Broward
St. Thomas Aquinas entered the 2007 season as the state runner-up the previous three seasons and was mocked by some for its inability to win the big game.
The snickers dissipated during the year while Aquinas dominated, except for a last minute hiccup in a loss to Deerfield Beach. After a near-disaster against Blanche Ely in the playoffs, a game St. Thomas won by one point, the team plowed through the rest of the playoffs and won its fourth state championship with a 35-20 victory over Kissimmee Osceola in the Class 5A title game.
"It was great to get over the hump," said Aquinas senior linebacker Conor O'Neill, a first-team All-Broward selection last year. "Everybody kind of doubted us, saying that Osceola was the team to beat. And we beat them. Being part of the team and being part of the success we had as a team, obviously it was a great feeling."
Aquinas' Bill Nesselt, who joins O'Neill as the only returning defensive starters, said the victory served a greater purpose.
"I felt better for the seniors than I did for myself," Nesselt said. "It was a pleasure being able to win it, but I felt even more joy for the seniors than anybody else because they went through three second places and I only went through two. To have my state championship, it felt good to have it, but it made me feel better to say I helped them win their first."
AUDIO INTERVIEWS
This year, Nesselt and his teammates can strive for a more personal goal. The Raiders have appeared in a Broward-best 11 state championship games and won four titles, and can become the first team in county history to win back-to-back championships.
"I wouldn't even care about anything else if it happened," Nesselt said. "That's what this season's for, all the offseason training, to go back-to-back."
CAUTION SIGNAL
Coach George Smith, who has directed the Raiders to all four of their state titles, cautioned his team to not look ahead.
"It's difficult to win enough games to win your district," Smith said. "It's difficult to go through playoff games, no matter if you're home or away, much less trying compete for the state championship and be successful doing that. It's very difficult.
"You lose people. We've lost a lot of players from last year's team. You have a lot of new guys. We have no idea what they're going to do, how they're going to be able to step up. If we can play together and work hard together, which we have, then I think that our guys will respond and do the things they think they have to do have a chance to at least get in the playoffs."
To accomplish the goal, the Raiders' defense will need to mature rapidly. Fortunately, with an offense stacked with major college recruits at nearly every position, the pressure will not be on the defense right away.
"We know that we have to score and bring it on offense," senior receiver Dwayne Difton said. "Our defense, we lost a lot of players. We're trying to prepare and score a lot to help the defense out."
Said O'Neill: "I think it does give us kind of a cushion, but I don't think that's something we should be able to fall back on. The defense should be able to hold its own. That's part of the reason why we lost to Deerfield last year because our defense gave up so many points. Having such a great offense . . . is obviously going to help us out, but defense has to be able to hold its own and get the job done, also."
Several returning players have had meaningful minutes as reserves, but the focus remains on Nesselt and O'Neill.
"They're really vocal leaders for the team too," Holmes said. "When we do [workouts], they're the voice of the team, telling everybody what to do, how to do it and all that good stuff."
Unlike their defense, the Raiders' offense returns with a proven record. Ryan Becker, the MVP of the Class 5A state final, emerged as one of the top quarterbacks in Broward last year and was a steadying force after winning the starter's role in a season-opening, come-from-behind victory at Cardinal Gibbons.
RECEIVERS A STRENGTH
The Raiders might have one of the top receiving corps in the nation, with returning seniors Duron Carter, Difton and Gabe Holmes. Running backs Gio Bernard and James White are highly rated members of the Class of 2010, as is offensive lineman Brandon Linder.
"It can be great," Carter said of the offense. "We have a lot of potential. Every position is stacked with potential talent, with D-I talent of people going to college. We're going to be great."
Difton echoes Carter's sentiments, and believes greatness can be attained.
HIGH GOALS
"I feel like no one can stop our offense in Florida right now," he said. "Right now, we're preparing for the season. We have a tough offense. [Opponents] better prepare to go against a dominant offense."
Difton laughed when asked if Aquinas could score 50 points if it so desired.
"Oh yeah," he said.
He smiled and quickly added, "Sixty."
"It's how we feel that day," Difton said. "We can put up a lot of points."
A lot must go right before the Raiders are anointed as one of the best teams in Broward history. The defense must mature and St. Thomas must be blessed with health. Many other factors must fall in place. Still, if Aquinas can persevere and win consecutive titles, greatness can be attained.
"That would just be a dream come true to end high school football with a state championship," O'Neill said.
The McClatchy Company