Once-beaten Bradenton Manatee staged the biggest upset of the 2009 football season Friday night by stunning No. 1-ranked St. Thomas Aquinas of Fort Lauderdale, 28-20, in Florida’s Class 5A state semifinals. The Raiders were the defending national champions and had won their last 37 games.
“I’m surprised Aquinas lost, but it’s not a total shock," MaxPreps football editor Stephen Spiewak said. "The 5A bracket in Florida is extremely loaded. Aquinas will drop for sure (in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25), but it definitely still is one of the top teams in the country.”
The Aquinas loss continues a trend of state tournament upsets, which saw nine top 25 teams go down to defeat the previous week.
“That will probably move Don Bosco (Ramsey, N.J. ) to the No. 1 spot in the country,” Spiewak said.
Don Bosco, ranked No. 2 in the Xcellent 25, has completed its season with a 12-0 record.
