On Dec. 5, 2025, the St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders set off to battle the Riverdale Raiders for an intense State Semifinal game. St. Thomas received the kick and got great field position, to start their drive on the 50 yard line. St. Thomas got the ball and drove down, kicking a field goal to make the score 3-0. Riverdale got the ball and St. Thomas got a three and out, and the offense got the ball back. Mason Mallory connected to Julius Jones on a slant route to make the score 10-0. The Raiders’ defense continued to dominate, getting another stop to get the offense the ball back.
Jaden Desir got a 20 yard rushing touchdown to make the score 17-0. Riverdale still couldn’t get anything forward and punted again. St. Thomas got the ball back and senior quarterback Mason Mallory connected on a pass to senior athlete Justice Fitzpatrick for a touchdown, to make the score 24-0. Riverdale got the ball back and the St. Thomas Aquinas’ stellar defense had another stop and forced them to punt the ball back. St. Thomas got the ball back and drove down the field and Mason Mallory connected to Julius Jones on another slant route to make the score 31-0. To close out the half, St. Thomas drove down and Mason Mallory capped off the drive with a rushing touchdown.
Coming into the third quarter, Riverdale wasn’t going down without a fight and drove down putting up their first points of the game. STA got the ball back and Kayin Liddie made a 75 yard rushing touchdown to make the score 45-7. On Riverdale’s final drive, they got a long rushing touchdown and the game finished with the score of 45-13.
Running back Jaden Desir shared, “It felt great to make it to the Regional semifinal.’’ Regarding the game, Jaden Desir stated “My mindset coming into this game was to prove all of the doubters wrong, and for us as a team to dominate all four phases of the game.” Next week, the St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders (13-1), will take on the Lakeland Dreadnaughts (12-2), for a rematch of the 5A State Championship at FIU Pitbull Stadium!
