St. Thomas Aquinas and De La Salle Set to Meet on ESPN

by Jeff Fisher

Florida High School Football Huddle

They've been two of the best high school football programs in their respective states for a long time...now De La Salle (Concord, CA) and St. Thomas Aquinas (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) will square-off on the field for bragging rights.  And, ESPN will be there to capture the action and give a national audience a look at the California/Florida bragging rights battle.

ESPN officials have announced they will televise the September 23rd match-up live on one of their networks.  Last year STA won Florida's 5A championship; De La Salle, which is riding a 25-game win streak, won California's Open Division title.

Of course that 25-game win streak doesn't hold a candle to the Spartans' national record 151-game win streak that was set between 1992-2003.

Maybe the only disappointment about the game is that long-time Raider head coach George Smith won't be guiding his team.  Smith announced earlier this year that he had decided to retire.  If the legendary Smith, who led Aquinas to six state titles, hadn't stepped-down, the game would have matched two of high school football's best.  De La Salle's Bob Ladouceur owns a 372-23-3 record since he took over in Concord in 1979.

"Playing a great program like St. Thomas Aquinas is a positive opportunity. Win or lose, they'll make us a better team. It should be an exciting game," said Ladouceur in a news release.

Former defensive coordinator Rocco Casullo will take over for Smith, but it was the former coach who spoke about the match-up in the ESPN news release saying "To have the chance to play a program like De La Salle is a great challenge for our program and to us a great thing for high school football in both states. It should be an outstanding game for both schools, both states and fans of high school football nationwide."

Florida High School Football Championships to Stay in Orlando

by Jeff Fisher
Florida High School Football Huddle

Orlando will remain the site of the Florida high school football championship through the 2013.

The Florida High School Athletic Association announced Friday that it awarded all of the state championship games to the Central Florida Sports Commission for three more years.  Orlando has hosted the title games in the Citrus Bowl for the last four years.

Two other cities, St. Petersburg (Tropicana Field) and Miami (Sun Life Stadium and Florida International University) also bid on the finals.

"Orlando has proven to be a great venue for our member schools to play football," said FHSAA Executive Director Dr. Roger Dearing in a news release. "We’re excited to announce a renewed agreement between the Florida High School Athletic Association and the Central Florida Sports Commission for the state finals in Orlando with the new football classifications in place. It was rewarding to word directly with Mayor Buddy Dyer in reaching this three-year agreement."

"The keys to our proposal were also the keys to our success over the past four years,” said Sam Stark, president of the Central Florida Sports Commission. "Orlando's statewide appeal, central location and the dedication of our local partners helped to create a wonderful, seamless experience for the FHSAA and the participating teams. We are honored that the FHSAA has entrusted us with this showcase event for the next three years.”

"Orlando is well known for rolling out the red carpet for guests, as some of the most recognizable sports events and activities call this great city home," added Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. "We are proud to have the privilege of hosting the FHSAA football finals and the recent renovations to the Citrus Bowl will certainly enhance the player and patron experience during the championship games."

Click here to read the entire FHSAA news release.

George Smith Retires as St. Thomas Aquinas Football Coach

by Jeff Fisher

Florida High School Football Huddle

The man who built St. Thomas Aquinas (Ft. Lauderdale) into a Florida and national high school football power is stepping down after 34 years of coaching.

George Smith's number are mind boggling...a career record of 361-66 for an incredible winning percentage of .845, six state championships and two "mythical" national championships.  Then there are the hundred of kids he sent into the college ranks, plus 30 former players who made it to the NFL.

The school has announced that defensive coordinator Rocco Casullo is the Raiders new head coach.

