Cardinal Newman Upsets Chaminade-Madonna For 1A Title

     The Chaminade-Madonna Lions were shocked by the Cardinal Newman Crusaders 17-14 in the FHSAA Class 1A state championship on Thursday in South Dade Kia Field at Pitbull Stadium on the Florida International University campus. It was the first of two state title games this week that involved two South Florida teams facing each other. 

     The Lions made their state-record 10th consecutive FHSAA Football Finals appearance. They attempted to capture their fifth straight state championship and their eighth state title in the last nine seasons. The Lions were going for their 10th overall state championship in school history. They had their 24-game postseason winning streak snapped. 

     The Crusaders won their first state football championship in their first state title game appearance in school history. Their head coach Jack Daniels had previous championship experience. He guided the Dwyer Panthers to two state championships in 2009 and 2013. 

     After no scoring during the opening quarter, Noah Sidan failed on a 32-yard field goal for the Lions 11 seconds into the second. 

      Cardinal Newman(12-3) moved out to a 7-0 lead at the 10:05 mark of the second quarter. Quarterback Jyron Hughley went around the left end and sprinted down the left sideline for a 69-yard touchdown.

      Chaminade-Madonna(11-3) bounced back on their next possession and scored to make it 7-7 at 8:25 of the second. Running back Derrek Cooper took the ball from the wildcat formation and busted up the middle from one yard out. 

       Sidan missed his second field goal of the game for the Lions in the middle of the third quarter. It was blocked by defensive back Khalil Gabaud. 

       The Crusaders capitalized on it and made it 14-7 with 2:03 remaining in the third. Hughley connected a 35-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Ethan Holland on the left side. It was just Holland's second touchdown catch of the 2025 campaign. 

       Lions quarterback Malik Leonard fumbled the ball at his own 37-yard line and turned the ball over to the Crusaders when defensive lineman Zion Brown recovered it with 43 seconds to go in the quarter. Cardinal Newman extended their lead to 17-7 at the 6:36 mark of the fourth quarter as Nathaniel Parks kicked a 36-yard field goal. 

       Hughley lost the ball as he was stripped by defensive lineman Damani Atkinson and it was recovered by defensive back Angelo Smith at the Lions 14-yard line with 2:32 to go in the fourth. Chaminade-Madonna closed it to 17-14 with 49 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Cooper rushed through the middle of the line from one yard away for his second touchdown of the contest. The Crusaders would recover the ensuing on-side kick following the touchdown to conclude the game.