Raiders run out of magic in final

Published Saturday December 11, 2004 in The Herald

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL | CLASS 5A FINAL: LAKELAND 31, ST. THOMAS AQUINAS 7
Raiders run out of magic in final
Unlike previous playoff games, St. Thomas Aquinas can't rally after falling behind early in the state championship as Lakeland captured the Class 5A crown.

BY BOB EMANUEL JR.
bemanuel@herald.com

GAINESVILLE - Throughout the playoffs, St. Thomas Aquinas frequently found itself behind early. Up until Friday night, the Raiders found a way to erase the deficit and emerge victorious.

The comeback magic appeared to manifest itself once again in the second quarter of Friday's Class 5A state championship game. After scoring its first touchdown, St. Thomas looked to have recaptured the momentum.

But the feeling was fleeting. The Raiders could not hold back a Lakeland juggernaut that has pummeled and battered opponents all season and fell 31-7 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field.

''We could just never get any momentum,'' St. Thomas coach George Smith said. ``Those things happen. It's a lousy way to end the season.''

After falling behind 10-0, the Raiders took possession at the Lakeland 34 following a 14-yard punt. St. Thomas took advantage of the field position immediately, as receiver Steven Brown got between cornerback Deonte Parker and safety Troy Johnson on a backside post pattern. Johnson failed to recover, and Brown hauled in the pass from Michael Dougherty at the 8 and sprinted untouched into the end zone.

''I knew the ball was coming to me, and I tell my quarterback on that route I'm always open,'' Brown said. ``He took a chance and hit me.''

Aquinas' defense sacked quarterback Chris Griffin and forced a three-and-out. After another short punt, the Raiders again had possession at the Lakeland 34.

Dougherty was sacked on second down, however, and St. Thomas could not recover. The Raiders (12-2) were forced to punt.

''That was real huge,'' said Lakeland coach Bill Castle, who improved to 4-0 in championship games.

Lakeland then drove 80 yards in 10 plays and scored when Paul Wilson caught a 16-yard touchdown pass from Griffin with 12 seconds left. On the score, the pass glanced off the hands of Chris Rainey in the front of the end zone, and Griffin went low to snag the touchdown.

''They didn't make little plays,'' St. Thomas safety Everett Lewis said. ``They just had big plays here and there. That's how they won.''

Every time the Raiders had a chance to turn around the momentum in the second half, Lakeland was ready.

After stopping the Dreadnaughts on downs on the opening series of the second half, Dougherty was intercepted two plays later. When a personal foul dropped the Dreadnaughts (15-0) into a 2nd-and-19 from the Aquinas 49, Rainey not only converted the first down, he raced the distance to score and increase the lead to 17.

Lakeland's dominance continued. St. Thomas inserted sophomore quarterback Wesley Carroll, one of the team's sparks this season, on its next drive. Carroll was quickly dropped for a loss on his second snap. Later in the third quarter, Aquinas receiver Richard Goodman, the team's top threat, fumbled on a punt return near midfield.

''It was one of [those] games where everything that could go wrong went wrong,'' Smith said. ``We didn't play well. They were much more physical than we were.''

Lakeland finished with 356 yards rushing and held St. Thomas to minus-35 yards.

''Our O-line did not come to play tonight,'' Brown said. ``I didn't think they were ready tonight. Our quarterback was a little nervous in the beginning. We came up with a big loss.''

Bobby Crawford, St. Thomas' leading rusher this season, had just four carries for 7 yards. The Raiders attempted only 14 runs, including four sacks.

''I don't know why we didn't run the ball,'' Crawford said. ``We have backs to run the ball. I don't know why we didn't run the ball.''

Lakeland built its initial 10-0 lead when William Chappel connected on a 27-yard field-goal attempt with 7:31 remaining in the first quarter. It was the first successful conversion for Chappel this season. The Dreadnaughts bumped the lead to 10 with 10:21 left in the first half when Griffin scored on a 1-yard sneak up the middle.