Champagnat Catholic Falls To North Florida Christian For 2A Title

     The Champagnat Catholic Lions lost to the North Florida Christian Eagles 28-20 in the FHSAA Class 2A state championship game at Camping World Stadium in Orlando on Friday. Champagnat Catholic were the defending state champions and played in their third straight state title game. It was the first state title for North Florida Christian since 2011 and their eighth overall.
     Things did not start off right for Champagnat Catholic(9-6) on the first play of their first possession. Quarterback Christopher Vidal tossed the ball on a bubble screen and it was intercepted by North Florida Christian(9-4) linebacker T.J. Ward for a 35-yard touchdown just 18 seconds into the contest.
     The Lions bounced back on their next drive. Vidal took the ball in from two yards away and cut the lead to 7-6 at the 7:22 mark of the first.
     In the second quarter, the Lions failed to take the lead when Emile Bien Aime missed a 24-yard field goal wide right at 7:37. The Eagles extended their lead with three seconds left in the first half. Quarterback J.D. Jerry plunged in from one yard out and they had a 14-6 halftime lead.
     A bad snap by the Lions over the head of their punter was recovered by Deandrae McCray in the end zone to give NFC a 21-6 lead with 5:47 left in the third quarter.
     Champagnat Catholic answered back on their next possession at the 4:15 mark. Running back Justin Payoute raced in from four yard away and running back Daryn Duke Jones followed with a two-point conversion run and closed the gap to 21-14.
     The Eagles put up another score with 38 seconds to go in the third. Jerry sprinted in on a 12-yard touchdown run for a 14-point margin.
     In the fourth quarter, the Lions were able to keep up. Jones ran in from three yards out at 10:12 and they trailed 28-20.
     Jerry fumbled the ball with 3:36 left at the Lions 44-yard line and it was recovered by linebacker Walter Phillips to give Champagnat Catholic one more shot to tie it. The Lions got as close as the Eagles 33-yard line before they turned the ball over on downs with 1:24 remaining.