Chaminade-Madonna easily overpowered
Miami Central rolls up 309 yards on the ground to defeat top-ranked 3A Lions
MIAMI — Chaminade-Madonna expects to compete for a state title this season. On Thursday, the Lions got an early-season taste of what it’s going to take against top competition.
Chaminade, the top-ranked team in Class 3A, fell to Miami Central, winners of five state championships since 2010, 48-24, at Miami’s Traz Powell Stadium.
The Lions (0-1) were overpowered in every aspect, but specifically the running game, giving up 309 yards on the ground while reigning Broward small schools Player of the Year Shaun Shivers, an Auburn running back commit, was held to 23 yards on 16 carries.
Rockets quarterback Tijuane Morten threw for 217 yards and a back-breaking touchdown on the final play of the first half where he found Terrell Perriman deep from 50 yards out. Central star freshman Amari Daniels scored a pair of rushing touchdowns, as did sophomore Kijon Owens. Junior Lexington Joseph led the Rockets with 139 yards and a score, and senior five-star back James Cook also got in on the act with a touchdown.
Trailing 28-7 at halftime, Chaminade started a modest comeback to start the second half, scoring on the opening drive after halftime with junior quarterback Daelen Menard hitting Alabama commit Xavier Williams for a 41-yard strike, their second of two scoring connections. The Lions recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, but could only get a field goal to make it 28-17.
Central followed that up with touchdowns on their next three drives to put Chaminade away.
Williams’ first score tied the contest at 7, taking one in from 16 yards out in the corner of the end zone early in the second quarter. Williams finished with 80 yards on four receptions as Menard threw for 174 yards on 9-of-18 passing. Kentucky commit Marvin Alexander had four catches for 75 yards and a touchdown from backup Quinn Dempsey.
Senior Lions receiver and Kentucky commit Akeem Hayes was taken off the field in a stretcher after taking a hard hit on a screen pass in the first quarter. By the end of the half, he was back on the sideline with his right arm in a sling.