Chaminade looks to Menard to lead team at quarterback

HOLLYWOOD — As Chaminade-Madonna has its eyes set on — not only returning to the Class 3A state title game — but this time winning it, the Lions have a new quarterback leading the way.

Junior Daelen Menard takes over after the graduation of last year’s senior starter Henry Colombi — now at Utah State.

Menard has all the tools — both tangible and intangible — that Chaminade is looking for out of its new starter, according to coach Dameon Jones.

“I like his leadership. He’s able to get rid of the ball quickly, strong arm,” Jones said at practice on Tuesday. “I think he’s going to have a great year.”

While going into his first season as a full-time starter, Menard does have experience leading his troops. He played in the final four regular-season games last season when Colombi went down with a shoulder injury. It was a slate that included matchups against the vaunted defenses of Flangan and Bradenton IMG Academy.

“We threw him in the fire against Flanagan and IMG,” said senior receiver Xavier Williams, an Alabama commit. “I think it was a great experience for him, so he knows what to expect.”

Added Jones: “That benefited him a lot, and just surrounding him with some weapons makes it easier.”

Menard will have senior running back and Auburn commit Shaun Shivers behind him. Shivers proved last season, especially during the Lions playoff run, that he can score from anywhere on the field — even against the state’s top defenses, going for a critical 97-yard touchdown in the regional final against Oxbridge and taking the first play from scrimmage of the state championship game against Jacksonville Trinity Christian 80 yards for a touchdown.

The Lions also have sophomore Deidrick Stanley, an up-and-coming tailback, while junior safety Keontra Smith has also been talked about as a backfield option.

The Lions scored big transfers this offseason to bolster the receiving corps and complement Williams. Marvin Alexander, a senior and Kentucky commit, comes over from American Heritage. At 6-foot-3, he can play the role of a possession receiver while Logan Giordano, an Eastern Michigan commit at 5-11, 170 pounds, can man the slot after coming over from Archbishop McCarthy.