St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) at Dwyer (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.)
St. Thomas Aquinas is always ready for action.
File photo by Roddy Johnson
Two of South Florida's top defenses butting heads with a trip to the Class 7A state semifinals at stake. Dwyer improved to 12-0 with a 49-7 blowout of Blanche Ely (Pompano Beach) last week. It's the 10th time the Panthers have limited an opponent to a touchdown or less this season. St. Thomas Aquinas has allowed a foe to score more than seven points on only three occasions this year. The Raiders (10-2) clinched their 10th consecutive season with at least 10 wins by defeating Plantation, 20-6.
Just the facts: Since 2003, St. Thomas Aquinas has won four of its seven state titles and won at least two playoff games every season. … Friday will be just the third meeting between these teams since 2004. Both games were decided by a field goal, including Dwyer's 6-3 win in the 2011 state quarterfinals.
Mitch Stephens: St. Thomas Aquinas 21, Dwyer 20
Kevin Askeland: St. Thomas Aquinas 35, Dwyer 14
Jamie DeMoney: St. Thomas Aquinas 24, Dwyer 17
Stephen Spiewak: St. Thomas Aquinas 14, Dwyer 7
Leland Gordon: St. Thomas Aquinas 21, Dwyer 15
Colin Ward-Henninger: St. Thomas Aquinas 35, Dwyer 21
