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Florida High School Football: St. Thomas Aquinas edges Lakeland for seventh straight title

IMG_8358by: Andy Villamarzo9 hours agoAndy_Villamarzo

MIAMI, Fla.- It wasn’t exactly the way they won last season, but St. Thomas Aquinas was able to continue adding to its state record of consecutive state championships.

The Raiders got five field goals from place kicker Johnny DiSalvatore as they defeated Lakeland, 29-0, Thursday night at Pitbull Stadium for the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Class 5A state championship.

For St. Thomas Aquinas, it’s their seventh straight state championship, which adds to the record they own within the Sunshine State. It was also the Raiders’ 35th consecutive playoff victory during Roger Harriett’s tenure as head coach.

On the flip side for Lakeland, its the second straight state championship loss after the Dreadnaughts won two in a row in 2022 and 2023.

What was certain, however, was Lakeland and St. Thomas Aquinas Part II was much more competitive than the 2024 edition as the latter dominated the contest from start to finish. The redux was a lot closer as the Raiders were only able to muster up three DiSalvatore field goals in the first half.

A reason Lakeland was able to remain in the contest was the play of quarterback Keelin Hendrix, who was making plays with his arm and legs all throughout the evening. Hendrix finished the night totaling 226 all-purpose yards.

The mtachup the last two seasons between the two perennial powers hasn’t been all too close, with St. Thomas Aquinas edging Lakeland by a combined 63-0 score.

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