State Champions Clash In Season Opener

While much of south Florida is still playing a waiting game, at least two schools will begin the 2020 season this evening. Perhaps the most interesting matchup in Florida this week will take place in Hollywood – when three-time defending 3A state champion Chaminade-Madonna will play host to defending 2A state champs Champagnat Catholic, winners of two of the past three state crowns.

In this Covid-19 landscape, no fans will be admitted to this evening’s game in an area that has been home to some of the highest rate of the Coronavirus over the past four plus months. With all of Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach public schools not getting the go-ahead to practice or condition together, this quality area remains shut down to football, leaving such powers and defending state champions such as Miami Booker T. Washington (4A), Miami Northwestern (5A), Miami Central (6A) and Miami Christopher Columbus (8A) not able to defend their titles. Northwestern has won the past three state championships. Hialeah Champagnat Catholic and head coach Hector Clavijo and Dameon Jones and his three-time defending 3A state champions will kick things off – featuring programs who have won five state titles in six years. The Lions of Chaminade-Madonna (12-2 a year ago) welcome back some elite football talent – like University of Miami-bound seniors in running back Thaddius Franklin Thaddius Franklin 6'2" | 220 lbs | RB Chaminade-Madonna | 2021 State FL and defensive lineman Allan Haye Allan Haye 6'1" | 300 lbs | DL Chaminade-Madonna | 2021 FL Jr. In addition, recent Ohio University commitment Torrie Cox Jr. and a group of underclassmen are expected to make another run this season. Underclassmen such as juniors Kenyatta Johnson, Brian Dilworth Brian Dilworth 6'0" | 175 lbs | DB Chaminade-Madonna | 2022 State FL , Jamaal Johnson Jamaal Johnson 6'2" | 240 lbs | DL Chaminade-Madonna | 2022 State FL , Dylan Reid Dylan Reid LB Chaminade-Madonna | 2022 FL , Khelyan Martin-Brown, Ryan Turner, Jordan Lynch, Kalunj Matthew, and sophomores Elvin Harris, D’Angelo Ponds, British Mithell, Deandre Duffus and Jason Hammond will give this program plenty of talent this coming season. Champagnat is coming off a 10-3 season – and like Chaminade-Madonna, these Lions are also stacked with quality talent as well - with some new faces on both sides of the ball. Class of 2021 standouts such as: Elias Blandon, William Jeudy, Donovan Jones, Ethan Moncada Ethan Moncada K Champagnat Catholic | 2022 FL , Georgia Tech-bound Malik Rutherford Malik Rutherford 5'9" | 170 lbs | WR Champagnat Catholic | 2021 State FL , Deondrick Speight and newcomer Tyous Taylor all have a chance to be special. Cass of 2022 receivers Jaylin Terzado, Shayon Walton Shayon Walton WR Champagnat Catholic | 2022 FL and Benson Prosper are impressive. So are 2023 receiver Kelvin Blount, and Class of 2024 center Matthew Rubio, who started as an 8^th grader a year ago. CHAMINADE-MADONNA LIONS 2021 – Jabez Adderson, OG 2023 – Samir Attasi, PK 2021 – David Babb, FS 2021 – River Brazil, OG 2022 – Kheylan Martin-Brown, OLB 2021 – Torrie Cox Jr., CB 2022 – , CB 2021 – Michael Edwards, S 2021 – , RB 2021 – Byron Hall, DE 2023 – Jason Hammond, OL 2023 – Elvin Harris, OL 2021 – Marcus Harris, OT 2021 – Jr., DL 2022 – Jr., DE 2021 – Joshua Jenkins, WR 2022 – , DE 2022 – Brady Kelly, QB 2022 – Jordan Lynch, LB 2021 – Malcolm Major, DT 2022 – Kheylan Martin-Brown, LB 2022 – Kalun-j Matthew, DT 2023 – British Mitchell, Athlete 2021 – Alex Paul, OC 2022 – , LB 2021 – , LS 2021 – Jaylon Tolbert, QB 2022 – Ryan Turner, CB CHAMPAGNAT CATHOLIC LIONS 2021 – Malik Allen, RB 2021 - Elias Blandon, OC 2023 – Kelvin Blount, WR 2021 - Darnell Georges, DE 2021 – Antwan Gisme, CB 2021 - Matthew Gonzalez, OL 2021 – Vinnie Hampton, SS 2021 – Stephon Hyatt, DE 2021 -William Jeudy, DE 2021 - Donovan Jones, RB 2021 - Naim McMillin, DE 2021 - Wilmer Mejia, DE 2021 – , PK 2021 – Ethan Nozile, WR 2021 - Justin Payoute, CB 2021 – Trey Perry, WR 2021 - Walter Phillips, LB 2021 - Aleric Pouchie, OL 2022 – Benson Prosper, WR 2021 - Jurrell Robinson, OT 