Published on Saturday November 10, 2007 in The Miami Herald
Kennedy leads Aquinas past Miramar
BY BOB EMANUEL JR.
Precision passing and big plays defined Miramar's offense for much of the season.
In the five games their offense was complete, the Patriots scored more than 40 points each time.
Friday night, the juggernaut came to a screeching halt in a 38-6 loss at St. Thomas Aquinas.
The Raiders' defense held Miramar quarterback Eugene Smith, who entered the game with 22 touchdowns despite missing 3 ½ games, to just one touchdown and 248 yards passing.
''We expected a lot of big plays because they have a tremendous quarterback in Eugene,'' St. Thomas junior Ronnie Kennedy said. ''Our coaches gave us the best game plan ever. We did a lot of adjusting. It just worked to perfection. We held them pretty good.''
St. Thomas' defense, which allowed 43 points to Deerfield Beach four weeks ago, but pressured Smith throughout. The Raiders sacked Smith four times, held him to minus-26 yards on 10 carries and intercepted him once.
''We've been watching him a lot,'' Kennedy said. ''A lot of teams haven't been giving him too much pressure. He's so good if you don't put a lot of pressure on him, he'll pick you apart out there. The scheme was to put pressure on him, force him to make mistakes and get the victory.''
After Miramar (7-3) cut the Raiders' lead to 10-6, Aquinas scored the game's final 28 points to close out the victory, and Patriots coach Damon Cogdell pulled Smith from the game in the third quarter.
''It was good that it did happen at this point of time and not next week,'' Cogdell said. ''My kids got to realize they're not Superman. . . . St. Thomas prepared well for my offense.''
Kennedy, who blocked the PAT following Miramar's second-quarter touchdown, returned the ensuing kickoff 80 yards with 2:44 remaining in the first half. After a botched snap on Miramar's next possession, Kennedy scored on a 7-yard run to a 24-6 halftime lead.
Aquinas (9-1) scored on a 31-yard pass from Ryan Becker to Philip Pierre-Louis in the third quarter and on an 85-yard return by Dorian Graham off an interception of Brendin Pierre in the fourth.
The Raiders took a 3-0 lead on Michael Palardy's 31-yard field goal on their opening drive.
Two series later, Jeremiah Harden, who finished with 129 yards rushing, ran five times for 61 yards and scored on a 2-yard run for a 10-0 lead.
''I don't know how much we were given a chance [Friday] because they are very good,'' said
St. Thomas coach George Smith, whose team hosts Blanche Ely in next week's Class 5A regional quarterfinal. '' [My team] stepped up and did a nice job, so hopefully you want it to be a stepping stone to next week.''
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