The Raiders, the nation’s No. 1 team according to MaxPreps' Xcellent 25 national high school football rankings, smashed the Chiefs 35-7, cruising to a 27th consecutive win.
Running back James White, a senior, led the Raiders with a game-high 106 yards on 10 carries and a touchdown, while catching five passes for 30 yards and two scores. The Raiders (3-0) drew first blood after running back Jamal Wilson scored from 4 yards out with 5:47 left in the first quarter.
On their ensuing possession, quarterback Jacob Rudock connected with receiver Rashad Green for a 30-yard touchdown pass that helped extend the lead 14-0. Rudock, a senior, finished the game completing 12-of-16 passes for 142 yards and three touchdowns. White helped extend the lead 21-0 after catching a 6-yard pass from Rudock with 8:29 left in the half. The Raiders set up the score after a gutsy call by coach George Smith to go for it on a fourth-and-two.
The Chiefs showed signs of life, cutting the deficit to 21-7 after a standout defensive effort by cornerback Garret Smith. Smith returned an interception 37 yards, setting up an 8-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Chris Rapka to Shawn Corker with 19 seconds left until halftime.
The play could have shed some light on the Chiefs’ game plan in the second half; however, their efforts were overshadowed by White’s dominance. After an electrifying 50-yard run by senior standout LaMarcus Joyner, White added to the lead by catching a 3-yard touchdown pass from Rudock with 2:42 left in the third quarter.
Then, after another jaw-dropping play by Joyner, White sealed the win with a 9-yard run in the fourth to give St. Thomas a 35-7 stretch over Gibbons with 11:50 left in regulation. Joyner, one of the nation’s top all-around athetes, took a screen pass from Rudock and converted it into a 45-yard gain to set up the score.
The Raiders seem ready for this week’s highly anticipated matchup against Duncan Byrnes (S.C.), the nation’s second-ranked team in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25. So far, St. Thomas has outscored its three opponents 133-20 this season, while Byrnes has totaled 145 points in the last two games.
Week 4 top performers (Miami-Dade)
Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Northwestern - Bridgewater, a junior, set a Miami-Dade record for most touchdown passes in a game by throwing seven scores as the Bulls cruised to a 54-23 win over Hialeah-Miami Lakes. The talented young quarterback completed 19-of-24 passes for 327 yards.
Jeffrey Godfrey, QB, Central - Godfrey, a senior, led the Rockets to an impressive 70-24 win over Miami Springs by completing 13-of-16 passes for 332 yards and six touchdowns. The standout dual-threat quarterback also rushed for 103 yards on four carries, including an 80-yard touchdown run.
Jeremiah Hay, QB, Booker T. Washington - Hay, a junior, led the Tornadoes to an astonishing 36-7 rout of Coral Gables by completing 19-of-28 passes for 306 yards and four touchdowns.
Ritchy Desir, QB, North Miami Beach - Desir, a junior, led the Chargers to a 16-0 win over American by completing 12-of-16 passes for 161 yards and two touchdowns (one passing, one rushing). Desir also played safety and recorded two interceptions.
Armani Martin, WR/DB, Dade Christian - Martin, a senior, led the Crusaders to a 52-14 romp over Miami Country Day by scoring three first-half touchdowns. Martin scored on a reception, kickoff return and an interception return.
Cedric Walker, ATH, Gulliver Prep - Walker, a junior, had one of the most impressive nights of the week, while leading the Raiders to a 60-21 win over Archbishop Carroll. The standout junior rushed for 130 yards on eight carries and three scores, while catching a touchdown pass and returning a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown.
Week 4 top performers (Broward)
Dondetrick Barnes, RB, Nova - Barnes, a senior, led Nova to a 48-14 win over Pompano Beach by rushing for 267 yards on 31 carries and five touchdowns.
Willie Tindal, QB, Stranahan - Tindal, a senior, led the Dragons to a 35-0 win over West Broward with four total touchdowns (three passing, one rushing).
Devon Wright, RB, Taravella - Wright, a senior and Broward County’s leading rusher (639 yards), led the Trojans to a 36-0 win over Coral Glades by rushing for 155 yards and two touchdowns.
