St. Thomas Aquinas crushes Dillard, builds momentum for another potential state title run
With the 2023 high school football playoffs just two weeks away, St. Thomas Aquinas made it emphatically clear they are ready to defend the Class 3M state title.
Led by senior wide receiver James Madison’s three touchdowns, the Raiders pummeled rival Dillard in quick fashion for a 58-0 victory that locked up the District 11-3A title.
It was the fifth straight victory for Aquinas (9-1) over the Panthers (5-4).
In addition, it was the largest margin of victory in the previous 25 meetings since the two teams first met in 1973.
“Tonight, we gave it championship effort as we knew Dillard was a formidable opponent coming in,” St. Thomas Aquinas coach Roger Harriott said. “We felt they were a team we couldn’t take for granted. We’ve been working on executing with precision. Tonight, was a healthy way to go into the playoffs, but we still have work to do.”
Harriott also improved his career coaching record at St. Thomas to 110-11 in nine seasons at the school.
The win also extended the Raiders’ winning streak over Broward opponents to 22 games.
The Raiders scoring barrage came in the form on 37 first quarter points.
Senior running back Jordan Lyle scored on a seven-yard run in just 1:11 into the game. It was his sixth straight scoring run after a team-record five touchdown runs against Monarch last week.
One after another the touchdowns kept coming.
Ryan Mack had a 12-yard interception return with 9:06 to go. That was followed by a blocked punt for a safety one minute later. Two plays after the Panthers kick to Aquinas, Madison swept over right tackle for 10-yard scoring run.
Within the next minute senior linebacker Bowen Drewes picked off another Panthers pass and raced 26-yard for a 30-0 lead.
But wait there’s more.
Before the opening quarter closed, junior quarterback Andrew Indorf threw the first of his three first half touchdown passes to Chance Robinson.
Dillard endured more of the same in the second quarter following a pair of Indorf scoring passes of 10 and six yards to Madison.
“For St. Thomas the playoffs are our real season,” Madison said. “We are hitting our stride and we are getting ready for the playoffs. The way we prepared this week, we felt there was a good game ahead.
“I just want to be the best player I can be for my team.”
The Raiders’ outburst of points helped them end the regular season with nine straight games scoring at least 35 points.
With a running clock in place midway through the second quarter, Aquinas added one more touchdown on a Justin Montgomery seven-yard run with 4:47 left in the third quarter.