Posted on Tuesday September 29, 2009 in The Miami Herald
Linebacker Vinnie Mauro, Aquinas to take on offensive powerhouse
St. Thomas Aquinas' stout defense will take on a Byrnes (S.C.) offense that averages 61 points a game.
BY MANNY NAVARRO
mnavarro@MiamiHerald.com
There's something about being out in Biscayne Bay, swimming in shark-infested waters and hunting for big fish with a spear that puts a smile on St. Thomas Aquinas linebacker Vinnie Mauro's face.
''I just like the competition, really,'' said Mauro, who heads out on weekends with offensive lineman Brandon Linder and long-snapper Danny Adams on Linder's father's boat.
''There's something about being out in the open water, searching for the kill that I love.''
Mauro (6-2, 220) will be hunting big game at 8 p.m. Friday at Lockhart Stadium when running back Marcus Lattimore and second-ranked Byrnes (S.C.) take on top-ranked Aquinas (3-0) in only the fifth high school football game to pit the nation's No. 1 and No. 2 teams.
'A LOT OF PRIDE'
Byrnes (5-0) has three consecutive wins over nationally-ranked teams from Florida, an 88-4 record over the past six seasons and an offense that has averaged 61 points this year. Aquinas hasn't given up more than 14 points in its past 17 games.
''We take a lot of pride in that stat,'' junior weak-side linebacker Ken Hankerson said.
''We want to keep that streak going.''
But it won't be easy.
Aquinas defensive coordinator Rocco Casullo has every reason to be confident his All-American secondary will be able to ward off the Rebels' potent passing attack, which features Rutgers-bound quarterback Chas Dodd and three talented receivers.
Casullo has hard-hitting safety Brian Robinson, cornerbacks Cody Riggs and Keion Payne and U.S. Army National Player of the Year finalist Lemarcus Joyner, who hasn't played a lot of defense but probably will a lot more in this game.
But the tougher task could prove to be slowing down Lattimore, a consensus top 10 high school running back who has run for 637 yards and 12 touchdowns on 79 carries this season.
''He's big, fast and elusive from what we've seen on film,'' linebacker Garth Jobb said.
''But we see that everyday in practice with Gio [Bernard] and James [White]. I'm not saying he's not a great back. But we're looking forward to the challenge. We're looking forward to seeing what he's made of.''
The responsibility likely will be shouldered by Mauro, who leads the team with 14 ½ tackles and two fumble recoveries.
IN SUPPORTING ROLES
His wingmen: Senior defensive tackle Matt Stokes (6-3, 245), the only returning starter on the defensive line; Jobb, a 6-2, 210-pound transfer from Douglas, who was the state runner-up in the shot put and finished sixth in the discus; strong-side linebacker John Baglia (6-1, 200), who has a 3.4 GPA and whose father was an All-State center at St. Thomas in 1981; and Hankerson (6-0, 208), the cousin of UM receiver Leonard Hankerson and Florida offensive lineman Marcus Gilbert.
''Vince did a great job learning from Conor O'Neil last year,'' Casullo said. ``Brian and Cody are our vocal leaders, but without question Vince is the guy who gets everybody in the right position.''
Mauro, a two-sport athlete who earned All-Broward second-team honors in baseball after hitting .455 with seven home runs while playing right field and first base, knows about leadership.
His father, Frank, is a chief petty officer for the Fort Lauderdale Coast Guard. His uncle Joe is a commander for the Navy in Norfolk, Va. Both of his grandfathers served in the military -- one flew for the Air Force and served in the Korean War, the other was a Navy aviator.
'DEFINITELY FIRED UP'
Mauro, who has a 4.1 GPA, wants to fly F-18 fighter jets and probably will if he passes on scholarship offers from Rutgers, Wisconsin, Vanderbilt, FIU, Marshall or Stanford. But don't bet the house on that.
''I grew up going to the Air & Sea Show every year down here -- flying an F-18 fighter jet would be the coolest job in the world in my eyes,'' Mauro said.
But first there is a little hunting this Friday night.
''We're definitely fired up,'' Mauro said. ''Everybody knows what this game means.''
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