Senior writer and columnist Mitch Stephens scores them likes he sees them. Everyone agrees on this: Byrnes versus Aquinas is a haymaker.
Teams: Byrnes-Duncan, S.C. Rebels (5-0) vs. St. Thomas Aquinas-Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Raiders (3-0)
Where: Lockhart Stadium, Fort Lauderdale
When: 8 p.m. (ET) Friday
TV: ESPNU
Points/PPG: Byrnes 305/61.0, Aquinas 133/44.3
Points allowed/PPG: Byrnes 42/8.4, Aquinas 20/6.6
MaxPreps Freeman national rankings: Byrnes No. 1, Aquinas No. 2.
MaxPreps Xcellent 25: Aquinas No. 1, Byrnes No. 2.
Coaches: Chris Miller (Byrnes), third season, 34-1; George Smith, 33rd season, 336-65.
State titles: Byrnes 6 of last 7; Aquinas 4
School enrollment: Byrnes 1,790; Aquinas 2,100.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - The showdown between the nation’s top two teams will no doubt be compared to a heavyweight championship fight. Aren’t they all?
So, rather than fight the cliché, let’s embrace it and score tonight’s nationally-televised high school extravaganza exactly like one.
Byrnes quarterback and receivers versus Aquinas secondary
As wonderful a season as Rutgers-bound quarterback Chas Dodd is having (18 touchdowns, one interception) and a fantastic receiving brigade as Byrnes possesses, the Raiders simply possess the top secondary in the country. Corners Cody Riggs and Lamarcus Joyner are ranked Nos. 1 and 3 nationally by CBS Sports recruiting expert Tom Lemming, and Brian Robinson is one of the country’s top safeties. Even with the addition of talented Byrnes receiver Nick Jones, out all year with a knee injury, the Rebels can’t quite match up. 
Chas Dodd, Byrnes
Photo by Jim Redman
Scorecard: Aquinas 10, Byrnes 9
Byrnes running backs versus Aquinas linebackers
Much the same as above, only reversed. Aquinas has terrific linebacker play led by Vincent Mauro, but Byrnes boasts arguably the nation’s top running back in Marcus Lattimore, a workhorse talent and fantastic leader.
Scorecard: Byrnes 10, Aquinas 9
Byrnes offensive line versus Aquinas defensive line
Byrnes' group can run- and pass-block equally well. They’ll have to be especially skilled to pick up all the Aquinas blitzes.
Scorecard: Byrnes 10, Aquinas 10
Aquinas quarterback and receivers versus Brynes secondary
Junior quarterback Jacob Rudock has shown extremely well in the early going (27-of-41, 392 yards, seven TDs, one interception). But this simply is a whole new big-game level and this is his first season as a starter. He’s got a boatload of talented receivers, but Byrnes is equal in the secondary.
Scorecard: Aquinas 10, Byrnes 10
Aquinas running backs versus Byrnes linebackers
Giovanni Bernard and James White are two of the best and most productive running backs in the country. They make up the nation’s best tandem and their speed could cause Byrnes fits.
Scorecard: Aquinas 10, Byrnes 9 
James White, Aquinas
Photo by Lou Novick
Aquinas offensive line versus Byrnes defensive line
With bookend Tennessee-bound defensive ends Corey Miller and Brandon Willis, plus leading tackler, defensive tackle Roland Johnson, Byrnes is loaded here. It also knows just when to blitz. Aquinas counters with, among others, 6-6, 290-pound Brandon Linder.
Scorecard: Byrnes 10, Aquinas 9
Special teams
Kaleb Patterson and Brandon Page have been busy with extra points (24) but not much in the field goal and punting department. Florida coaches tell us that no team plays better special teams than Aquinas.
Scorecard: Aquinas 10, Byrnes 8
And the winner is...
Final scorecard: Aquinas 68, Byrnes 66