2024 - Matthew Rubio, OL 2021 - , WR 2021 - Deondrick Speight, OLB 2021 - Tyous Taylor QB 2022 – Jaylin Terzado, WR 2022 - , WR TODAY’S STATEWIDE SCHEDULE Akelynn’s Angels Christian at American Collegiate Anclote at Hudson, 7:30 Armwood at Bloomingdale, 7:30 Baker at South Walton, 7 CT Baker County at Orange Park Bartram Trail at Creekside Bell Creek Academy at Indian Rocks Christian Berean Christian vs. Jupiter Christian, 4 Bishop Verot at American Heritage (Delray) Blountstown at Marianna, 7 CT Bolles at Trinity Christian (Jacksonville), 7:30 Brandon at Robinson, 7:30 Branford at Bell, 7:30 Brookwood School, Ga. at Maclay Calvary Christian (Clearwater) at Carrollwood Day Cambridge Christian at Northside Christian Cardinal Newman at Calvary Christian (Fort Lauderdale) Cedar Creek Christian at St. John Lutheran Charlotte at Sarasota, 7:30 Clearwater at Jesuit, 7 Clearwater Academy at Brentwood Academy, Tenn., 7 CT Clearwater Central Catholic at Tampa Catholic Community School of Naples at Gateway Charter Crescent City at The Villages Cypress Creek (Wesley Chapel) at Osceola (Seminole) Dade Christian at Westminster Academy DeSoto County at Port Charlotte, 7:30 Dixie County at Union County, 7:30 Dunedin at St. Petersburg Catholic Durant at Newsome, 7:30 Eagle’s View at Christ’s Church Academy, 7:30 Eastside at P.K. Yonge Ed White at Menendez Episcopal at Bishop Kenny Evangelical Christian at St. John Neumann Faith Christian at The Master’s Academy (Oviedo), 7:30 Fernandina Beach at Interlachen, 7:30 First Academy-Leesburg vs. Trinity Christian (Deltona) at Dewey O. Boster Sports Complex First Baptist (Naples) at Fellowship Christian, Ga., 7:30 First Coast at Ribault, 6 Fivay at River Ridge, 7:30 Foundation Academy at Mount Dora Christian, 7:30 Franklin County at Wewahitchka, 7 CT Gainesville at Santa Fe, 7:30 Gaither at Chamberlain, 7:30 Gibbs at Lakewood, 7:30 Halifax Academy at Bronson Haines City at Lake Gibson, 7:30 Hardee at Fort Meade, 7:30 Hilliard at Paxon, 6 Holmes County at Sneads, 7 CT Jefferson County at North Florida Christian, 7 Jensen Beach vs. Treasure Coast at South County Stadium John Carroll at Port St. Lucie Joshua Christian at St. Johns Country Day Keswick Christian at Bishop McLaughlin Keystone Heights at Bradford, 7:30 LaBelle at Clewiston, 7:30 Lake Region at Bartow, 7:30 Legacy Charter at Ocala Christian Lemon Bay at The King’s Academy Lennard at Plant, 7:30 Leto at Alonso, 7:30 Liberty County at Cottondale, 7:30 Mandarin at Atlantic Coast, 6 Marco Island Academy at Canterbury (Fort Myers) Mitchell at Land O’ Lakes, 7:30 Mulberry at Frostproof, 7:30 North Bay Haven vs. Munroe Day at Corry Field, 6 North Florida Educational at Williston, 7:30 North Port at Cardinal Mooney Oakleaf vs. Buchholz at Citizens Field Oasis at Southwest Florida Christian Okeechobee at Moore Haven Orlando Christian Prep at Orangewood Christian Palatka at Fleming Island, 7:30 Pasco at Auburndale, 7:30 Pinellas Park at Largo Ponte Vedra at Nease Providence at Stanton, 6 Raines at Venice, 7:30 Ridge Community at Kathleen, 7:30 Riverview (Riverview) at Plant City, 7:30 Riverview (Sarasota) at East Lake, 7:30 Rocky Bayou Christian at Bishop Snyder St. Augustine at Middleburg St. Francis Catholic at Aucilla Christian Sebastian River at South Fork Seffner Christian at Lakeland Christian, 7:30 Sickles at East Bay, 7:30 South Sumter at Madison County, 7:30 Spoto at Sumner, 7:30 Strawberry Crest at King, 7:30 Sunlake at Wesley Chapel, 7:30 Suwannee at Hamilton County, 7:30 Tampa Bay Tech at Steinbrenner, 7:30 Taylor County at Wakulla, 7:30 Terry Parker at Fletcher, 6 Trenton at Newberry, 7:30 University Christian at Clay Vernon at Port St. Joe, 7:30 West Oaks Academy at IMG Academy White Westside at Baldwin, 6 Wildwood at St. Joseph Winter Haven vs. Victory Christian at Southeastern University – Victory Stadium Wiregrass Ranch at St. Petersburg Wolfson at Ridgeview Yulee at West Nassau Zarephath Academy at Hawthorne, 7:30 Zephyrhills Christian at Bradenton Christian You Can Contact Larry Blustein with prospect or team information at: Foridakids1@aol.com. We are also on Social Media on @PrepRedzonefl.