St. Thomas Aquinas Dominates Manatee 31-7 to Reach 5A State Finals

FT. LAUDERDALE--St. Thomas Aquinas waited an entire year to get another shot at Manatee who beat them in the state semifinals 28-20 in Bradenton in 2009. Friday night they got their revenge with a dominating 31-7 victory over the Hurricanes before 6,300 fans at Brian Piccolo Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale. The Raiders will play Tampa Plant in next week’s 5A state championship game at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando. Plant routed Lakeland 48-6 in the other 5A semifinal Friday night.

St. Thomas Aquinas Defeats Manatee 31-7 in 5A Semis Photo by Page & Moore

St. Thomas Aquinas took a 7-0 lead on its first drive of the game after a three and out by Manatee. Phillip Dorsett’s 30 yard punt return to the Hurricanes 22 yard line set up Dami Ayoola’s 6 yard touchdown run five minutes into the first quarter.

Ayoola rumbled 51 yards for his second score of the game five minutes into the second quarter to put St. Thomas Aquinas up 14-0. The Raiders defensive line stymied Manatee running back Mike Blakely holding him to just 49 yards on 14 carries in the first half.

Manatee got as close as they would all game in the final minute of the half when Cord Sandberg connected with Quenton Bundrage on an 8 yard touchdown pass to pull the ÔCanes within 10 points, 17-7.

St. Thomas Aquinas  took its opening drive in the 3rd quarter 80 yards for a touchdown capped off by Frederick Coppet’s 6 yard plunge into the end zone to give the Raiders a 24-7 lead.

Jamal Wilson added another touchdown on a 7 yard run, putting the Raiders up 31-7 early in the 4th quarter.

Manatee’s perfect season comes to an end after 13 consecutive wins in 2010. St. Thomas Aquinas (14-0) will go for its sixth state title under head coach George Smith on Friday December 17th at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando.

The Bradenton Times will provide full coverage of the 3A, 4A, 5A and 6A championship games including video reports next weekend from the Citrus Bowl.