The 2015 Football Team

The Little Irish captured their second state title in a span of three seasons to close out the Jake Zembiec era, and by dispatching of Saratoga Springs by the score of 44-19 made it easy on historians to place this Aquinas club in the pantheon of best teams ever. This team also made history becoming the first Section 5 team to be ranked in the USA Today Super 25 poll. They finished at #14. Injuries had sidelined or slowed Aquinas starters for most of the season, but that didn’t result in a loss in 13 games. Senior Jake Zembiec was considered one of the top recruits from the area in the last 30 years. He had a strong finish to his high school playing days: a Section 5 single season record 37 passing touchdowns and 3,030 yards. Zembiec graduated early and moved on to the Penn State. We also saw senior linebacker Jamir Jones become part of the defense at Notre Dame. You can argue that no Aquinas player had been more versatile and still played at an all-state level. Division I schools were also interested in Earnest Edwards (28 touchdowns), who scored a touchdown at the end of a run, kickoff return, interception, pass reception and a fumble recovery this season. Taylor Riggins and Conrad Brake also went on to play Div 1 football. This team was loaded and what a show it was. In the process, Aquinas showed us how motivation can turn into determination can turn into celebration. They showed us what it truly means to be a team. To be a family.