King’s Academy, Chaminade-Madonna set for state-title bout
Saturday’s Class 3A title game features your typical David vs. Goliath.
On the side of ChaminadeMadonna, the reigning state champions, there’s a team loaded with Division I talent, including five players committed to the Miami Hurricanes.
King’s Academy is sparsely recruited and just a few years ago was not eligible for a state title game, choosing to play in an independent conference.
But a string of improbable victories for King’s Academy have brought these two teams — both named the Lions — together for a clash of polar opposites in the Class 3A state championship game at Camping World Stadium on Saturday at 10 a.m.
“Our kids are excited, our coaches are excited,” King’s Academy coach Keith Allen said. “It’s a great challenge. We’re going against a phenomenal football team. We’re going to go out there and let it rip and have fun.”
The differences between the programs extend beyond just the individual players and their recognition by college coaches. ChaminadeMadonna has appeared in six title games, including the past two Class 3A championship games, and won three. King’s Academy has never won a state championship.
“It’s really been a lot of fun to see the school spirit build up and the excitement of treading new water for our school,” Allen said.
But the way King’s Academy has earned its trip to Orlando is turning heads. King’s ended its regular season against Benjamin with a gutsy, game-winning two-point conversion. It beat Orlando The First Academy in the regional final on a Hail Mary pass with only 11 seconds left. And after traveling to Tallahassee for the state semifinals, King’s Academy beat FSU High by erasing a 35-14 deficit to clinch a 49-48 victory.
“Our kids have figured out how to win,” Allen said. “And our kids have now figured out how to win the close ones.”
But Chaminade-Madonna has no intention of being the next team to lose to King’s in dramatic fashion.
“[The players] quite aware of that,” Chaminade coach Dameon Jones said. “We’ve been preaching that all week. The whole word of the week is finish. Finish — finish the season, finish the game. Just lay it all on the line, It’s the last game, and don’t have any regrets.”