High school football: Previews, How to Watch FHSAA championships — No. 10 Jesuit, No. 11 St. Thomas Aquinas go for titles

It's been a long haul, but the high school football championships in Florida have finally arrived. Nationally-ranked Jesuit (Tampa) and St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) go for Florida High School Athletic Association championships in the two most anticipated games of the weekend.

Jesuit (14-0), the national No. 10 in the MaxPreps Top 25, takes on Pine Forest (Pensacola) (12-1) in the 6A championship game 7 p.m. Saturday while No. 11 St. Thomas Aquinas (13-1) tangles with Tampa Bay Tech (14-0) in the 7A title tilt 7 p.m. Friday.

Both games are at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.

It's been a long dry spell for Jesuit, which is making its first state title-game appearance since 1992 and after its first title since 1968. With seven shutouts and only 97 points allowed all season, the Tigers definitely have the squad to do it. They've rolled into the state finals with four playoff wins by a combined score of 178-21, with shutouts over Boca Ciega (50-0) and Hillsborough (42-0).

The team is led defensively by linebackers Troy Bowles, the son of Tampa Bay defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, and A.J. Cottrill (team-best 136 tackles) and safety Wade Woodaz a Clemson commit. Caleb Williams has a team-best six interceptions.

Offensively, sophomore Luke Knight has thrown for 2,167 yards and 27 touchdowns (five interceptions), while junior running back Joquez Smith has rushed for 1,883 yards and 27 scores. They'll face a formidable Pine Forest foe that has had a much tougher time getting to the championship, including a 20-13 overtime win over Jones (Orlando) in the semifinals. The Eagles also haven't been regulars to the state finals, with the last appearance in 2006, a 39-27 loss to Central (Glades). They'll go after their fourth crown Saturday, the last being 2000.

Winners of 12 straight games, the Eagles possess a potent rushing attack (3,460 yards) that by the end of the night, could feature three 1,000-yard rushers. Kobe Johnson leads the way with 1,094 yards and 12 touchdowns, but quarterback Tierra Wilson (926, 18) and sophomote Miequle Brock (927, 15) aren't far behind.

Wilson has also thrown for almost 1,500 yards and 13 touchdowns, with his main target being Donielle Hayes (26, 630, 9).

Online streaming: FHSAA

In the 7A game, St. Thomas Aquinas is already championship king of Florida with 12. To get to 13 they'll need another gem from its defense which has allowed 33 points in four playoff games.

The Raiders are led offensively by senior quarterback Zion Turner (2,312 total yards, 34 touchdowns) and senior running back Anthony Hankerson (931 rushing yards, 19 TDs). Used in small dosages during lopsided losses, Hankerson has picked up workload in the playoffs with 49 carries for 211 yards and 11 touchdowns in four games. He had three TDs in eight carries last week in a 45-7 win over Bucholz.

As usual, the Raiders spread the wealth with many more weapons, including Xavier Terrell (580 yards rushing, nine TDs), wideouts Camden Brown and Isaiah Hardge (combined 45 catches, 827 yards, 12 TDs) and tight end Mason Taylor (32, 373, 2), son of NFL Hall of Famer Jason Taylor.

The defense is led by linebacker Derrieon Craig (85 tackles), Michael Renoit (six sacks) and defensive backs King Mack (50 tackles, four interceptions) and Jerrod Cameron (Coastal Carolina).

Brown signed Wednesday with Auburn, Taylor (LSU) and offensive lineman Julian Armella (Florida State).

While the Raiders, whose only defeat was to Jesuit 24-21 on Sept. 3, are hoping to extend its championship run, Tech is after its first crown. After back-to-back 0-10 seasons starting in 2005, the Titans have been a model of consistency with 15 consecutive winning seasons. Since 2016, they've gone 57-16, all under Jayson Roberts, who took over in 2011.

The 2021 squad has outscored opponents 479-174 and feature junior quarterback Xavione Washington (2,238 passing yards, 495 rushing yards, 31 total TDs). He's got a 1,000-yard running back in James Evans (1,009 yards, 15 TDs) and another big weapon in Ronald Sims (592, 9) to go along with Iowa State-bound wide receiver Greg Gaines (63 catches, 830 yards, 10 TDs).

The defense is a sack machine with 44, led by Keyon Clark (17), along with Jahiem Borden (eight) and Donteye Drew (seven). Defensive end Antonio Camon, a junior, has 73 tackles, 28 for loss.