St Thomas Aquinas (#3 FL) at Pratville (#1 AL) at Hoover Stadium (Alabama)
To say the Pratville Lions are loaded with talent would be an understatement. High-profile recruits such as Justin Thomas (Bama), Austin Golson, DT Justin Shanks (Florida State), Laronji Vason and Gulledge supply Prattville with more playmakers on both sides of the ball than the average program.
The school has almost its entire starting lineup back from a year ago - just one of the reasons it was picked over top schools from the more traditional high school power states of Florida, Texas and California.
"We could have very easily stuck with the games we had planned, but we went out and got St. Thomas Aquinas," DuBose said. "We want the challenge, we want to prove we can do what we want to do and that's to win big football games. Hopefully, it will prepare us to get ready for the season and get us ready for our tough region play."
The storm could pose major travel problems for the Raiders football team, which will leave Ft. Lauderdale Friday morning, fly to Atlanta and then bus to Birmingham, Ala. for a walk through before a Saturday matchup with Prattville High. The game, to be held in Hoover, Ala., is Casullo's first as the team's head coach, and an itinerary re-arrangement is the last thing he wants to worry about in his preparation for a noon eastern kickoff.
Casullo said Monday that he doesn't expect problems with travel arrangements, but if they do arise because of Irene, the athletic department will improvise a new plan. That, most likely, would mean taking a bus from Ft. Lauderdale to Birmingham — a 750-mile drive that will take them directly through Prattville, Ala.
Aquinas:
First-year coach Rocco Casullo has taken over for longtime coach George Smith, who led St. Thomas to six state titles.Key contributors such as quarterback Jake Rudock and receivers Phillip Dorsett and Rashad Greene have graduated.
Top senior prospects: DL Jelani Hamilton (6-5, 240) has already verbally committed to Miami. RB Dami Ayoola (5-10, 195) has offers from more than a dozen programs including North Carolina, Illinois, Boston College, Notre Dame, Wisconsin, West Virginia and Miami. LB Cole Champion (6-1, 195) and LB Tyler Drake (6-3, 215) are both receiving interest from Kentucky, Boston College and Connecticut.
Newcomers: QB Max Lescano (5-10, 185) may be a senior, but he played in limited duty behind Rudock, now at Iowa. He and junior John O'Korn are both in the hunt for the starting job, although Casullo said Monday that Lescano "is a little ahead" with "a better grasp of the offense." Casullo also expects WRs Corey Holmes (6-0, 180), Gavin Sinclair (6-1, 170), and Franklyn Richardson (6-2, 180) to step up. DL Joseph Bosa and Bryan Cox Jr. should bring plenty of energy to a talented defensive front.
Avon -2.5 vs. Avon Lake 120/100
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