It's St. Thomas and Deerfield Beach

They are calling it the "game of the year" – No. 1 5A St. Thomas Aquinas vs. No. 1 6A Deerfield Beach.

Every year, no matter what team seems to have the upper hand, you can throw the records out of the window, and Friday's 8 p.m. meeting at St. Thomas that can be seen nationally, is certainly no exception.

On the surface, this is all St. Thomas, as coach George Smith has this team running on all cylinders, but coach Art Taylor and his Bucks always find a way to keep it close – like last year's thriller at Deerfield Beach.

While last year's game showcased so many talented players on both sides of the ball, this year will be no exception.

Over the next two days, the Miami Herald wants to know what you think about the game. Who is going to win? Give us a score and when the game is over, you could be right on target with your prediction!

LARRY BLUSTEIN
lblustein@miamiherald.com

Comments

[Lester Jean]

I know people have been hyping this game for a long time. But this is one of those years where STA has way too much. I think it will be 44-21 St. Thomas. The Bucks do not have the depth this time around, and even in a game where anything can happen, the Raiders want to win a national title too bad!

[Ryan]

I think it will be close, but i think towards the end STA just breaks it open a bit. I see STA winning by 2 td's. The game will be close going to the 4th though. I just think they have too much and too many guys that can just run down DB's throat. Eventually it will just wear them down

[Franco Lolan]

I think it's going to be epic. Art Taylor and his boys will be at 110%, more than ready to pull the upset. Check out the forum conversation at Scout.com, good look at how the teams are very evenly balanced. I think the Miami Herald's prediction is very off.
(http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=376&f=1279&t=3184658&p=3)

Lastly, I don't really understand the CBS College Sports/Max Preps TV coverage. I'm in China and am trying to watch it online. Can I watch it online for free at the following website? If not what steps should I take? Thank you!
http://www.maxpreps.com/events/bk/bk_hs_football.aspx

[Franco Lolan]

"[STA] has too many guys that can just run down DB's throat. Eventually it will just wear them down"
Someone mentioned in another Forum, just like Northwestern last year? We all know how Deerfield Beach played in that game.

[jr.h2]

Its going to be a lot closer than many of you expect I believe the last two years many people expected this game to be a blow out by St. Thomas and Deerfield proved them wrong. I believe both teams are evenly match outside of the Wide Recievers positions. This is going to be an excitnig game.

[Chuckadamus]

This year the difference will be that the game is not being played in some sandlot ghetto shithole and I guarantee the *ucs will not get 4 timeouts like last year!!!

[RICK TRUTH SPEAKER]

THIS SHOULD BE A CLASSIC, WHILE I DO BELIEVE ST. THOMAS HAS A GREAT TEAM. I DO WONDER IF THEY HAVE THE SPEED TO KEEP UP WITH DEERFIELD. VERY FEW TEAMS HAVE THE SPEED TO KEEP UP WITH THE TEAMS NORTHWESTERN USUALLY FIELD, BUT LAST YEAR AND 2005 DEERFIELD PROVED THEY TO WERE A TEAM TO CONTEND WITH. I FEEL THAT DEERFIELD STILL FEEL THEY HAVE SOM ETHING TO PROVE FROM LOSING LAST YEAR IN THE WANING MOMENTS TO MIAMI NORTHWESTERN WHO WAS RANKED NUMBER ONE AND FINISHED NUMBER ONE. THEY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO PROVE. DEERFIELD USUALLY HAVE GOOD TEAMS, BUT GOOD TEAMS SOMETIMES LOSE. I PREDICT DEERFIELD WILL WIN THIS GAME, BUT WILL NOT WIN THE STATE CHAMPILONSHIP. ST. THOMAS WILL LOSE THIS GAME, BUT WILL WIN ANOTHER STATE CHAMPIONSHIP. WIN OR LOSE THEY BOTH ARE GREAT TEAMS THAT ARE REPRESENTING FLORIDA WELL. PSALMS 100

[RICK TRUTH SPEAKER]

THIS SHOULD BE A CLASSIC, WHILE I DO BELIEVE ST. THOMAS HAS A GREAT TEAM. I DO WONDER IF THEY HAVE THE SPEED TO KEEP UP WITH DEERFIELD. VERY FEW TEAMS HAVE THE SPEED TO KEEP UP WITH THE TEAMS NORTHWESTERN USUALLY FIELD, BUT LAST YEAR AND 2005 DEERFIELD PROVED THEY TO WERE A TEAM TO CONTEND WITH. I FEEL THAT DEERFIELD STILL FEEL THEY HAVE SOM ETHING TO PROVE FROM LOSING LAST YEAR IN THE WANING MOMENTS TO MIAMI NORTHWESTERN WHO WAS RANKED NUMBER ONE AND FINISHED NUMBER ONE. THEY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO PROVE. DEERFIELD USUALLY HAVE GOOD TEAMS, BUT GOOD TEAMS SOMETIMES LOSE. I PREDICT DEERFIELD WILL WIN THIS GAME, BUT WILL NOT WIN THE STATE CHAMPILONSHIP. ST. THOMAS WILL LOSE THIS GAME, BUT WILL WIN ANOTHER STATE CHAMPIONSHIP. WIN OR LOSE THEY BOTH ARE GREAT TEAMS THAT ARE REPRESENTING FLORIDA WELL. PSALMS 100

[Alex]

well looks like EVERYONE was wrong. that wasnt even close

[Franco Lolan]

All respect to Deefield Beach, they are fine opponents and I think one of the best in Florida.
That was just ridiculous though. For the first time this season, STA was on all cylinders full speed against a dominant team and exploded Friday night. Clearly shows this is the best team in the country.

[Football Wizard]

Deerfield Beach has amazing athletes and tremendous team speed. I believe they are a force in class 6A, and are a legitimate contender for state champion.

That being said, St. Thomas looked freakishly complete at every position, and put on a show that I (or anyone else for that matter) did not expect. The last time I saw a team this well rounded, they were eventual mythical national champions from Northwestern.

I don't foresee a any real challenges the rest of the way for this STA team, except for the eventual match ups in the state playoffs. Before declaring STA national champions, remember that STA may have to play a very good Lakeland team, and we all know the history of that series.

The rest of the season will prove to be very exciting for St. Thomas football fans.
GO RAIDERS!!