Ft. Lauderdale-St. Thomas Aquinas vs. Lakeland

Network: Sun Sports
Announcers: James Bates, Brady Ackerman
Format: DVD (2 disks)
Quality: 9.25 (Directv Master)
Notes: Commercials edited out... Includes some halftime... Delayed, shortened broadcast... Skips 2 minutes 1st half (1 TD), and about 5 minutes 2nd half.

Game Notes

Lakeland Dreadnaughts beat St. Thomas Aquinas again, 39-10, in the 2nd straight championship game, capturing the USA Today national championship.

Junior RB Jamar Taylor (Alabama) is the star this time, running for 153 yards and 3 TDs, overshadowing junior running mate Chris Rainey (Florida). Rainey does contribute 112 yards and 1 TD rushing.

The defense helps force 6 turnovers, including INTs by junior safeties Ahmad Black (Florida) and Steve Wilks (Florida). Wilks' 1st INT sets the stage for a quick strike start, when Billy Lowe (Northern Illinois) hits Matt Grier for a 56-yard TD pass on Lakeland's 1st play from scrimmage.

The Raiders do respond, tying it 7-7 when junior Wesley Carroll (Mississippi State) tosses a 2-yard TD pass to junior WR Leonard Hankerson (Miami). But despite a line that includes 4 D-1 and 1 D-1AA recruits, St. Thomas Aquinas can't generate points, or overcome mistakes and turnovers.

Lakeland's response to the score, is an 80-yard drive capped by Taylor's 1-yard TD run, then Rainey adds a 12-yard TD run for a 20-7 lead after a turnover. Brett Swenson (Michigan State) hits a 43-yard FG w/ :06 left in the half for the Raiders.

But the 2nd half is all Lakeland.

Carroll goes 8-of-21 for 106 yards and 1 TD with 3 INTs for the Raiders. Lowe is 3-of-12 for 70 yards and 1 TD, while adding a TD run for the Dreadnaughts.

Lakeland includes LB Scott Bryant (Florida International), LB Troy Johnson (Iowa), LB Rashad Coleman (North Carolina Central), junior TE/DT Jordan Hammond (LSU), junior DT John Brown (Florida), junior WR Paul Wilson (Florida), junior OT Michael Pouncey (Florida), junior OG Markice Pouncey (Florida).

St. Thomas Aquinas includes C Dan Wenger (Notre Dame), G/DE Marcus Lind (Duke), OT Sam Young (Notre Dame), OT Marcus Gilbert (Florida), WR Steven Brown (Idaho), WR Phillip Garner (Kent State), RB Marcel Archer (Central Michigan), RB Bobby Crawford (Western Michigan), S Everett Lewis (N.C. State), DT Geno Atkins (Georgia), DT Robert Mentejo (Stony Brook), junior G Ricardo Clerge-Apollon (Lehigh), junior S Major Wright (Florida), junior P Michael Groody (Florida Atlantic).