By Lynn Ramsey - Florida Catholic
ORLANDO | St. Thomas Aquinas’ journey toward a fourth consecutive state title was derailed in the state semifinals by Venice. The Raiders lost 27-20 to eventual state champion Venice after routing South Miami 56-0, West Broward 38-7 and Doral Academy 48-6 in the playoffs.
Venice’s victory came after the Raiders crushed Venice 46-8 in the 2016 state semifinals.
According to MaxPreps.com, two interceptions doomed the Raiders (11-3) against Venice. The Indians’ Bryce Carpenter also ran for 160 yards and two touchdowns on 42 carries; and threw for 65 yards and another score.
This season, the Raiders once again scheduled games against nationwide powers. St. Thomas beat St. John Bosco of Bellflower, Calif., 9-3 in overtime to open the season. A few weeks later they lost to eventual Arizona 5A champion Peoria Centennial 12-0. Then the Raiders won four in a row before losing their regular-season finale against Miramar 44-27.
CLASS 8A
In Class 8A, Miami Columbus finished the regular season as the No. 1 seed in Region 4. The Explorers advanced to the Region 4 final, losing to Miami 28-22.
It was the first time the Explorers (10-2) advanced to the region final since a 2014 Class 8A final finish. Columbus routed Homestead 50-0 and beat Homestead South Dade 28-14 to reach the region final.
Not bad for a team that had to replace 41 seniors from a team that lost in the second round in 2016. Columbus coach Christopher Merritt said outsiders had written off the Explorers and expected mediocrity. But he was proud of the kids’ week-to-week improvement. “Our kids enjoyed transitioning from hunter to the hunted.”
That transition began with a rout of Mater Academy Charter. The Explorers rebounded from a 24-7 Week 2 loss to eventual Class 6A state champion Miami Northwestern to win nine in a row. That included close victories over Miami, Booker T. Washington and Lakeland Lake Gibson.
Merritt said the team’s five captains steered the team to success. Quarterback Anthony Arguelles threw for 1,502 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also ran for 450 yards and seven more touchdowns.
Merritt said Arguelles’ strength came from getting the ball to playmakers such as Kalani Norris (32 catches, 614 yards, five touchdowns) and Tyler Harrell (20 catches, 366 yards, three touchdowns). Henry Parrish was a dual threat rushing (1,031 yards, 16 touchdowns) and receiving (15 catches, 202 yards, three touchdowns). Offensive tackle Luis Cristobal helped solidify the line, while linebackers Shaun McReynolds and Zach Castano and cornerback Robert Crockett (a Division I prospect) strengthened the defense that allowed 156 yards per game.
Columbus returns 29 players, including eight with Division I offers. Hence, they expect to make another run at the state championship.
CLASS 5A
In Class 5A, Cardinal Gibbons (11-2) battled defending state champion Plantation American Heritage to three overtimes. But American Heritage won 58-57 on a blocked extra point in the Region 4 final en route to winning their third consecutive title and fourth in five years.
The Chiefs gave up a 35-point rally to American Heritage, then scored two late touchdowns to force overtime. One of those was a Ron Hardge fumble return for 30 yards. Vincent Davis, who ran for three touchdowns and 64 yards, ran for a 10-yard touchdown in the third overtime. But then the Chiefs allowed a 10-yard Anthony Schwartz touchdown catch and the winning extra point.
“They’ve been a thorn in our side the last few years,” said Gibbons coach Matt DuBuc about American Heritage, which also beat the Chiefs 23-19 in district play. “We were right there. We were up 27-6 and let them off the hook. The kids played extremely hard, and I’m proud of our effort.”
The Chiefs advanced to the region final for the first time since 1994, improving on a second-round advance in 2016. That journey also ended with a close loss to American Heritage, that one 10-7.
Cardinal Gibbons did so on the strength of several Division I recruits. According to DuBuc, safety Maxwell Worship (Vanderbilt), cornerback Marquis Williams (Pittsburgh), Hardge (Illinois) and receiver Carlos Sandy (Illinois) are definites, while several others could also play Division I football.
With all that power, DuBuc felt confident enough to schedule defending Class 8A state champion Miami Southridge. The Chiefs rewarded his confidence with a 27-6 victory.
Nik Scalzo led a diverse offense with 2,065 yards and 23 touchdowns passing. Davis and Jordan Riggins gave Cardinal Gibbons a stout running attack to balance the passing. Davis ran for 942 yards and 11 touchdowns, while Riggins added 239 yards and three touchdowns. Special teams also helped the Chiefs, with Griffin Cerra making two 48-yard field goals while making 19 of 24 field-goal attempts.
A stingy defense featuring seven seniors also carried the Chiefs. Cardinal Gibbons forced 29 turnovers, including 15 interceptions spread among 13 players. “We played well all year,” DuBuc said. “Giving up all those points against Heritage wasn’t something we expected.”
The Chiefs, like most teams in Florida, were affected by Hurricane Irma in September. Cardinal Gibbons had to play three games in nine days in October to make up lost games.
DuBuc, a Cardinal Gibbons alum, believes in having his players play other sports to build competitiveness. Several Chiefs will compete for a state-power wrestling team and in basketball and soccer. He wants to give them as many chances as possible to maximize their education opportunities.
The Chiefs will return 30 seniors next year with many of the same obstacles in the way – in particular American Heritage.
CLASS 4A
In Class 4A, Miami Msgr. Edward Pace lost to Fort Lauderdale University 42-39 in the Region 4 final to finish 8-3. It was the Spartans’ best season, marking a rebound from three consecutive seasons of losing records.
This was also their first trip to the playoffs since an 11-1 2010 season that ended in a Region 4 final. As the No. 2 seed in Region 4, the Spartans beat Key West 31-7 to reach the region final.
Photographer: COURTESY PHOTO
Immaculata-La Salle's football team did not compete for a state title but they did shine in altruism. In response to the destruction caused in the Keys by Hurricane Irma, the team, represented by players Michael Matamoros, Cameron Ryals, and Daniel Burke, right, presented their Key West High counterparts with a ,000 disaster relief donation prior to their game at the end of September.
