St. Thomas Aquinas’ quest for a four-peat begins with playoff rout of Coconut Creek
Roger Harriott calls this time of the year the “senior season.”
The playoffs have arrived, and the St. Thomas Aquinas coach looks to his veterans to make a statement as the Raiders attempt to match the FHSAA state record with a fourth consecutive state football title and extend the school’s record with a 14th overall state championship.
“This is the time,” Harriott said, “for the seniors to take ownership of our program.”
Their performance on Friday, a 59-14 rout of Coconut Creek in a Region 3-3M quarterfinal, was a shining example of what Harriott wanted to see.
Senior quarterback Hezekiah Harris had five touchdowns — four passing, one rushing.
Senior wide receiver Jaylen Bonelli had the highlight catch — a leaping grab in double coverage in the far corner of the end zone late in the first quarter.
Senior safety Conrad Hussey had a kickoff return for a touchdown and an interception late in the first half that set up another touchdown.
Senior linebacker Keyshawn Johnson and senior edge rusher Zakaih Saez each had sacks to pave the way for Aquinas’ front seven.
And senior running back Xavier Terrell filled in for starter Jordan Lyle, who suffered a left knee bruise early in the game, and rumbled for a 47-yard rushing touchdown to open the second half.
“That’s probably the most impactful role,” Harris said. “The seniors, we’re the oldest guys. We’re the ones who have to step up and teach the young guys how to go.”
Harris, who transferred to Aquinas from Miami Edison, had a feeling he would have opportunities to make plays early and often on Friday.
The scouting report of Coconut Creek’s defense showed they liked to play a lot of man coverage, and Harris liked his odds that his receivers would make plays.
“We wanted to attack them,” Harris said.
And attack he did, testing Coconut Creek’s secondary right from the start. His first pass was a deep shot down the sideline for junior Chance Robinson. It fell incomplete.
The next play? Harris went back to Robinson, who beat his defender by a couple steps and ran unopposed for a 54-yard touchdown to give Aquinas (10-0) an early 7-0 lead.
That advantage doubled on the next possssion, when Harris orchestrated an eight-play drive capped by his 22-yard touchdown pass to Bonelli in tight coverage.
By halftime, Harris added a 3-yard rushing touchdown and a second touchdown pass to Robinson to help Aquinas take a 38-14 lead.
“Hezekiah’s a great leader,” Harriott said. “He’s a very humble human being. He’s a selfless person and likes to give the credit to where it belongs — his offensive line, his receivers, his running backs. That’s why I truly believe things go his way. We’re fortunate to have him as a leader on our team.”
Terrell’s rushing touchdown and a 29-yard touchdown pass from Harris to junior James Madison II on back-to-back drives to open the third quarter put the Raiders up 52-14, activated the running clock and had Harriott empty the bench to get his reserves some playing time.
And, for good measure, backup quarterback Andrew Indorf added a long touchdown to senior Ethan Shawn as the game was winding down.
The Raiders will host the winner of the Monday game between Delray Atlantic and Plantation in a Region 3-3M semifinal.
Coconut Creek finished the season 6-5, with all five of their losses — Davie Western, Plantation, Pompano Beach Blanche Ely, Miami Palmetto and St. Thomas Aquinas — coming against teams that reached the playoffs. All four regular-season losses were by seven points.
This story was originally published November 11, 2022 at 11:39 PM.
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