Published on Friday December 14, 2007 in The Miami Herald
Raiders 'hungry' for title
BY BOB EMANUEL JR.
Jeremiah Harden remembers the pain all too well.
Last season, faced with a fourth-and-goal from the 1 in double overtime with his team down by three, Harden took St. Thomas Aquinas' fortunes with him up the middle against Lakeland.
Although some argued Harden crossed the goal line, the only opinion that mattered was the referee's, who ruled he was inches shy.
Lakeland 45, St. Thomas Aquinas 42.
''That memory fueled me the whole season,'' Harden said. ''It's been on my mind. I want to get back, have that same feeling and come out with a different outcome.''
Harden gets his final opportunity to avenge the feeling Friday night at 7 at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando when St. Thomas Aquinas plays in its fourth consecutive Class 5A state championship game, this time against Kissimmee Osceola. The Raiders lost in 2004, 2005 and 2006.
''It would mean a lot to St. Thomas, especially the senior class,'' said Harden, who led Aquinas in rushing with 1,226 yards and 17 touchdowns. ''We've come short three times. We're all hungry to win.''
Although many of the seniors did not contribute early in their careers at St. Thomas, coach George Smith said they share a bond.
''They were still involved -- the bus rides as fans, getting called up from the JV to run the scout team, be on the varsity,'' Smith said. ''I would certainly assume it's a very special experience for them that they'll never forget and never, ever, ever have another chance to do.'' WINNING TRADITION
Friday night's championship game will be the 11th for Aquinas, all since 1991.
''It shows that St. Thomas has a lot of tradition,'' Harden said. ''We have great coaches, and every year we have great athletes.''
Added senior receiver Philip Pierre-Louis: ''It means a lot to me because it shows all the hard work and determination we've put in through these years.''
Despite the three consecutive finals' losses and a 3-7 mark overall in title games, the Raiders are proud of the program's achievements.
''It's a big accomplishment. Not many people can say they've been to the state championship four times in a row,'' Harden said. ''Even though we've come up short the three times we've been there, it's still a great thing to have the experience.''
This year's opponent accomplished something Aquinas could not during the past three seasons -- defeat Lakeland. The Kowboys pulled off the feat twice, once in the regular season to snap the Dreadnaughts' 53-game winning streak and again in the regional semifinals.
As fulfilling as a championship would be, some lament the opportunity to finally exorcise the demons of the past three years.
''I really would have liked to have played Lakeland,'' St. Thomas senior safety John Carr said. ''But, at the same time, Osceola showed they were a better team than Lakeland this year. We have to come out and beat them to be at the top of 5A.''
`DON'T LOOK BACK'
Smith preached all week to his team not to revisit the past, instead focusing on the task at hand and treat the championship like any other game.
Still, the veteran coach knows that is easier said than done.
'Our motto right now is `Don't look back.' This is a team that's been around this now since they were ninth-graders, four years in a row,'' Smith said. ''The school's had the opportunity to participate in the state championships, and they've been part of the school.''
But anything less than a championship banner for the Raiders will be a disappointment.
''If we don't win it this time, it'll hurt for the rest of my life, knowing that we couldn't get the job done, we couldn't finish it off.'' Carr said. ''That's something everybody wanted to do.''
© 2007 Miami Herald Media Company. All Rights Reserved.
