Published on Saturday December 20, 2008 in The Miami Herald
FORMER GRAD IRVIN ENJOYS TITLE GAME
St. Thomas Aquinas shared its crowning achievement Friday night -- winning a state and national title -- with one of the greatest Raiders ever, former University of Miami and Dallas Cowboys receiver Michael Irvin.
''It's not often you get an opportunity to do a high school game where it's a state championship and a national championship,'' said Irvin, who had a view from the sideline during Aquinas' rout of Lakeland. ''St. Thomas is family. They're still like family.''
Irvin, who graduated from Aquinas in 1984, shared a hug with his former coach George Smith and a laugh with longtime friend Cris Carter, a St. Thomas assistant, during the game. Irvin said Carter called him four years ago to ask him for a little favor. And the two former Pro Bowl receivers got to smile about it Friday.
''Four years ago, Cris called me and said, `Mike can you help me get [son] Duron into St. Thomas?,'' Irvin said. 'I said, `Let me make a few calls and I'll get back to you.' That's the first thing he said to me when he saw me [Friday night]. He said: 'Thank you buddy. Thanks for helping us out.' ''
LAKELAND FANS' CHEERS INAPPROPRIATE
Aquinas receiver Duron Carter took a big hit with 11:23 left in the first half that left him sprawled on the field for several minutes. Lakeland safety Denson hit Carter with his helmet just under his face mask.
The hit wasn't as ugly as the reaction from Lakeland fans, who cheered while Carter was on the ground. The Dreadnaughts were trailing 28-0 at the time. Carter returned to the game two plays later.
BULLS WATCH AQUINAS VICTORY
While Aquinas was busy locking up its first national championship and the first by any Broward County football team, last year's national champions -- the Northwestern Bulls -- were busy watching it all go down from the stands.
The two-time defending Class 6A state champions (who were sitting on Lakeland's side of the stadium) sounded confident about their showdown with Sanford Seminole on Saturday and their shot at a three-peat. Junior defensive tackle Todd Chandler said nobody was going to talk any trash or make any bold predictions. ''Just let the Seminoles know,'' Chandler said. ''We're focused.''
THEY JUST LOVE PLAYING ON TV
There wasn't a game this season Aquinas didn't win decidedly. But the Raiders seemed to turn it up a notch when they were playing on live television.
Aquinas enjoyed its largest margin of victory in the regular season, crushing Deerfield Beach 65-10 on CBS College Sports on Oct. 17. On Friday, the Raiders played in front of a statewide audience on Sun Sports.
O'NEIL AND BECKER HONORED BEFORE GAME
Two Raiders were honored before Friday night's kickoff. Linebacker ConorO'Neil was presented with the Honor, Courage and Commitment award by the United States Marine Corps for leadership and sportsmanship.
The Junior Orange Bowl Committee, meanwhile, presented quarterback Ryan Becker with its Scholar-Athlete award and a $300 scholarship. Becker, who is considering Harvard, Yale, Cornell, Princeton and Penn State, has a 4.27 GPA.
-- MANNY NAVARRO AND DAVID QUINONES
© 2008 Miami Herald Media Company. All Rights Reserved.
