Published Saturday November 17, 2007 in The Miami Herald
St. Thomas holds on at the end
BY PETE PELEGRIN
Ely dominated St. Thomas Aquinas in a 5A regional quarterfinal Friday night, yet trailed 13-12 late in the fourth quarter.
But with 43 seconds left in the game, the Tigers were 20 yards from taking the lead.
With no timeouts left, Ely had fourth-and-2 from the host Raiders' 20.
Ely quarterback Willie Tindal connected with receiver Michael German at the 20, with plenty of space ahead for a first down. But when German cut upfield, he slipped and fell short of the necessary yardage, allowing the Raiders to escape with a 13-12 victory.
The Tigers compiled 202 rushing yards to the Raiders' 32 and had the ball for 10 more minutes.
But special teams were the difference in the game's outcome.
St. Thomas kicked two field goals and got a go-ahead 60-yard punt return for a touchdown from Phillip Pierre-Louis to secure the victory.
''Over the years we've been successful on special teams,'' St. Thomas Aquinas coach George Smith said. ''Phillip pulled it out for us.''
Ely was not successful on special teams. The Tigers went for two two-point conversions after their touchdowns, and could not convert either one.
After the Raiders' field goals in the first half, the Tigers scored 12 unanswered points to take the lead just before halftime.
Tindal set up the first touchdown with a 52-yard run on third-and-1 from the Ely 43.
Two plays later, Patrick Johnson scored on a 1-yard run to make it 6-6.
On the ensuing kickoff, the Tigers recovered an onside kick at the Raiders' 39.
The gamble paid dividends as Chris Robinson caught a 26-yard touchdown pass from Johnson to give Ely a 12-6 lead.
In the third quarter, Pierre-Louis put the Raiders ahead to stay when he muffed a punt at his 40, but quickly recovered to sprint down the right sideline for the winning touchdown.
The Raiders travel to face Dillard next Friday in a regional semifinal.
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