Chaminade defensive duo keys Class 3A shutout victory
TALLAHASSEE
Jamaal Johnson and Kenyatta Jackson have been winning games together since they were nine years old playing Optimist football together in Miami Gardens.
They each experienced the thrill of winning a state title as sophomores in 2019.
And the pain of losing one in 2020.
On Friday night, Johnson and Jackson – the senior bookends of Chaminade-Madonna’s mighty defensive line – made sure they would share one more sweet victory together.
Jackson and Johnson each had a major part in helping the Lions shut out previously unbeaten Tampa Berkeley Prep 21-0 in the Class 3A state championship at Gene Cox Stadium.
After the game, Jackson, an Ohio State commit, and Johnson, a UCF commit, bit their gold medals, posed for pictures together and celebrated their second state title in three seasons and what was the third in four years for the Lions (11-1).
“The chemistry between us is always good,” said Johnson. “We’ve been winning together since we were 9 years old. To win two state championships together is really special.”
The duo led Chaminade in tackles with Johnson finishing with seven and Jackson finishing with six.
Each had a sack of Berkeley Prep quarterback Troy Reader and helped limit a running attack that had averaged 296.7 yards per game this season to only 31 yards on the ground.
The Bucs’ offense, which averaged 361.1 total yards per game, mustered only 61 overall.
“We knew that pounding it on the ground was what they did and game-planned for it all week, and you have to give it up to my defensive coaches for the job they did and for the kids to go there and execute the way they did,” Chaminade coach Dameon Jones said. “The key? Win the battle up front, it was that simple. Our defensive line simply refused to get pushed around. They won every battle and as a result we managed to get them in third-and-long situations and once we did that, we had them right where we wanted them.”
Johnson, who is ranked the No. 122 overall defensive lineman in the nation by 247Sports, totaled 1.5 tackles for loss in addition to his sack.
Jackson was even more disruptive, totaling two tackles for loss, forcing a fumble and breaking up a pass while recording three more quarterback hurries.
Jackson is ranked seventh overall among edge rushers and the No. 70 overall prospect in the country by 247Sports.
“We knew their running backs were pretty good, but we just played our usual shutdown defense,” Jackson said. “No one really ran on us all season. I didn’t expect a shutout though.”
While Friday night was the culmination of a great run together for Jackson and Johnson before they go their separate ways for college, it’s far from the end of the brotherhood they’ve built together over the years.
“It still ain’t hit me yet, but it probably will once we get back to Miami,” Johnson said. “Me and K2 always make each other better and we motivate each other every day.
“That’s my boy for life.”