By: Ross Van De Griek
Chaminade-Madonna (12-2) scored on their first two possessions of the contest. Junior running back Thaddius Franklin finished the opening drive with a run through the right side from four yards out at 7:00. They added another score with 4:34 left in the first quarter, as Thaddius Franklin busted up the middle with a three-yard touchdown run to make it 14-0. Florida State University High (12-2) answered back on the first play of the ensuing drive 13 seconds later. Senior quarterback Willie Taggart Jr. connected an 80-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Ahmari Harvey and they trailed 14-7.
At 10:23 of the second quarter, junior running back & Miami commit Thaddius Franklin found the end zone for the third time & made it a 21-7 Lions lead. However, Chaminade-Madonna would walk into the halftime locker room, holding onto their 21-7 lead.
In the first half, Chaminade-Madonna outgained Florida High, 283-143, with 223 rushing yards from Thaddius Franklin. The Lions also had 37 offensive plays in the first half, while Florida High had just 19.
Early in the third quarter, Chaminade-Madonna junior running back Thaddius Franklin found the end zone once again, as he scored on a 14 yard run, that increased the Lions lead to 28-7. Later in the third quarter, Chaminade-Madonna's defense would force a turnover on downs after Florida High junior running back Emory Layerd was tackled for a loss, by junior defensive tackle Allan Haye. The Lions would go into the fourth quarter, holding onto their 28-7 lead.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, senior quarterback Willie Taggart Jr. found junior wide receiver George Henderson on a 14 yard pass, that reduced Chaminade-Madonna's lead to 28-14. The next series, the Florida High defense forced Chaminade-Madonna to punt after just three plays totaling negative eight yards.
Later in the fourth quarter, senior running back Alfred Menjor found the end zone for Florida High on a one yard run, but the point after was failed. However, junior running back Thaddius Franklin would respond with his fifth touchdown of the game & would increase their lead to 35-20. Chaminade-Madonna sophomore safety Charles Williams would come up with two interceptions in back-to-back possessions to seal the win for the Lions.
Chaminade-Madonna now joins Booker T. Washington (2012-2014), Miami Central (2012-2014) & Pahokee (2006-2008) as the only South Florida schools to win at least three consecutive state championships.
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