On Friday night at Brian Piccolo Memorial Stadium, the St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders delivered a statement win, defeating the McArthur Mustangs 34–7 to advance in the 2025 Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Class 5A playoffs.
Coming into the game, both squads carried winning streaks — McArthur on eight in a row and STA on eleven. The Raiders, buoyed by a dominant home-field presence, wasted little time turning this playoff showdown into an emphatic statement.
St. Thomas Aquinas struck first with a field goal in the opening quarter, then followed with two second-quarter rushing touchdowns to build a 17–0 lead by halftime. In the second half they maintained control — McArthur managed a third-quarter touchdown, but STA answered with a touchdown pass and closed the game out with another field goal in the fourth quarter.
The win improves STA’s record to 12–1, while McArthur closes out their season at 10–3. The loss ends McArthur’s eight-game winning streak.
The Raiders’ balanced attack — strong rushing, timely passing, and resolute defense — underlined exactly why they are among the state’s elite. As the playoffs continue, STA remains a force to be reckoned with.
STA advances to the FHSAA State Semifinals and plays Riverdale at home on Fri., Dec 5 at 7:00 p.m.
All tickets for home STA athletic events can be found on gofan.co. All home STA athletic events are streamed on the NFHS Network.
