Published on Sunday August 3`, 2008 in The Miami Herald
Raiders overcome shaky start
BY BOB EMANUEL JR.
For 12 minutes Saturday, St. Thomas Aquinas' lofty preseason football ranking was in doubt.
The Raiders, ranked in the top six in three national polls, were outgained 157 yards to 35 and trailing Elder (Ohio) by 10 points after the first quarter. St. Thomas, the defending Class 5A state champion, showed its championship mettle in a 21-point second-quarter outburst and 35-24 victory in the first game of the Kirk Herbstreit Challenge at Paul Brown Stadium.
''I think, and we've thought this all along, coming here would be a great thing for us no matter what happened, what the outcome was,'' St. Thomas coach George Smith said.
''Overall, I think it was a great experience. Hopefully we'll reap the benefits of bonding together as a team.''
The start was almost predictable for St. Thomas, which returned just six starters, began practice Aug. 11 and had four practices rained out. Elder already had played a regular-season game and two scrimmages.
Trailing 10-0 entering the second quarter, St. Thomas quarterback Ryan Becker was sacked for a 9-yard loss on the opening play. But the Raiders then showed their big-play potential. Giovanni Bernard ripped off a 20-yard gain. Becker hit Dwayne Difton for 24 yards, Duron Carter for 28 yards and James White for 13 yards. Then Ronnie Kennedy bounced off tacklers to score from 8 yards out and cap a seven-play, 80-yard drive.
The St. Thomas defense forced a three-and-out, but the team nearly met disaster when the punt bounced off a St. Thomas player and was recovered at its 37-yard-line by Elder. But St. Thomas cornerback Cody Riggs, son of former NFL running back Gerald Riggs, ended Elder's drive with an interception.
After the teams traded possessions, St. Thomas took a 14-10 lead on a 59-yard pass from Becker to Carter, who beat two defenders.
''We just had to start playing better,'' Smith said. ''Obviously, this was our first game. Because of some inclement weather in Fort Lauderdale, we missed a lot of practice time. We felt we were going to make those types of mistakes, and we certainly did. We missed getting lined up. We weren't very good on some special teams deals. Once we started playing, we played pretty good in the second quarter.''
St. Thomas scored its third touchdown of the quarter after Dylan Drake (whose earlier sack forced a fumble and stopped a first-quarter Elder drive) intercepted a pass at the Elder 26. Two plays later, Becker hit reserve running back Beau Bucci for an 18-yard touchdown.
Carter and Gabe Holmes sealed the corner with clear-out blocks.
''Becker played amazing,'' said Carter, the son of former NFL receiver Cris Carter. ''He hit all the receivers with the ball. . . . Definitely, Becker played like an NFL quarterback [Saturday].''
After a holding penalty on the first play of the second half, Becker hit Dwayne Difton down the left sideline. Difton, who caught the ball behind leaping defensive back Zac Asman, then evaded defensive back Zachary Autenrieb en route to a 90-yard touchdown reception and a 28-10 lead.
''Right when they scored that first play of the second half, we were in good position,'' Elder coach Doug Ramsey said. ``They hit a great throw and catch. That's the difference between teams that are really good, really athletic and some other teams.''
Elder (1-1) cut the deficit to 11 when Tim O'Conner caught a 6-yard pass from Joe Hetzer midway through the third quarter.
With 8:42 to play, St. Thomas' John Marmamosa sacked Hetzer, and Matt Gazzillo recovered at the Elder 5. Becker scored on a 1-yard sneak three plays later to give St. Thomas a 35-17 lead.
Elder got a fortunate bounce midway through the fourth quarter when Hetzer found Josh Jones, who led all players with seven receptions, for a 13-yard pass. The ball was knocked loose by St. Thomas defender Nicholas Knoerr but bounced into Alex Welch's hands for a touchdown.
Elder's comeback was thwarted on its next possession by Riggs' second interception, and St. Thomas ran out the clock.
The game will air at noon Monday on ESPN.
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