Cardinal Newman Wins First State Title

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MIAMI – </strong>All great things must come to an end, and for Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna's football team that ending came on Thursday afternoon in the state championship game against West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman at Pitbull Stadium on the campus of Florida International University (FIU).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Playing their final game at the Class 1A level (Chaminade will move to Class 2A in 2026), the Lions, in their 10^th straight trip to the state finals, dropped a 17-14 decision as the Crusaders (12-3) stopped the Lions four-year title run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='928354' first='Jyron' last='Hughley'],</strong> who signed with West Virginia last week, ignited Cardinal Newman with 133 yards rushing and 69 yards passing, accounting for both touchdowns. He earned MVP honors for his impressive performance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As much as veteran head coach <strong>Jack Daniels</strong> and his offense came up big, the defense was spectacular, pretty much shut the door on the high-powered Lions' offense, limiting them to just 280 yards and just seven points in each half.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“This is huge for these young men, coaches and fans, but most of all for this school, who has had some outstanding teams throughout the years, but didn't accomplish what we did today,” Daniels pointed out. “This wasn't something that came over night, it took a few years of trial and error to achieve this.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Crusaders jumped on the board first at the 10:50 mark of the second quarter when Hughley took it in from 69 yards out. <strong>Nathaniel Parks'</strong> point after they made it 7-0.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lions came back to tie the contest with 8:26 remaining when <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1247419' first='Derrek' last='Cooper']</strong> went in from the 1. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1133500' first='Noah' last='Sidan']'s </strong>point after was good.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both teams struggled to put drives together the rest of the half.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Crusaders struck first in the second half when Hughley found <strong>Ethan Holland </strong>from 35 yards out for a 14-7 advantage with 2:12 left in the third quarter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cardinal Newman extended the lead in the fourth quarter to 17-7 on a 36-yard field goal with 6:36 left.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lions made an attempt to get some going with :49 left, cutting the lead to 17-14, but the onside kick failed and the season came to an end as some gifted seniors ended their careers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BY THE NUMBERS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Besides Hughley's rushing numbers, <strong>Phoenix Donghia</strong> (15-46) and <strong>Janarro Sumpter</strong> (5-17) also contributed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Leslie Mosley</strong> led the way with three receptions and Holland caught one ball for 35 yards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensively, <strong>Cooper Clark</strong> had nine tackles and a sack, Mosley finished with six tackles, Hughley with four and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='896777' first='Kyrus' last='Haston']</strong> also had four tackles and 1.5 sacks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cooperhad 66 tough yards on the ground, <strong>Lee Prince Jr.,</strong> finished with 55 yards and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1671677' first='Arwin' last='Jackson']</strong> finished with 35 yards led the way for Chaminade-Madonna.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Freshman quarterback <strong>Malik Leonard</strong> was 12 of 21 for 149 yards. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1841850' first='Tromon' last='Isaac'] Jr.</strong> finished with three receptions for 68 yards, FSU signee <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1247487' first='Jasen' last='Lopez']</strong> (3 catches, 41 yards) and Ahmari Stevens (3-18).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensively, the Lions were led by <strong>Temorris Campbell</strong> (12 tackles), [player_tooltip player_id='283721' first='Bryant' last='Junius'] (9 tackles), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1219053' first='R.J.' last='Alphonse'] </strong>(8 tackles) and <strong>Trevoris Finley</strong> (8 tackles).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cardinal Newman finished with 13 first downs, 170 yards rushing and 69 yards passing.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In addition to the 280 yards of offense, the Lions finished with 12 first downs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CARDINAL NEWMAN CRUSADERS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fort Pierce John Carroll, W 49-0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Philadelphia Roman Catholic, Pa., L 49-35</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>North Palm Beach Benjamin, W 47-0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pahokee, W 26-10</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tampa Jesuit, L 31-0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Miami Lakes Barbara Goleman, W 28-7</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Melbourne Central Catholic, W 43-6</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>West Boca Raton, W 26-20 (OT)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fort Myers Bishop Verot, W 28-0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gainesville Buchholz, L 34-30</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>North Palm Beach Benjamin, W 37-0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Community School of Naples, W 45-14</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. Petersburg Catholic, W 42-13</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tampa Carrollwood Day, W 48-33</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CHAMINADE-MADONNA LIONS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Baltimore St. Frances Academy, L 42-13</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hollywood McArthur, W 28-14</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Plantation American Heritage, W 28-24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Miami Edison, W 56-6</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Davie Western, W 56-0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coconut Creek Monarch, W 28-7</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pompano Beach Blanche Ely, W 60-0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons, W 47-0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas, L 27-21</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Boca Raton St. John Paul II Academy, W 63-0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Miami Edison, W 47-18</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Miami True North Classical Academy, W 35-14</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jacksonville Trinity Christian, W 35-0</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2026 PREP REDZONE FLORIDA STOCK UP EVENT. </strong><a href="https://events.prepredzone.com/e/2137/register/stock-up-showcase-florida">https://events.prepredzone.com/e/2137/register/stock-up-showcase-florida</a> <strong></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Statewide Coverage Daily. <a 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Contact us for a savings code so you can see what everyone has been talking about! <a href="mailto:Floridakids1@aol.com">Floridakids1@aol.com</a>.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->