Giovanni Bernard had two touchdown runs, Ronnie Kennedy returned a punt 69 yards for a score and St. Thomas Aquinas routed Western 51-3 in a district 16-5A match-up. Bernard tallied 75 yards on six carries and was one of five backs used on the night.

Beau Bucci, a senior, also had a touchdown run and finished with 48 yards on five carries.

''We tried to play a lot of kids tonight,'' St. Thomas coach George Smith said. ``With playoffs coming up, that's important.''

The Raiders (9-0, 5-0) clinched the district with a win last week against McArthur and are a sure spot for a regional semifinal on Nov. 21.

Duron Carter, a senior who had a touchdown and 94 yards receiving, thinks St. Thomas will be ready.

``Coming out of the McArthur game, we had some mistakes. But we'll tweak them.''

Carter's touchdown came on a last second call. ``I wasn't supposed to be in, but it was a fourth and long situation and coach threw me in. I ran a post route and [Jacob] Rudock hit me with the ball.''

James White and Dwayne Difton also had touchdowns. Abraham Mercado kicked a field goal for Western (4-6, 3-2).

• Flanagan 46, Nova 27: A big first half enabled host Flanagan to come away with the win.

''We've worked hard and made some improvements,'' said Flanagan coach Don Simon. ``I'm really proud of the way the kids have responded.''

With 10:46 in the first quarter Falcons running back Jhanier James found a huge hole in the left side of the Titans' line and raced 25-yards untouched for the score.

The extra point hit the right cross bar.

Less than three minutes later, the Falcons were on the board again this time Denise Alvarez scooped up a bouncing fumble and scored from 15 yards out. A 2-point conversion failed.

For a while it look as if Nova was going to come back. In the closing minutes of the first quarter, Jon Jackson scored on a 60-yard reception from quarterback Marcus Lewis.

-- BUTCH STALLINGS

Wilson completed three passes on the opening drive, the final one for the 21-yard touchdown to Travis Reynolds.

Piper came right back on their first drive of the game. The Bengals were led by the running of Deshawn Sands, who carried seven of the eight plays of the drive. Sands would score the touchdown for the Bengals on an 8-yard run.

Wilson would lead the Cobras down field on their second drive of the game. Completing five more passes. But the Bengals defense led by Cody Brooks held the Cobras on fourth and three from the Bengals 6-yard line.

The Cobras would force the Bengals to punt and take over at their own 40. Kenny Graham would replace Wilson at quarterback and continue the Cobras strong offense. Graham would connect on his first three passes leading the cobras down to the Bengals 4-yard line. But, the Bengals defense came up strong again holding the Cobras to a 21-yard field goal. The Cobras would take the 9-7 lead.

The Bengals came right back as Sands, along with Ryan Parrish would lead the Bengals down field 62 yards capped off with Parrish scoring on a 2-yard run. The Bengals would take the 14-9 lead into halftime.

The Bengals started the second half with a 9 minute, 19 play drive. But this time the Cobras defense came up strong with a four-play stand with the Bengals offense having the ball at the 2-yard line. Cobras took over on downs trailing 14-9.

Still trailing in the fourth quarter, the Cobras started moving the ball down field. Jackie Wilson returned to quarterback and connected for a 36-yard pass to Courtney Bynes. The Cobras set up at the Bengals 14-yard line. Wilson then would run the next play in for the Cobras touchdown and the lead, 17-14.

After forcing the Bengals to punt again, Wilson and Cobras offense went on the attack one more time. Wilson found Jesse York in the corner of the end zone to put away a fighting Bengals team.

-- MICHAEL HANDLER

Both teams came out strong in the first half with solid running attacks.

Spartan running back Luis Vasquez was untouchable, carrying the ball 14 times for 197 yards and three touchdowns. Also impressive was senior running back Courtney Clark, who finished with 159 yards and two touchdowns on six carries.

-- NICK VALSALEN

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