St. Thomas Aquinas continued its remarkable run atop Florida high school football on Thursday night, blanking Lakeland 29–0 in the FHSAA Class 5A state championship at Pitbull Stadium to claim a seventh consecutive state title — the longest streak in Sunshine State history.
From the opening kickoff, the Raiders showcased the balance and discipline that have made them a perennial powerhouse. St. Thomas Aquinas controlled field position and tempo throughout, putting constant pressure on Lakeland’s offense while methodically building a lead. Multiple drives stalled only because the Raiders were held to field goals early, not for lack of production: senior kicker Johnny DiSalvatore, the games MVP, connected on five field goals, tying a state championship game record and giving Aquinas a 15–0 advantage by the end of the third quarter.
It wasn’t until the fourth quarter that the Raiders found the end zone. With 7:58 to play, senior running back Jaden Desir powered in a two-yard touchdown run after a huge 67-yard setup by quarterback Mason Mallory, extending the lead to 22–0. Later in the quarter, senior Morris Choice added a rushing touchdown to cap the scoring.
Mallory was at the center of Aquinas’ offensive success, finishing with 272 passing yards and 101 rushing yards, while four-star junior receiver Julius Jones Jr. hauled in 127 yards on seven catches, one of the top performances of the night.
With the victory, the Raiders (14–1) finished another dominant season and pushed their program total to 17 state championships, including seven straight dating back to 2019 — a run that has solidified St. Thomas Aquinas’ place atop Florida’s high school football landscape.
The electric atmosphere in the stands and the celebration on the field capped another memorable night for the Raiders and their fans, who watched history unfold as St. Thomas Aquinas continued its reign with a convincing championship performance.
This is the 136th State Championship in school history. The group has solidified their place in Raider history, and will always be remembered.
