High school football: Zion Turner leads No. 6 St. Thomas Aquinas to 38-23 win over No. 8 St. Frances Academy

In a highly-anticipated, out-of-state showdown between Top 10 teams, host and sixth-ranked St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) held off No. 8 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, Md.) 38-23 Saturday. The season-opening game for both teams was broadcast nationally on ESPN and featured more than 30 players with at least one FBS offer.

Three-star senior Aquinas quarterback Zion Turner completed 22-of-32 passes for 298 yards and two touchdowns, added 42 rushing and another score, and provided the play of the game on the last play of the first half to give his team the lead for good.

The Raiders also came up big on the defensive end, forcing five turnovers, two that led directly to touchdowns and one that prevented one in the Panthers' end zone.

The two-time defending 7A Florida state champs have gone 37-3 since 2018 and added another marquee win to their resume. This was only the second loss for St. Frances Academy during the fall since 2017, the other to current No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) in 2019.

It was also a big win for the state of Florida after No. 3 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) breezed last week to a 35-12 win over then No. 15 Central (Miami). On St. Frances Academy's opening possession, an errant snap went through the hands of John Griffith and Kyrie Samuel jumped on the loose ball in the end zone, giving the Raiders a 7-0 lead with 8:57 left in the first quarter.

After another turnover for the Panthers, Turner capped off an impressive drive with a 20-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Hardge to make it 14-0 with 4:02 left in the first.

St. Frances Academy got on track its next possession, capping a long drive with a 2-yard touchdown run from Darrien Lewis to cut the deficit to 14-7. After the defense got a stop, Griffith found Lamar Patterson on fourth down for a 28-yard touchdown to tie the game 14-14 with 1:05 left in the first.

After an Aquinas field goal, the Panthers took took their first and only lead 20-17 with 2:20 left in the second quarter on an 8-yard TD run by Terron Kellman, capping an 8-play, 80-yard drive.

The biggest play of the game came on the Raiders' ensuing possession as Turner somehow avoided a sack, rolled outside the pocket and found Jaylan Sanchez for a 38-yard touchdown on the final play of the half. That gave the Raiders the lead for good, 24-20. 

Turner was at it again starting the second half, leading a 6-play, 59-yard drive, finished off with his own 8-yard touchdown run, extending the lead to 31-20 midway through the third. Javontae Woods jumped on a fumble for St. Frances Academy setting up the Panthers at the Raiders' 25-yard line late in the third quarter on a muffed punt return. A few plays later Nicolas Rodriguez made a huge play at the goal line, forcing a fumble on Lewis that teammate Jordan Whitely scooped up in the end zone.

It was one of five turnovers that Jason Taylor's defense forced. It put momentum back on the side of the Raiders.

Andre Jandayan connected on a 22-yard field goal with 7:37 left in the fourth quarter to cut the deficit to 31-23 but that was the closest the Panthers would get.

The Raiders iced things with an impressive 10-play, 80-yard drive capped off by IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) transfer Xavier Terrell's 6-yard touchdown run with 1:43 remaining. 

Outside of Turner, three players who really stood out for the Florida power was four-star offensive tackle Julian Armella, senior linebacker Derrieon Craig and 2022 LSU commit Mason Taylor.

Armella did a great job on four-star edge rusher Derrick Moore all game. Taylor hauled in nine receptions for 132 yards and Craig was all over the place defensively for the Raiders.

Up next for the St. Thomas Aquinas is Plantation on Sept. 3 before a huge showdown against No. 7 American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.) the following week. The Panthers take on St. Joseph Regional (Montvale, N.J.) next week.