Published Saturday October 13, 2007 in The Miami Herald
DEERFIELD BEACH 43, ST. THOMAS AQUINAS 41
Deerfield Beach tops St. Thomas Aquinas with Late FG
The Bucks drove 78 yards on a game-ending drive, hitting a field goal to beat the Raiders for the third time in four seasons.
BY BOB EMANUEL JR.
Deerfield Beach, weary from surge after surge by St. Thomas Aquinas, took possession at its own 20 with 94 seconds to play with a one-point deficit.
The Bucks, as they had done most of Friday night, rose to the challenge.
Deerfield Beach marched 78 yards, and Dieago Ramos, who missed two kicks earlier, booted the game-winning 19-yard field goal as time expired to secure a 43-41 victory over the visiting Raiders, the Bucks' third victory in the series in the past four seasons.
''What a great, great Friday night football game,'' Deerfield Beach coach Art Taylor said. ''If you paid 20 bucks, it was worth it tonight.''
St. Thomas Aquinas, (5-1, second in Class 5A) took its only lead of the game with 1:34 remaining when Jeremiah Harden scored on a 29-yard jaunt up the middle.
The Raiders tied the score at 34 with 6:52 remaining after a 2-yard run by Ronnie Kennedy. On the drive, Duron Carter caught a 42-yard pass from Ryan Becker to the 6.
Deerfield Beach (6-0, second in Class 6A) recaptured the lead moments later on a 4-yard run by quarterback Denard Robinson.
''Deerfield's a quality team, and it was a good game,'' said St.Thomas Aquinas coach George Smith, whose team used three kickers and missed two PATs. ''I think both teams were, at times, on the floor, getting ready to get counted out. . . . They just came back with no time left.''
The Bucks took the opening kickoff and marched 80 yards on seven plays, highlighted by a 45-yard pass from Robinson to Joshua Philpart on the first play. Rodney Harrell scored on a 6-yard run for a 7-0 lead.
After the Raiders' opening drive ended on an interception by Jerral Stewart, Deerfield increased its advantage to 13-0 on a 2-yard run by Cassius McDowell.
St. Thomas answered right back. Carter caught a 3-yard touchdown pass from Becker, and Harden scored on a 13-yard run to tie the score at 13 early in the second quarter.
Deerfield Beach got a 5-yard touchdown run by McDowell for a 20-13 lead. Harden scored again for St. Thomas, which missed its second PAT of the half, and trailed 20-19.
Matt Whitfield scored on a 6-yard run with 35 seconds remaining in the half. After a fumble by Harden, the Bucks missed a chance to extend their lead to 11 when Ramos missed a 27-yard field goal to close the half.
In the second half, James White scored on a 14-yard run and Ronnie Kennedy converted the two-point conversion on Aquinas' first drive to pull even.
Robinson then found Philpart with a 26-yard score for a 34-27 lead before Kennedy's touchdown to tie the game again with 6:52 remaining.
After the final two touchdowns, Ramos converted the game-winner.
''I had a lot of pressure like any kicker does,'' said Ramos, whose PAT earlier in the quarter bounced off the right post. ''I just kept my head down, followed through and made it.''
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