So did Kissimmee Osceola's running game.
It didn't matter.
Fueled by three big turnovers, St. Thomas Aquinas' defense did enough to make sure it would not endure another heartbreak in the Class 5A state championship game.
St. Thomas safety John Carr intercepted Osceola quarterback Bryant Butler's pass with 4:11 left in the game to seal the 35-20 victory that clinched the school's fourth state title.
''It's a relief because a lot of people still thought we couldn't get it done,'' Carr said. ``We don't have a lot of stars like the teams of the past, but we believed we could get it done.''
Osceola totaled 276 rushing yards, led by Brown's 172 yards on 27 carries and two touchdowns. The Kowboys' passing game suffered, however, without regular starting quarterback T'Sharvan Bell, who was injured in Osceola's Class 5A state semifinal against Jacksonville Bartram Trail last week.
Sophomore Marc Deas, who starts at middle linebacker, and Bryant Butler, another linebacker, combined to complete 2 of 9 passes for 32 yards, no touchdowns and an interception.
''The comraderie among these guys is very special,'' Raiders' defensive coordinator Rocco Casullo said. ``The kids knew what they had to do. They made the adjustments and had a big second half.''
Senior linebacker Dorian Graham forced a pair of fumbles that the Raiders recovered at crucial moments in the first half that twice prevented Osceola from potentially tying the game.
Leading 14-7, Graham forced a fumble by Brown that junior defensive tackle William Nesselt recovered at the St. Thomas 36-yard line.
Graham forced the next one on special teams three drives later.
Osceola's Gerard Thomas fielded a punt and was forced back to his own 21-yard line where Graham popped the ball loose. Sophomore linebacker Vincent Mauro recovered at the Kowboys' 11. Two plays later, quarterback Ryan Becker threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Duron Carter to give the Raiders a 21-7 edge with 4:11 left in the second quarter.
St. Thomas' special teams excelled as Conor O'Neill also returned a kickoff 73 yards for a touchdown with 2:52 left in the first quarter.
