 1 spot in the country, the 15-0 Raiders were named on Tuesday by GEICO as the national champions for the 2019 season.
Playing before a national TV audience twice this season, the Raiders had the chance to showcase their talent – and meeting every challenge along the way, this perfect season was indeed rewarded.
Along with 11 state titles, the Raiders add this national recognition to national championships won in 2008 and 2010. St. Thomas finished second in USA Today’s final national rankings behind only one-loss California state champion St. John Bosco – as well as MaxPreps.
Breaking St. Louis High’s 38-game winning streak and holding on to beat Orlando Edgewater in the 7A state finals turned out to be the reason that this 3rd national title was awarded. Edgewater was indeed one of the toughest opponents the Raiders faced all year – and a trip a week later to Las Vegas to play in the Geico event were as impressive as any program in the country.
During the course of the season, the Raiders dominated the opposition, outscoring teams an amazing 610-150. They also sent a number of seniors on to the next level – with several more to come.
In addition to the recognition, St. Thomas will receive a banner from GEICO, commemorating the Raiders’ 2019 national title.
In that GEICO State Champions Bowl Series, the Raiders used the passing of sophomore Zion Turner, receiving of University of Georgia signee Marcus Rosemy and running of seniors Jaedon Henry and Travis Dixon, and super sophomore Anthony Hankerson.
Strong defensive play by University of Florida signee Derek Wingo, and a secondary sparked by Landon Grier, Jaden McBurrows and Isaiah Taylor kept the pressure on St. Louis quarterback Jayden de Laura all night.
ST. THOMAS AQUINAS RAIDERS (15-0)
De La Salle, Ca., W 24-14
South Plantation, W 61-0
Miramar, W 36-0
Carol City, W 45-24
Jacksonville Mandarin, W 56-28
Plantation, W 35-0
Deerfield Beach, W 28-7
Fort Lauderdale, W 42-0
Western. W 41-16
South Broward, W 52-0
Plantation, W 59-19
Delray Atlantic, W 26-0
Venice, W 42-0
Orlando Edgewater (7A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME), W 28-2
St. Louis, Honolulu, Hawaii, W 35-19 Geico State Champion Bowl Series