HOLLYWOOD — When Dameon Jones took over the coaching reins at Chaminade-Madonna, he was only focused on winning.
The Lions (11-2) have done plenty of that and now they will be going after a fifth consecutive state championship in a state-record 10th straight state final. They have won seven of those past nine championship matchups.
“I came here to win,” said Jones, whose team, ranked No. 21 in the nation by MaxPreps, picked up a fourth straight victory. “I didn’t know I was going to get it done. I am not going to sit here and lie about it. I am just thankfully blessed. I got a great coaching staff and wonderful kids. I never thought of building a dynasty.”
Chaminade-Madonna earned the chance as they overcame a sluggish start with two early turnovers and some untimely penalties before rolling to a 35-0 win over Jacksonville Trinity Christian Academy (9-5) in the 1A state semifinal on Friday night. Freshman quarterback Malik Leonard was 10 of 16 for 242 yards and three scores.
Leonard and senior wide receiver Jasen Lopez combined for two touchdown passes late in the first half as Chaminade-Madonna built a 14–0 lead at the intermission. Lopez finished the night with three catches for 101 yards and two scores.
Chaminade-Madonna will face Palm Beach County’s Cardinal Newman for the Class 1A title on Thursday at 12:30 p.m. at Pitbull Stadium on the campus on Florida International University.
Cardinal Newman (11-3) held on for a 48-33 victory over previously undefeated Tampa Carrollwood Day (12-1) to advance to its first state championship game in school history.
After a very sluggish, slow start, especially for Chaminade-Madonna, who entered the game averaging 40 points per contest, the Lions finally got on the scoreboard by scoring twice within two minutes at the end of the second quarter.
Leonard found a streaking Lopez down the right sideline with no one near him and the FSU signee waltzed into the end zone with 3:44 remaining on the 65-yard scoring toss.
On the ensuing series, Trinity Prep gambled and lost as they went for a fourth-and-1 from their 39-yard line. As the Conquerors’ Chris Grissett came around the end on a reverse, he tripped over the shoe of offensive lineman Malachi Smith for a 5-yard loss.
The Lions wasted little time grabbing the 14-0 lead as Leonard hit Tromon Isaac Jr. on an 8-yard out and then found Lopez once again, alone in the end zone for their second connection, this one coming from 26 yards out.
“It was a spark to get us going, and you know, that’s what we needed for the offense to get going, for sure,” said a beaming Lopez, who has 1,106 yards receiving and 13 TDs.
The Lions blew the game open in the second half on a 41-yard pick-six by John Gay, a 65-yard scoring run by Arwin Jackson and an 84-yard TD pass from Leonard to Isaac, their second of the night to force a running clock with 4:27 left in the contest. Isaac finished with four catches for 104 yards.
“Shout out to [the defense], they stepped up when they needed to,” Lopez said. “This program is so consistent. Our coaches did a great job putting us in great positions, and my teammates do a great job of getting me open. We have a running back like Derrek Cooper, and when you have a running game like that, it’s easy to open up the passing game for sure. I have a chance of getting another ring before I head off to Tallahassee. It would be great to go back-to-back.”
