Posted June 7, 2009 on SunStateFootball.com
Early 2009 Look at St. Thomas Aquinas - Post Spring Practice
By Geoff Vogt
2008 Record: 15-0 in 5A, won State Championship 56-7 over Lakeland.
2009 Classification: District 16-5A with McArthur, Nova, and South Broward.
Reason for Optimism: The defending National Champions rolled through their schedule in 2008 and return plenty of talent. QB Turner Baty has a host of weapons on offense including RB's Gio Bernard and James White. Transfer Lamarcus Joyner will play WR and team with youngster Phillip Dorsett to stretch the field. OL Brandon Linder and Jermaine Barton are prototypes. Defensively, the secondary is as good as they come with Cody Riggs, Keion Payne, Brian Robinson, and Reynaldo Kirton(Joyner could play here as well). LB Vinnie Mauro plays in the middle with John Baglia manning one of the outside spots. Big things are expected from Kenneth Hankerson.
The Road to the State Championship: With back-to-back State Championships, St. Thomas is clearly the team to beat in 5A. Boyd Anderson, Bradenton Manatee, Dillard, and Venice figure to be the top teams in their half.
