FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — For the second consecutive year, St. Thomas Aquinas, ranked No. 1 in the nation by Max Preps’ Xcellent 25 presented by the Army National Guard, closed out a perfect regular season after dismantling Cypress Bay 35-0 on Friday night in a contest that aired on CBS College Sports Network.
Quarterback Jacob Rudock, a senior, led the win by completing 11-of-12 passes for 187 yards and two touchdowns, as the Raiders also reached their 34th straight victory.
The Raiders (10-0) drew first blood after James White capped an eight-play, 94-yard drive with a 4-yard touchdown run. After a stout effort by the Raider defense, which entered the game holding its opponents to only 190 yards per contest, Rudock found James Dolan for an 18-yard score. St. Thomas also received a boost from its special teams after reciever Rashad Greene returned a punt 73 yards for a score. Green also caught a 25-yard touchdown pass in the win.
File photo by Lou Novick
James White, Aquinas
Within a blink of an eye, the Raiders surged to a 21-0 lead by halftime. The Lightning did make a push before the half, but a 27-yard field-goal attempt was blocked by All-American cornerback Cody Riggs. Vincent Mauro helped seal the win for the Raiders after returning a fumble 60 yards for a score.
Godfrey sets passing record
Central senior quarterback Jeffrey Godfrey passed former Northwestern Bull Jacory Harris as Miami-Dade County's all-time passing leader after leading the Rockets to an 18-12 win over Booker T. Washington. Godfrey, who helped hand the Tornadoes their first loss of the season, completed 16-of-29 passes for 182 yards and a touchdown, giving him 6,543 yards passing in his career. Harris set the mark in 2007 with a total of 6,365 yards.
Well worth the wait
After 42 years of waiting, the Palmetto boys swim team became the first public school from Miami-Dade County to bring home a swimming title. The Panthers defeated Countryside 249-169.5 to capture the 2009 FHSAA Class 3A state title. Senior Michael Saco led the charge for the Panthers after finishing the event with four gold medals, including wins in the 200-yard freestyle and 400-yard freestyle, while also breaking a state record of 20.22 seconds in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 20.11.
Belen wins fourth straight title
The Belen Jesuit boys swimming team won its fourth straight Class 2A state title in the 2009 FHSAA finals on Thursday after defeating Fort Meyers 266.5-176. The Wolverines became only the third team from Miami-Dade County to win four titles since 1963.
T.I.P. award
This week's top individual performance award goes to Coral Gables senior running back Jarvis Bridge, who led the Cavaliers to a 44-0 win over Southwest by setting a new school record with 332 yards rushing and four touchdowns.
Top performers (Miami-Dade)
QB Jordan Armstrong, Varela, completed 14-of-18 passes for 367 yards and four touchdowns in a 43-14 win over Coral Park. Armstrong is a sophomore.
QB Teddy Bridgewater, Northwestern, completed 18-of-24 passes for 210 yards and four scores in a 32-7 win over Jackson. He also leading the Bulls in rushing with 57 yards on 10 carries.
RB Gideon Ajagbe, Ranson Everglades, rushed for 211 yards on 28 carries and a score in a 20-12 loss to Archbishop Curley.
Gulliver Prep's Clara Smiddy won her first individual state title at the Class 1A finals on Saturday after recording an All-American time of 2:03.06 in the girls' 200-yard medley. Smiddy also won two silver medals in the 200-yard freestyle and the 100-yard freestyle. Smiddy is an eighth-grader.
Top performers (Broward)
RB Devon Wright, Taravella, rushed for 313 yards and scored three touchdowns in a 24-21 win over Coral Springs.
QB Kadeem Hunt, Coconut Creek, rushed for 136 yards on 19 carries and four touchdowns (two passing, two rushing) in a 29-28 win over Douglas.
RB Orville Reynolds, Douglas, rushed for 201 yards and three touchdowns in the loss to Coconut Creek.
QB Donte Dotson, Deerfield Beach, led the Bucks to a 28-9 win by rushing for 209 yards on 12 carries and four touchdowns, while only playing three quarters.
Regional Quarterfinals: Friday, Nov. 20
6A
Plantation (7-3) @ Deerfield Beach (7-3)
Northeast (5-5) @ Miramar (9-1)
Dr. Krop (6-4) @ Everglades (5-5)
Cypress Bay (5-5) @ Carol City (6-4)
Coral Gables (6-4) @ Miami Northwestern (9-1) (11/19)
Miami Central (9-1) @ Columbus (9-1)
South Dade (8-2) @ Ferguson (6-3)Miami Sunset (5-5) @ Miam Southridge (9-0)
5A
West Boca (7-3) @ Boyd Anderson (5-5)
Blanche Ely (9-1) @ Wellington (5-5)
Coconut Creek (5-5) @ South Broward (9-1)
St. Thomas (10-0) @ Coral Springs (7-3)
4A
Hollywood Hills (6-4) @ Dwyer (9-1)
Palm Beach Lakes (7-3) @ Stranahan (8-2)
3A
Archbishop McCarthy (10-0) @ Fort Pierce Westwood
Belen Jesuit (7-3) @ Miami Jackson (7-3)
Booker T. Washington (9-1) @ Miami Norland (5-5)
2A: Regional Semifinals
Boynton Beach (4-6) @ American Heritage (8-2)
Cardinal Gibbons (6-4) @ Glades Central (9-0)
2B
Pahokee (6-3) @ Chaminade (9-0)
Gulliver Prep (7-3) @ North Broward Prep (8-2)
1A
American Heritage (Delray Beach) (5-3) @ Westminster Christian (Miami) (7-1)
Parkway (9-0) @ Calvary Christian (6-3)
1B
Jupiter Christian (8-2) @ Sheridan Hills (6-2)
MacArthur North (7-1) @ Glades Day (7-3)