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Loss sticks with LB Thomas

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- ESPN 150 linebacker Matthew Thomas (Miami/Booker T. Washington) knows he should be thinking about his recruitment while camping at Florida State on a muggy Thursday morning.

But the 6-foot-3, 205-pound senior still can't get December out of his mind. Some of his teammates, many of whom took the trip to FSU with him, have moved on and tried to focus on the future.

For Thomas, however, a loss to Jacksonville (Fla.) Bolles in the Class 4A state championship game still stings hard. For three quarters, Thomas was clearly the best player on the field -- flying to the football, blocking a punt, forcing two fumbles and recording three tackles for loss.