St. Thomas Aquinas didn’t just win their showcase game against Texas state champ DeSoto on August 29, they dropped an absolute hammer, walking away with a dominant 38-14 victory. This wasn’t some minor scrimmage; this was the No. 1 ranked team in Florida Super 25 hosting the 2025 Texas Class 6A state champion and No. 22 team nationally. And man, it was a statement. The matchup looked great on paper, but on the field? It wasn’t even close, especially in that first half.
The Raiders Weren’t Here To Play Nice
Right from the jump, Aquinas set the tone, lighting up the scoreboard on their very first offensive play. Pitt commit Tyler Reid snagged the opening score, and the Raiders just kept pouring it on. They flew out to a mind-blowing 38-0 lead by halftime against a legitimate Texas state champion! Think about that for a second. That’s the kind of lead that triggers a running clock in the second half, which is exactly what happened. Collin Francis added a rushing touchdown, and Notre Dame commit Julius Jones grabbed a touchdown pass to round out the offensive fireworks. They were relentless, showcasing an offense that knows how to find the end zone fast.
This Defense Is Absolutely Relentless
As impressive as the offense was, the Aquinas defense stole the show and is easily the biggest takeaway here. These guys are elite. Ohio State commit Wyatt Smith, a defensive end, made his presence felt immediately, stuffing DeSoto’s 3,000-yard rusher SaRod Baker on the very first play from scrimmage. That’s how you set the tone! Middle linebacker Levi Champion, a Liberty commit who led the entire state in tackles last year, racked up 10 tackles in the first half alone. The speed and aggression of this defense caused problems for DeSoto all night, even forcing a fumble on a trick play they tried. They also put points on the board themselves, with Ohio State commit Jayden Carey returning an interception for a touchdown in the first quarter, and Notre Dame commit Zayden Gamble scooping up a fumble and taking it to the house in the second. DeSoto only managed to score both of its touchdowns in the second half, long after the game was decided. Including their Kickoff Classic, no team has scored against Aquinas in the first half all season. That’s just ridiculous.
National Title Talk? It’s Already Here
It might be August, but the national title conversation just got a whole lot louder for Aquinas. This win, combined with Columbus’ upset of Bishop Gorman, the No. 2 ranked team nationally, has absolutely opened the door for Aquinas to make a huge impression on voters. They aren’t done making statements either; the Raiders are set to host Columbus on September 4 and will travel to Chaminade-Madonna on October 2. If Aquinas can navigate that brutal regular season schedule unscathed, the Open Division gauntlet still awaits. But make no mistake: St. Thomas Aquinas is looking like a legitimate national contender right now, and their performance in the Broward Showcase definitely helped their cause. Get ready, because this team means business.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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