Marcus Benjamin @_BenjaminReport
Orlando, FL – Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood) completed the quest of back to back state championships and this year was much easier than the last championship game. Last year, Chaminade needed a drive in the final minutes to defeat Oxbridge Academy (West Palm Beach), this year not so much. The Chaminade Lions beat the King’s Academy (West Palm Beach) Lions 31-10 to claim their fourth state championship.
Chaminade played a tough schedule for a 3A team. They opened the season with a loss to 8A state semifinalist Deerfield Beach 13-10, then when up to Alabama and beat a 6A 9-win team in Muscle Shoals 28-21. They also dominated 4A semifinalist University School (Davie) 35-0.
“Going back to back you think it’s going to be the same as last year, but it’s even harder,” said starting quarterback Football Hotbed All-American Daelen Menard. “Everyone is coming to get you, but we worked hard.”
The Lions of Hollywood continues to produce D-1 talent. Seniors Te’Cory Couch, Keontra Smith, and Cameron Williams are all committed to the University of Miami alone. Underclassmen Willie Moise and Thaddius Franklin are also committed to the U. Sophomore running back Franklin was out for this game with a broken collarbone. Couch had two interceptions in this game matching his jersey number. The last, he skyed in the air falling away to get the turnover.
“Great kids coming to a great school,” said Head Coach Dameon Jones. “Like Keontra Smith, he’s been at Chaminade all four years and no one knew who he was as a freshman. Now he’s committed to UM. Stories happen all around. It’s South Florida football.”
Chaminade did get off to a slow start in this game. King’s Academy made it to their first state championship in school history and came to play in the first half. The Lions of Palm Beach scored on their second drive of the game when senior quarterback Justin Wake found Cory Croteau for a 14-yard passing touchdown. The Palm Beach Lions would also add a field goal to take a 10-0 lead. That would be all from King’s Academy this late morning and early afternoon.
“We knew they would be a scrappy team,” said Coach Jones. “We came out of the first quarter sleepwalking. We got back to Chaminade-Madonna football. We took off and the offense made some plays and defense wins championships.”
Senior Willie Davis led the rushing attack for the Hollywood Lions. He would score back to back touchdowns of 13 and 14 yards to claim the lead for Chaminade before the end of the first half. Davis would finish with 83 yards on 18 carries and the two scores.
In the second half, the Hollywood Lions really ran wild. Menard hit junior receiver Elijah Canion on a quick slant that he would take 71 yards to the house with his speed to make it a 21-10 game.
“We game-planned and talked in the locker room. We knew it was going to be wide open” said Menard. “We hit it, we scored on the first play and that was the game.”
Menard threw his second touchdown pass to Penn State commit John Dunmore by the pylon to extend the Chaminade lead.
After a field goal by Carter Davis in the fourth quarter, Deidrick Stanley returned a punt 36 yards in the final ten seconds to close out the 3A state championship victory.
“I’m extremely proud of the team. We went through a lot of tough times and came out victorious,” said Menard.
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