Osceola (Kissimmee, Fla.) vs. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
Chris Hart, St. Thomas Aquinas
Photo by Stuart Browning
Despite losing badly to Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.) early this season, St. Thomas Aquinas has bounced back to look like the nationally ranked team it was expected to be. The Raiders (13-1), who are No. 15 this week, have outscored their last 11 opponents by a whopping margin of 562-34. That includes an average spread of 43 points in four playoff games. Aquinas
dismantled a previously unbeaten East Lake (Tarpon Springs) squad, 45-7, in last week's semifinals, outgaining the Eagles on the ground, 281 to negative-17. On the same night, Osceola (13-1) clobbered a highly respected Niceville squad, 42-14, for its 12th consecutive win. Junior running back
Laderrien Wilson led the Kowboys with 122 rushing yards. Wilson has eclipsed the century mark in all but one game this season.
See live scoring updates of this game via QwixcoreJust the facts: Friday will be the first meeting between these programs since 2007, when St. Thomas Aquinas beat Osceola, 35-20, to win the Class 5A state title. … Aquinas is trying to win its fifth state title in the past eight years and its eighth overall. Osceola has just one state championship in its history, the 5A title in 2008.
Mitch Stephens: St. Thomas Aquinas 42, Osceola 21
Kevin Askeland: St. Thomas Aquinas 42, Osceola 14
Jamie DeMoney: St. Thomas Aquinas 38, Osceola 13
Stephen Spiewak: St. Thomas Aquinas 35, Osceola 21
Leland Gordon: St. Thomas Aquinas 28, Osceola 21
Colin Ward-Henninger: St. Thomas Aquinas 24, Osceola 10
