Miramar came up big in another victory over St. Thomas Aquinas.
File photo by Stuart Browning
, which routinely pins losses on elite national opponents each year, can't seem to shake its Broward County rival
Miramar (Fla.)Miramar's defense came up with numerous big plays in the second half, as the Patriots overcame a 20-13 deficit to defeat Aquinas, the nation's No. 3-ranked team, 22-20.
A safety followed a minute later by a
Cameron Rigby touchdown run gave Miramar a late lead that its defense would not relinquish.
It was the third-consecutive victory over Aquinas for Miramar, also one of the state's top programs under head coach Damon Cogdell.
Aquinas got the scoring started with a 24-yard field goal from
Charles Courtney to make it 3-0 and a
Madre London 8-yard touchdown run quickly gave Aquinas a 10-0 lead.
Then the Raiders' momentum quickly halted.
Miramar fought back in the form of a 1-yard touchdown run by quarterback
Nick Jeanty set up by a trick play that went 79 yards as Miramar trimmed the deficit to 10-7.
Early in the second quarter, Miramar knotted the score at 10 with a 42-yard field goal.
The Aquinas offense continued to struggle and Miramar took a 13-10 lead into the half thanks to a last-minute field goal.
To start the second half, Aquinas converted on a big fourth down and followed up with a
Wade Freebeck pass to
Devante Peete for an 8-yard score to retake the lead, 17-13.
The Raiders seemed to be pulling away following a field goal that made it 20-13, but Miramar came storming back.
Miramar downed a punt inside the Aquinas 10-yard line and moments later registered a safety to make it 20-15.
Moments later, Miramar took its first lead thanks to a
4-yard touchdown run by Rigby that made it 22-20 with nine minutes remaining.
Aquinas and Freebeck tried to rally, but Miramar's defense stood, led by senior defensive tackle
Anthony Barrow.
Miramar got the ball back and milked the clock, feeding the ball to Rigby, who looked superb on the drive, breaking a long run down to the Aquinas 15-yard line against a Raiders defense that was without standout
Nicholas Bosa, who sat out with a shoulder injury.
However, the Aquinas defense bent, but refused to break. It stuffed Miramar on three straight plays and then blocked a field goal to regain possession with two minutes remaining.
It gave Aquinas one final shot, but Freebeck was sacked on fourth down to seal the Miramar victory.
Miramar improves to 4-0 on the season, while Aquinas falls to 2-1.
