Week 6 in South Florida brings us one the top games of the year, the #12 TRU Prep Saints (aka University School) against the #1 team in the area, the St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders. Both teams have elite coaching staffs to go with well-rounded rosters. TRU Prep comes into this game 3-0 (outscoring their opponents 152-35) and with added momentum after dominating 2A State Champ # 14 Champagnat Catholic. This is the season opener for STA, who is ranked as the #3 team in the nation by Maxpreps.
TRU Prep is littered with D1 talent on both sides of the ball, but the core that makes this machine run is MTSU commit QB Nick Vattiato, Coastal Carolina commit RB Max Balthazar, WRs Brandon Inniss & CJ Cage, Clemson commit OL Marcus Tate, LB Emile Aime, USF commit K John Cannon and Wisconsin commit CB Ricardo Hallman. These are the names that TPA will rely on this Friday. Vattiato is the top passer in South Florida and is 26/42 with 545 yards passing, & 10 total TDs in limited time (they beat their first two opponents by a combined 105-6). 2021 RB Max Balthazar has turned his limited 30 touches into 209 yards and a TD. WR Brandon Inniss leads the pack in receiving with 9 catches for 259 yards and 4 total TDs. On defense, CB Ricardo Hallman already has 2 INTs after picking off 8 passes in 2019. TPA will attack STA's solid OL with speed in their pass rush (OLB/SS Hayward McQueen & EDGE Knight Nakanishi) and two brick walls in the interior (DTs Cahlede Jackson and Jeremy Acosta) that will allow LB Emile Aime to play sideline to sideline. Don't sleep on the young talent that rounds out this depth chart either, as several 2024 players, including WR JT Madison (6'3 180), SS Semaj Jackson, LB CJ Dales (5'11 197), DE Bryce Stringer(6'1 190), DB CJ Goldsby Jr (5'10 160), OL Jimmy Williams (6'4 265) and S Zayquan Patterson, will make game-changing plays Friday.
St. Thomas comes into this game as the target of South Florida. Any local contender wants to gauge where they really are with a matchup against the 7A State Champs. Going 15-0 in 2019, the first time in nearly a decade, the expectations are higher than they have been in a long time. A loaded squad led by QB Zion Turner and RB Anthony Hankerson added the likes of Alabama commit EDGE Dallas Turner, Michigan commit LB Jaydon Hood, Louisville commit DE RJ Sorensen, Ole Miss WR Bralon Brown, Vanderbilt commit OL Gunnar Hansen and Pitt commit OL Marco Fugar. There is virtually no weakness with this 2020 team. QB Zion Turner has countless weapons and an OL that averages about 6'4 280. On defense, DC Jason Taylor is able to take advantage of his whole playbook due to a deep pass rush that includes Dallas Turner (6'4 240, 14 sacks in 2019), DE RJ Sorensen (6'4 240), DT Boaz Saint Vil (6'3 321), UF commit Tyreak Sapp (6'3 255, 9 sacks in 2019), DT Travis Gammage (6' 240), DT Adetola Daranijo (6'1 240), and Colorado commit DE/DT Allan Baugh (6'3 253). Hood is the big name in the LB core but 2021 LB Jordan Kolnick is a veteran with a 100+ tackle season under his belt as well. In the backend, you have the top CB in the area in Michigan commit Jaden McBurrows (6 defensive TDs in 2019), Vandy commit CB Tyson Russell, Jason Taylor's son SS Isaiah Taylor (13 offers), underrated DB Jerrod Cameron who had a nice INT in the playoffs against Venice and transfer 2022 S Blake Volcy.
This game will be the talk of the week and deservingly so. TRU Prep is a contender if in the State Series and STA is trying to stake their claim for yet another National Championship. Both teams are loaded with talent and led by veteran coaching staffs with championship pedigree. I think experience wins out here though. Too much youth on the side of TPA will lead to special teams miscues, defensive miscommunication and overall lack of consistent play that will allow STA to start their year off with a W. Vattiato should produce, as the spotlight is where he shines but STA is so strong in the front 7 that I don't see TPA getting the run game going at any point. Look for Zion Turner to pick apart TPA's defense with play-action after Anthony Hankerson imposes his will on the ground.
The Crib Prediction: 35-17, St. Thomas Aquinas W
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