CLASS 7A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW: Edgewater vs. St. Thomas Aquinas

CLASS 7A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

Edgewater Eagles vs. St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders

WHEN: Saturday, December 12

WHERE: Daytona Stadium, Daytona Beach

KICKOFF: 7:00 p.m. ET

TICKETS: $12 – advance purchase (Ticketmaster); $15 – at the gate

PARKING: $10 per game (Edgewater fans will park in the North parking lot [visitors], St. Thomas Aquinas fans will park in the South parking lot [home]).

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RELATED: 2019 Class 7A Playoff Bracket

RECORDS: Edgewater – 13-1; St. Thomas Aquinas – 13-0

RANKINGS: Edgewater – No. 6 overall in Florida, No. 4 in Class 7A by FloridaHSFootball.com; St. Thomas Aquinas – No. 2 overall in Florida, No. 2 in Class 7A by FloridaHSFootball.com

COACHES: Edgewater – Cameron Duke, 3^rd year; St. Thomas Aquinas – Roger Harriott, 5^th year

HOW THEY GOT HERE: Edgewater – defeated Crestview 31-14 in the regional quarterfinals; defeated Lincoln 23-17 in the regional semifinals; defeated Niceville 28-20 in the regional finals; defeated Armwood 38-27 in the state semifinals; St. Thomas Aquinas – defeated South Broward 52-0 in the regional quarterfinals; defeated Plantation 52-19 in the regional semifinals; defeated Atlantic (Delray) 27-0 in the regional finals; defeated Venice 42-0 in the state semifinals

SKINNY: Edgewater is making its first state championship game appearance in 15 years after going to the state championship game three consecutive years straight in 2002, 2003 and 2004. The Eagles have never won a state championship game in school history. St. Thomas Aquinas is back for the second consecutive year and they are looking to add state championship No. 11 to the trophy case. This game marks the 18^th time that St. Thomas Aquinas has appeared in a state championship contest. Keep eye on Canaan Mobley as he will be the biggest offensive threat in this game for Edgewater as he has over 2,500 passing yards and 26 touchdowns on the season with Isaiah Connelly following right behind as the leading rusher, already having over 2,000 yards and 22 touchdowns on the season prior to playing Armwood. With St. Thomas Aquinas having over two dozen athletes that have Division I offers with tons of others getting potential looks and offers, the Raiders have the team that will be ready to contend in the state championship game. Just some of the names to keep an eye on include sophomore quarterback, Zion Turner who has been a playmaker this season, running back Anthony Hankerson, linebacker Dontae Lunan, linebacker/defensive end Derek Wingo, and defensive/linebacker Griffin Lampton just to name a few. We could literally spend all day looking at the St. Thomas Aquinas roster with all of the talent they.

RELATED: Statewide ‘LIVE’ Scoreboard

OUTLOOK: It is hard seeing a scenario that Edgewater could win this game given the fact all the talent that St. Thomas Aquinas has and given the fact some of the positions are two-deep in terms of Division I talent that is on that at roster. We will give Edgewater plenty of credit for their playoff run and the fact they were one game short last season in making it to the Class 7A State Championship game. However, going against one of the top powerhouse teams not only in Florida but in the nation is a tall and tough challenge. For St. Thomas Aquinas a win here would not only have them finishing undefeated but with a chance to possibly claim a national championship or two. That would be a way to bounce back after falling flat in the state championship game last season against Lakeland.

PREDICTION: St. Thomas Aquinas 35, Edgewater 20