And then some.
MaxPreps and CBS Sports have produced a 16-minute documentary (see
above) on the Lakeland-St. Thomas Aquinas thriller, entitled: "The
greatest game ever: Game of inches."
Producers
talked with at least a dozen participants and courtesy of footage that
night from Sun Sports and Bally Sports Sun, we can relive the
buildup, action and aftermath of the remarkable contest.
So why is Lakeland's 45-42 double-overtime win in the conversation for greatest game ever?
The two teams featured more than 40 future Division I players, including eventual NFL standouts Maurkice and Mike Pouncey, Ahmad Black and Chris Rainey of Lakeland, and Major Wright and Leonard Hankerson from St. Thomas Aquinas.
There were also a pair of legendary coaches. George Smith of St. Thomas Aquinas won 361 games and six state titles. Lakeland's Bill Castle finished his 46th season in 2021 and has won 460 games and seven state crowns. Each boast two national titles.
There was history between the two teams. The Dreadnaughts, winners of 44 straight games heading in, beat Aquinas in the previous two 5A title games, 31-7 and 39-10.
St. Thomas Aquinas fought back from deficits of 21-0 at halftime and 35-14 with 2:25 left in regulation thanks in part to two recovered onside kicks. Rainey, who rushed 20 times for 261 yards, was supposed to take a knee for Lakeland to run out the clock but instead sprinted to his third touchdown on a 55-yard run to go up three scores.
Hankerson returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown. Two onside recoveries and two TDs later, the game went to OT.
The game finished in controversial fashion. Going for the win instead of a game-tying field goal, the Raiders were denied when running back Jeremiah Harden was stopped inches from the goal line. At least that was the call on the field. A much delayed call at that.
"I was in, no doubt about it," Harden said.
"Jeremiah Harden was not in the end zone," Black said
Jeremiah Harden plunges toward the end zone on the final play of Lakeland's epic 45-42 win over St. Thomas Aquinas in the 2006 Florida Class 5A title game.
"We have pictures to show he did not cross the goal line," Castle said. "His helmet might have gotten over, but the ball did not."
Those who were there at Hard Rock Stadium — then called Dolphin Stadium — said there was no debating how special it was.
"You can coach a lifetime and you'll never have a game like that," Castle said. "It was just an unbelievable game."
For those on the losing side, it was painful.
"That game hurt," said Wright, a defensive back who played seven seasons in the NFL. "That game absolutely broke my heart."
After the 2006 defeat, the Raiders turned a corner, winning 10 state titles over the next 15 seasons, including 2007, 2008 and 2010. Aquinas hammered Lakeland 56-7 for the 2008 crown.
The teams met again for another title in 2018 and once again Lakeland prevailed, 33-20 for the 7A championship. Once again, Aquinas rebounded from that loss, winning the last three 7A championships.
Harden said as difficult as the loss was to swallow, "It laid the foundation of what St. Thomas Aquinas is now and what it's going to be."
Smith said his team conquered even in defeat.
"That's what the game is about," he said. "You listen and learn from wins and losses. Just like life."
Flanked by the Pouncey twins, Chris Rainey (center) was one of the stars of the 2006 Florida Class 5A state championship game, rushing for 261 yards.
