![FINAL: No. 9 St. Thomas Aquinas [FL] uses big second quarter to leave Columbus [FL] behind, 42-7 image](https://library.sportingnews.com/styles/crop_style_16_9_mobile_webp/s3/2025-08/AA_GFX%20Generic_icon_16x9.png.webp?itok=aJL0GJtx){kind=icon}
MIAMI, Florida, Sept. 5 —The St. Thomas Aquinas [Fort Lauderdale, FL] Raiders exploded for 21 second-quarter points to leave the Columbus [Miami, FL] Explorers behind in a 42-7 rout Friday night.
The Raiders (2-1) have looked like one of the nation's best teams since losing to the No. 1 Mater Dei [Santa Ana, CA] Monarchs at home two weeks ago in a 26-23 loss that remains their only blemish. They've bounced back with two one-sided affairs, including last week's 72-6 annihilation of the Boyd Anderson [Lauderdale Lakes, FL] Cobras.
Columbus represented a step up on competition, but even so, the Explorers were no match for the high-powered Aquinas attack. The Explorers (0-2) have opened the season with back-to-back losses against top-level competition, including last week's 14-7 loss to Our Lady of Good Counsel [Olney, MD] Falcons, but they should have a decent opportunity to break into the win column next Friday at home against the Palmetto [Miami, FL] Panthers (1-1).
St. Thomas Aquinas, meanwhile, doesn't figure to be challenged much over the next few weeks, but two big end-of-season matchups against two current Top 25 squads in the American Heritage [Plantation, FL] Patriots and Chaminade-Madonna [Hollywood, FL] Lions await in late October. In the meantime, they'll host the Western [Davie, FL] Wildcats next Friday night.
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FINAL — ST. THOMAS AQUINAS 42, COLUMBUS 7
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|| FOURTH QUARTER ||
Columbus gets on the board late, and that's where this one ends.
FINAL — ST. THOMAS AQUINAS 42, COLUMBUS 7
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We've got a running clock, and it can run fast enough for the Explorers. Aquinas adds to its lead.
4th Qtr — ST. THOMAS AQUINAS 42, COLUMBUS 0
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And the fourth quarter is under way.
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|| THIRD QUARTER ||
Aquinas is in cruise control tonight, and they add to their lead.
3rd Qtr — ST. THOMAS AQUINAS 35, COLUMBUS 0
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|| SECOND QUARTER ||
And that's where it stands as the first half ends.
Halftime — ST. THOMAS AQUINAS 28, COLUMBUS 0
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With just 19 seconds until halftime, Aquinas adds to its lead.
2nd Qtr — ST. THOMAS AQUINAS 28, COLUMBUS 0
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It's all Aquinas in Miami.
2nd Qtr — ST. THOMAS AQUINAS 21, COLUMBUS 0
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St. Thomas Aquinas doubles its lead early in the second quarter.
2nd Qtr — ST. THOMAS AQUINAS 14, COLUMBUS 0
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|| FIRST QUARTER ||
And that's all the scoring for the first quarter.
End of 1st Qtr — ST. THOMAS AQUINAS 7, COLUMBUS 0
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St. Thomas Aquinas takes the early lead.
1st Qtr — ST. THOMAS AQUINAS 7, COLUMBUS 0
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We're under way!
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We're still waiting to get this one kicked off in Miami.
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Coming soon!
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