On Saturday, high school football teams were permitted to begin practices with full pads and contact. Seven-time defending state champion St. Thomas Aquinas took the field in the morning in Fort Lauderdale.
Players take part in the St. Thomas Aquinas first day of contact football practice, on Saturday, August 1, 2026. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Players take part in the St. Thomas Aquinas first day of contact football practice, on Saturday, August 1, 2026. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Quarterback Cody “CoCo” Conness throws a pass during the St. Thomas Aquinas first day of contact football practice, on Saturday, August 1, 2026. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Players take part in the St. Thomas Aquinas first day of contact football practice, on Saturday, August 1, 2026. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Quarterback Blake Calixte throws a pass during the St. Thomas Aquinas first day of contact football practice, on Saturday, August 1, 2026. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Players take part in the St. Thomas Aquinas first day of contact football practice, on Saturday, August 1, 2026. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Quarterback Jase Watkins throws a pass during the St. Thomas Aquinas first day of contact football practice, on Saturday, August 1, 2026. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Players take part in the St. Thomas Aquinas first day of contact football practice, on Saturday, August 1, 2026. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Players take part in the St. Thomas Aquinas first day of contact football practice, on Saturday, August 1, 2026. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Players take part in the St. Thomas Aquinas first day of contact football practice, on Saturday, August 1, 2026. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
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Players take part in the St. Thomas Aquinas first day of contact football practice, on Saturday, August 1, 2026. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)