Nothing was going to stop the St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders from claiming back-to-back titles and even more importantly, a national championship. The Raiders also put a stamp on one of the most dominating seasons in high school football history, finishing with an average 31-point average margin of victory. This time, the Raiders' thrashed their nemesis, the Lakeland Dreadnaughts, 52-7. QB Ryan Becker threw for 100 yards and three touchdowns to pace the Raiders attack. LB Conor O'Neil finished off Lakeland with a 20-yard interception return for a score to put the game away.

Friday night at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando was payback for the St. Thomas Aquinas as they ended a three game skid in the state title game with a very dominating stomping of the Lakeland Dreadnaughts with a 52-7 win to claim their second consecutive 5A State Championship. From start to finish St. Thomas Aquinas completely manhandled the young Dreadnaughts, amassing over 380 yards of total offense. As they have done all year, the Raiders rushing attack was unstoppable as junior back Giovanni Bernard rushed for 104 yards. Another junior James White also chipped in 94 yards and one touchdown. TE Gabrison Holmes led a very impressive receiving group with 67 yards and one touchdown. In other words, total domination in every facet of the game.

"It's special anytime you win a championship, but it does make it a little more sweeter in beating Lakeland because of the sour taste left in the mouth of teams in the past. It's just an unreal feeling," replied St. Thomas Aquinas LB Conor O'Neil.

Sending a clear message was crucial if you listened to the Raider squad. After receiving the opening kick-off, the Raiders only took two plays to bring the capacity crowd from Fort Lauderdale to their feet as QB Ryan Becker dropped back to pass and found a wide open Gabe Holmes across the middle for a 20 yard grab. Holmes would then do the rest scooting 53 yards for the score outracing the Dreadnaught secondary as the Raiders took an early 7-0 lead.

The Dreadnaught offense wasn't quite as effective as head coach Bill Castle tried to answer back with a pounding rushing attack with Rodney Watson, Steward Butler and Aaron Truedell. But that game plan backfired as the Raider defense continued to get penetration early on in the Lakeland backfield.

After a Lakeland punt, the St. Thomas Aquinas offense took a little longer to extend their lead, but not by much as the honors this time belonged to junior back James White, who found a gap in the Lakeland defense and was off to the races for a 45 touchdown run to make the score 14-0.

"We didn't focus on anything except executing our offense. Our offense has done it all year and once again our backs got us going again," QB Ryan Becker added. "The onslaught continued midway through the first quarter as another junior, maybe the most talented, Giovanni Bernard joined the fun as he found a crease, eluded a defender and nearly out ran the Dreadnaught secondary again breaking free for a 57 yard scamper to the Lakeland one yard line. Becker would then dive over the goal line on the next play from series and the route was on as the Raiders took a commanding 21-0 lead.

St. Thomas Aquinas then delivered the final knockout blow on the very next series for Lakeland as the Dreadnaughts went to the air, but LB Conor O'Neil wasn't about to let them up for air as he stepped in front of an errant pass intended for Javares McCroy and exploded down the sidelines for a 20 yard touchdown run.

"You dream of that kind of play all the time, but our defensive line made that play happen in putting heavy pressure on Haggins. That was a huge play for our defense," said O'Neil.

Leading 28-0 and just after a quarter of play, the Dreadnaughts had no answer only mustering up only 83 yards of total offense for the first half. The Raiders would then start to pile it on just before the half with a passing attack loaded with big weapons. Their leading receiver Dwayne Difton joined the fun as he hauled in a 12 yard touchdown reception from Becker as St. Thomas further extended the lead at the halftime break to 35-0.

Lakeland then avoided the shutout as WR Javares McCroy caught a 86 yard strike from Jarred Haggins to cut the lead to 35-7. However, the Lakeland score only seemed to fuel the St. Thomas Aquinas offense to continue in hammering the Dreadnaught defense into submission with old fashioned smash mouth football on the next series. The six-play drive was highlighted by a James White 47 yard scamper and the final two carries would belong to RB Beau Bucci who pounded on the overmatched Lakeland defense for a 8 yard touchdown run.

The Raiders would then add two more scores, one on a Duron Carter 5 yard touchdown strike and later in the fourth quarter on a 8 yard touchdown run from Ronnie Kennedy to make the final margin 52-7. Even with the game in hand the Raider players couldn't wait for the clock to tick down to final zeros with the entire fourth quarter being a running clock.

"We know Lakeland is a great team, but at the same time we felt like this was our year, and nothing was going to stand in our way," said St. Thomas Aquinas QB Ryan Becker.

While the Raiders can't go back in time and change past heartbreaking losses they sure made up for it at least in the eyes of Raider fans with the thrashing of the Dreadnaughts. The Raiders also have the make up of going for yet another Title in 2009 with the return of practically their entire offensive line and talented junior running backs Giovanni Bernard and James White.

"The challenge is there, and the talent is as well. There are a few key holes to replace but the expectations are always there and we have a great chance at getting back here," said Becker.