The team that arrived at St. Thomas Aquinas on Saturday ranked No. 1 in the nation lost.
By the end of the night it was clear that the home team at the school was the one far more deserving of that status.
Shortly after Las Vegas titan Bishop Gorman was knocked from its pedestal as the country’s best high school football team by Columbus, the Raiders wasted no time showing a national television audience who should take their place during a 38-14 rout of visiting DeSoto (TX) in the final game of this year’s Broward County National Football Showcase.
Aquinas’ players celebrates a touchdown by (DB) Jaden Carey (4), during the first half of a game between St. Thomas Aquinas vs. DeSoto High part of the 2026 Broward County National High School Football Showcase, in Fort Lauderdale , Florida, on Saturday August 29, 2026. Pedro Portal pportal@miamiherald.com
Perhaps inspired by DeSoto captains’ refusal to shake hands during the pregame coin toss, Aquinas edge rusher and Ohio State commit Wyatt Smith surged through and sacked DeSoto quarterback Jayden Shaw on the game’s first play.
On the Raiders’ first offensive play, Pitt commit Tyler Reid found an opening on the left side, surged through, then cut back inside and raced to the end zone for a 57-yard touchdown run.
And the rout was on.
🚨🚨WILD🚨🚨
DeSoto High School players REFUSED to shake hands with St. Thomas Aquinas before their massive Texas-vs-Florida matchup.
St. Thomas Aquinas then went out and hung 38 points on DeSoto, winning 38-14.
That pregame moment aged BRUTALLY. pic.twitter.com/BWNaqm21sJ
— MLFootball (@MLFootball) August 30, 2026
Aquinas (2-0), ranked No. 2 nationally by MaxPreps behind Gorman entering the game, poured it on as it took a 38-0 lead by halftime prompting a running clock in the second half.
The Raiders followed a 49-0 preseason rout of Sarasota Cardinal Mooney and a 42-0 blowout win over Davie Western last week in their regular season opener with Saturday’s impressive performance.
Aquinas’ (LB) Levi Champion (2) tackles Desoto’s (CB) SaRod Baker (5) during the first half of a game between St. Thomas Aquinas vs. DeSoto High part of the 2026 Broward County National High School Football Showcase, in Fort Lauderdale , Florida, on Saturday August 29, 2026. Pedro Portal pportal@miamiherald.com
Aquinas allowed points for the first time this season with 6:45 left in the third quarter when SaRod Baker ran for a 1-yard touchdown and the Fighting Eagles (0-1), who were ranked 35th by MaxPreps, added a two-point conversion.
The Raiders will next turn their attention to the team that dethroned No. 1 as they host aforementioned Columbus (2-0) at home on Friday. The Explorers topped Bishop Gorman 33-28 earlier in the day in a stunning result that was keyed by Miami Hurricanes commit A’Mir Sears’ three interceptions and two touchdown catches.
Aquinas will undoubtedly count on the depth it showed once again on Saturday.
Jaden Carey, another Ohio State commit, jumped in front of a Shaw pass and returned it 36 yards for a touchdown to put the Raiders ahead 14-0.
Aquinas’ (RB) Collin Francis (27) runs for a touchdown, during the second quarter of a game between St. Thomas Aquinas vs. DeSoto High part of the 2026 Broward County National High School Football Showcase, in Fort Lauderdale , Florida, on Saturday August 29, 2026. Pedro Portal pportal@miamiherald.com
Aquinas junior defensive back crushed Shaw on a blitz and forced a fumble that was picked up by senior linebacker Jackson Leimberger. That set up junior running back Collin Francis’ 13-yard touchdown run that pushed the lead to 24-0 with 4:27 left in the second quarter.
Then on special teams, Notre Dame commit Zayden Gamble returned a punt 65 yards for a touchdown. Gamble was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.
Junior quarterback Blake Calixte got the start and connected with another Notre Dame commit, senior wide receiver Julius Jones, for a touchdown just before halftime.
Aquinas’ (DB) Zayden Gamble (23) runs for a touchdown while being chased by Desoto’s (DL) Lundyn Green (34), during the first half of a game between St. Thomas Aquinas vs. DeSoto High part of the 2026 Broward County National High School Football Showcase, in Fort Lauderdale , Florida, on Saturday August 29, 2026. Pedro Portal pportal@miamiherald.com
This story was originally published August 30, 2026 at 9:27 AM.
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Andre Fernandez is the Deputy Sports Editor of the Miami Herald and has covered a wide variety of sports during his career including the Miami Marlins, Miami Heat, Miami Dolphins, University of Miami athletics, and high school sports.