The stars and credentials appear all aligned in South Florida on Friday night when nation's top two high school football teams collide.
There was talk of a press conference this week, to which St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) football coach George Smith scoffed and shook his head.
“We don’t need a press conference,” he said. “This is high school football.”
Giovanni Bernard is one of 15 Division I prospects for Aquinas.
File photo by Todd Shurtleff
Smith, 61, has been around the block or two…or three or four. He has won 336 games, five state titles and has been inducted into three Halls of Fame. Last year, his team won a national championship, sent 11 players to Division I programs and outscored opponents 691-111.
This year, the Raiders again rule the roost and are at the top of most national polls, and No. 2 in the MaxPreps Freeman rankings. They have manhandled three foes by a 133-20 count.
But clearly, Friday is different. Their opponent is different. The build-up is different. Despite Smith’s assertion, it’s probably worthy-of-a-press-conference different. Smith is correct — this is high school football. It just isn't an ordinary high school football game.
Aquinas (3-0) hosts Byrnes (Duncan, S.C.) at Lockhart Stadium in just the fourth-ever showdown between the nation’s top two high school football teams.
“Byrnes is just simply a completely different animal than we’ve faced,” Smith admitted.
Indeed, the Rebels bring in a herd of impressive athletes and credentials that excite even South Floridians, who have been spoiled for decades by some of the nation’s best homegrown talent. Byrnes (5-0) has won six state crowns in the past seven years, boasts an 88-4 mark the past six seasons and has already piled up 305 points, led by the country’s No. 3 recruit, 6-foot, 210-pound running back Marcus Lattimore (79 carries, 637 yards, 12 touchdowns), nicknamed “The Horse.” Think a young Earl Campbell.
They boast much more, with Rutgers-bound quarterback Chas Dodd (79-of-116, 1,321 yards, 18 touchdowns, 1 interception), a pair of Tennessee-committed defensive ends in Corey Miller and Brandon Willis and a trio of fleet receivers, led by Torian Richardson (15 catches, 341 yards).
Byrnes' Marcus Lattimore is the No. 3 recruit in the country.
File photo by Don Wessel
More than just athletes, the Rebels bring toughness and cohesion. Under a proven rock-solid coaching staff led by Chris Miller, Byrnes is battle-tested with a 9-1 record against out-of-state opponents since 2002, including a 38-12 triumph over Pahokee last season, the third straight win over a Florida opponent.
“I’ve just seen them on film, I’ve crossed-referenced reports and by all accounts they have no weakness,” Smith said of Byrnes. “It’s a special group.”
On Monday just before practice, coach Miller parroted Smith when asked about St. Thomas, a team with as many as 15 Division I prospects, including bookend corners Jamarcus Joyner and Cody Riggs, along with safety Brian Robinson, running backs Giovanni Bernard and James White, and lineman Brandon Linder (6-6, 290).
Joyner and Riggs ranked No. 1 and 4 among the nation’s best cornerbacks, according to CBS recruiting expert Tom Lemming. Bernard and White are No. 5 and 15 among tailbacks. That’s not the state, that’s the nation.
The Raiders are after a third straight 5A state title and sixth consecutive finals appearance. They hold state marks for consecutive playoff appearances (18), most playoff games (87) and wins (65).
No team in the country is faster or deeper.
“Our impression of St. Thomas?” said Miller, delaying about a second before giggling. “Unbelievable. They have everything. I don’t see a flaw.”
So, for this flawless showdown, it’s no wonder just two weeks ago they moved the game from St. Thomas, which seats about 5,000, to Lockhart Stadium, which holds 20,000.
No wonder St. Thomas has already sold out 192 “luxury” box seats for $40 each. No wonder Byrnes has already sold out its 2,500 tickets even though the game is broadcast live on ESPNU and that it’s an 800-mile trek and 12-hour drive.
“We’ve had a lot of big games over the years,” Miller said. “But no, unquestionably, this is tops.”
So, it’s no wonder then that the biggest job for Miller and Smith is to keep the boys focused on the game and not the bright television lights, autograph seekers and talk of 1 versus 2.
“We’ve got a bunch of seniors who have been on the club for three years,” Miller said. “They know we’re stepping up a level. But ultimately they just have to play the game.”
Smith’s team stepped up in last year’s 5A state finals like no one has ever seen. They led 42-0 at halftime against an extremely talented Lakeland team and won going away 56-7.
Smith doesn’t anticipate a repeat — “The stars were all aligned that night,” he said. — but he doesn’t expect his guys to clam up either. The homefield advantage also is somewhat overrated, Smith said. There are huge distractions putting up a giant event like this, like having to cater to a demanding media, ticket seekers, alumni, security and all the rest. The lists go on and on.
Luckily, Smith said, he has a tremendous support staff including the busy women in his football office, Leslie and Sherri. For the visitor, Smith said, “it’s easy come and easy go.” Smith wasn’t complaining. He just can’t wait for Friday to get here.
“Ultimately, it is a game and we’ll go out there and try to have a good time,” Smith said. “We’ll get them prepared all week, play as hard as we can and that’s about it. End of story.”
