Aquinas aims for seventh state title in a row, Heritage advances, Gibbons falls

The unprecedented drive for a record seventh consecutive state football championship is now within reach for St. Thomas Aquinas.

Led by senior quarterback Mason Mallory, the Raiders dismantled Fort Myers Riverdale, 45-13, in a Class 5A state semifinal at home on Friday.

Mallory passed for 210 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while adding a two-yard rushing touchdown. He’s accounted for 2,715 all-purpose yards and 31 touchdowns through 14 games.

“This begins with our weeks of preparation,” Mallory said. “We make sure to keep everything consistent. Even though we’ve won six straight titles, it never changes. All we do week in, and week out is execute. That’s the name of the game.”

Aquinas (13-1) will play rival Lakeland (12-2) for the Class 5A state title on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at South Dade Kia Field at Pitbull Stadium in Miami.

The Raiders have faced the Dreadnaughts seven times in state title games, winning just twice, including the 34-0 victory for the 5A title last year.

Nationwide, a total of 11 teams has won at least seven consecutive state championships, with the national record of 14 held by Honolulu St. Louis (Hi.) from 1986-99 and Sioux Falls Washington (SD) from 1951-64.

The Raiders’ victory extended their playoff winning streak to 34 games, while outscoring their opponents 1,473 to 380 during that stretch.

“This is a great feeling,” Aquinas coach Roger Harriott said. “The expectation and preparation is what its all about in regard to our routine. We’re devoted to taking it one play at a time. Playing for a championship is our culture.”

St. Thomas Aquinas scored on each of its six possessions in the first half.

After a 19-yard field goal by placekicker Johnny DiSalvatore on the Raiders’ opening drive, the touchdowns kept coming.

Jaden Desir scored on a 30-yard run with 3:39 left in the opening quarter, followed by a Mallory 17-yard scoring pass to Julius Jones for a 17-0 lead in the first quarter.

The second quarter was no different.

After running back Isaiah Calixte recovered a loose ball in the end zone, a two-yard Mallory to Jones 2-yard TD pass followed. A Mallory two-yard run as the half ended with a 38-0 lead over the Riverdale.

Aquinas running back Kayin Liddle also had a 65-yard scoring run later in the game, sandwiched by two Riverdale touchdowns.

Prior to the late Riverdale scores, it was held to under 100 yards of total offense.

“From an effort standpoint you got to fly to the ball,” Aquinas junior defensive end Wyatt Smith said. “We just need to play physical.”

In the four playoff victories this season Aquinas outscored their opponents, 181-40.

Class 4A state semifinal - American Heritage 31, Fort Walton Beach Choctawhatchee 14: Derrick Nichols completed 16 of 19 passes for 280 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Patriots (8-5) back to the state finals. Heritage will aim for back-to-back championships next Saturday at 12:30 in a rematch of last year’s 4A final with Orlando Jones.

Class 2A state semifinal - Jacksonville Bolles 42, Cardinal Gibbons 20: Gibbons (10-4) was led by quarterback Jayden Torres, who threw two touchdown passes and ran for another. But after Torres’ first touchdown cut their deficit to 7-6 in the first quarter, the Chiefs surrendered 35 unanswered points.

This story was originally published December 6, 2025 at 5:24 AM.