Florida - 2011 National Signing Day

Louis Addazio (Buchholz, TE) - Syracuse
Johnathan Aiken (Chaminade, DB) - Rutgers
Javorious Allen (Lincoln, RB) - USC
Mauro Bondi (West Boca Raton, K) - Nebraska
Keith Bowers (Dwyer, DL) - Maryland
Trey Braun (Leon, OL) - Georgia Tech
Isaiah Bruce (Providence, LB) - West Virginia
Andrew Buie (Trinity Christian, RB) - West Virginia
Harvello Bule (Armwood, LB) - New Mexico
Quenton Bundrage (Mantee, WR) - Iowa St.
Jamie Byrd (Pasco, S) - TCU
Juwan Caesar (Miami Coral Park, WR) - Michigan St.
Jeremy Cash (Plantation, DB) - Ohio St.
Dante Campbell (East Ridge, WR) - West Virginia
Torrey Campbell (Barron Collier, DB) - Iowa
Tyree Clark (Alonso, CB) - Connecticut
Undray Clark (Felix Varela, DB) - Maryland
Max Chapman (Nease, DL) - Northwestern
Thieren Cockran (Homestead, DE) - Minnesota
Ritchy Desir (North Miami Beach, DB) - Syracuse
Makinton Dorleant (Lely, DB) - Maryland
Justin DuVernois (St. Thomas Aquinas, P) - Illinois
Durell Eskridge (Miami Central, DB) - Syracuse
Wedley Estime (Atlantic, DE/LB) - Virginia Tech
Curtric Evans (Chaminade Madonna, WR) - Boston College
Terrance Floyd (Santaluces, DB) - Wisconsin
Lukas Foreman (Naples, DB) - Maryland
Devin Gaulden (University School, DB) - Wisconsin
Anthony Harrell (Jesuit, LB) - Georgia Tech
Jeff Heuerman (Barron Collier, TE) - Ohio St.
Desmond Hollin (Southridge, DL) - New Mexico
Marcus Jackson (Vero Beach, OL) - Tennessee
Russell Haughton-James (American Heritage, OL) - West Virginia
Errin Joe (Lake Gibson, OL) - Georgia Tech
Kaleb Johnson (Edward H. White, OL) - Rutgers
Ronald Jones (Fort Meade, WR) - Pitt
Marlin Lane (Mainland, RB) - Tennessee
Robert Lockhart (West Boca Raton, WR) - Virginia Tech
Marquis Lucas (Miami Central, OL) - West Virginia
Luther Maddy (Atlantic, DL) - Virginia Tech
Curt Maggitt (Dwyer, DE) - Tennessee
Jesphete Matilus (Atlantic, LB) - Minnesota
Nick Menocal (Belen Jesuit Prep, LB) - Georgia Tech
Steven Montgomery (Miramar, DB) - Minnesota
Tyler Moore (Countryside, OL) - Nebraska
K.J. Myers (First Coast, WR) - West Virginia
DeVondrick Nealy (Jefferson County, RB) - Iowa St.
Tevin Newman (Robinson, LB) - New Mexico
Tony Posada (Plant, OL) - Michigan
Adarius Rayner (Largo, DL) - Indiana
Bobby Richardson (Plant, DL) - Indiana
Sam Richardson (Winter Park, QB) - Iowa St.
Dillon Romine (Braden River, OL) - New Mexico
Matt Roth (Nease, DE) - Virginia Tech
Jake Rudock (St. Thomas Aquinas, QB) - Iowa
Rockerick Ryles (Dr. Phillips, DB) - Pitt
Trevarris Saulsberry (Gainesville, DL) - Tennessee
Ryan Shazler (Plantation, OLB, DE) - Ohio St.
Donald Smith (Spoto, LB) - Iowa St.
LaQuentin Smith (Dr. Phillips, LB) - Pitt
Tom Smith (Apopka, RB) - Tennessee
Eaton Spence (Glades Day, DB) - Illinois
Alex Watson (Creekside, DL) - Lafayette
Derrick Wells (Lehigh, DB) - Minnesota
Jordan Williams (Gainesville, DL) - Tennessee
Oliver Vigille (Miami Central, LB) - Syracuse
Pierre Youngblood-Ary (Lake Brantley, WR) - Northwestern