In one of South Florida’s most anticipated matchups of the season, St. Thomas Aquinas edged Chaminade-Madonna 27-21 on Friday night in a back-and-forth battle between two nationally ranked powerhouses. The Raiders leaned on timely defense, clutch special teams, and big-play resilience to hand the Lions just their second loss of the year.
Both defenses made early statements, trading stops throughout a scoreless first quarter. Chaminade struck first midway through the second, capping a long drive with a short touchdown run by freshman quarterback Malik Leonard to take a 7-0 lead. Aquinas responded just before halftime with a physical 73-yard drive, punctuated by a goal-line plunge from running back Duke Daley to even the score at 7-7 heading into the break.
The pace quickened in the third quarter. Leonard found the end zone again on a designed run to put Chaminade back in front, but Aquinas answered immediately when quarterback Mason Mallory broke free for a 65-yard touchdown run — a momentum-swinging play that brought the home crowd to its feet. The Lions countered with another explosive moment of their own, as Lee Prince Jr. sprinted 81 yards for a score to restore their lead at 21-14. Yet again, the Raiders refused to fold, driving the length of the field and tying the game at 21-all late in the quarter.
From there, it was all about composure and execution. Kicker Johnny DiSalvatore put the Raiders on top early in the fourth with a clutch field goal, then added another minutes later to extend the lead to 27-21. Chaminade’s final two drives were stymied by Aquinas’ defense — one ending in a blocked field goal, the other sealed by an interception in the closing seconds.
Quarterback Mason Mallory’s leadership and mobility sparked the offense, while the defense came up with critical turnovers when the game was on the line. The win pushes St. Thomas Aquinas to 9-1 heading into the postseason and reaffirms the Raiders’ status as one of the state’s most complete teams — battle-tested, balanced, and built for November football.
With another statement victory in the books, Aquinas now turns its attention to the playoffs — and the chase for a seventh straight state championship continues.
