Chamimade and Oxbridge will play in 3A final

This season has been a mission for the ChaminadeMadonna Lions football team. After losing in the state finals last season, this season has been all about a return and finishing the job this season.

While the Lions won’t be able to exact revenge against the team that beat them last year (Jacksonville Trinity Christian moved up to Class 5A), they will still get a chance to win their third state title.

The visiting Lions used the big play to blow past undefeated Clearwater Central Catholic 49-3 Friday in the Class 3A semifinal and advance to their second consecutive Class 3A Final. ChaminadeMadonna will take on Oxbridge Academy on Dec. 9.

“That was a goal since the loss, but we’re not finished,” said Lions head coach Dameon Jones. “The goal was to get back, but the goal is to get back and win and win and win.”

Chaminade-Madonna (10-2) used the big play to open up the lead in the first half. Junior quarterback Daelen Menard threw touchdown passes of 39 (Akeem Hayes), 51 (Marvin Alexander) and 73 yards (Xavier Williams) in the first half to loosen up the Marauders’ defense. Senior back Shaun Shivers (Auburn commit) added a 76-yard score in the opening half as the Lions took a 28-3 lead into the half. The Lions had 348 total yards in the first half.

Menard completed five passes and four went for touchdowns. He ended up with 206 yards passing. Shivers ended up with 16 carries for 163 yards. He also caught a 46-yard touchdown. Thad Franklin had a 37-yard touchdown run and Carlton Williams added a 67-yard scoring run for the Lions. CCC’s season ended at 11-1.

“We’re going to treat it like another game,” Menard said. “But we’re going to take it this year.” — Rick Brown

OXBRIDGE ACADEMY 41, FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY HIGH 0: The host ThunderWolves scored touchdowns on five of their seven first-half possessions in their Class 3A state semifinal against Tallahassee Florida State University High in West Palm Beach, building a 35-0 halftime advantage and rolling 41-0 over the Seminoles to reach the 3A championship game.

It marks the first time in program history Oxbridge has advanced to the state title game. The contest was played with a running clock in the second half.

“It’s a big accomplishment for our team and our school, when you’ve got a bunch of sports,” Oxbridge coach Brendan Kent said. “It’s a great thing, but we’re not finished yet.”

Oxbridge (10-1), winners of 10 consecutive games, will play ChaminadeMadonna (10-2) for the state championship Dec. 9 in Orlando. The ThunderWolves’ lone loss is a 14-13 verdict to Archbishop Wood (of Pennsylvania) the opening week of the season.

Oxbridge took the lead for good 6-0 on its second possession of the game. Junior quarterback Gio Richardson connected with Iowa State commit V’Lique Carter from 29 yards out with 3:20 left in the first quarter. It would be the first of five ThunderWolves touchdowns on five consecutive possessions — three of which were Richardson TD passes.

Oxbridge went up 12-0 early in the second quarter on a 5-yard TD run from sophomore Joshua PierreLouis. Richardson hooked up with sophomore Jordan Cash from 42 yards out for a 20-0 ThunderWolves advantage.

After senior Luis Gonzalez made it 28-0 on a 34-yard TD run, Richardson threw his third scoring pass of the first half on a 46-yard connection with De’John King.

“We talked about it all week, just starting fast in every phase,” Kent said. “And we did a great job in that.” — Pat Lammer

MADISON COUNTY 28, PAHOKEE 10: Behind Derrick Staten’s 194 rushing yards and three touchdowns, the host Cowboys defeated Pahokee 28-10 in Madison in a rematch of last year’s state semifinal, won by the Blue Devils 21-19.

Vengeance was achieved for the Cowboys as Staten took the first play of the second quarter 64 yards to the end zone — immediately after Madison had fallen behind on Pahokee kicker Ezekiel Hernandez’s 22-yard field goal with 59 seconds left in the first period.

Offensive haze over, Madison quarterback Tre Adams polished off Madison’s second drive with 2-yard touchdown run.

Staten’s 12-yard diving touchdown around the left edge with 14 seconds left before halftime — defying a would-be Pahokee tackler — provided a response to the Blue Devils’ touchdown to pull within 14-10. — Brian Miller

COCOA 49, UNIVERSITY SCHOOL 14: A memorable season for the Sharks ended as they were upended by the host defending Class 4A champion Tigers in the teams’ 4A state semifinal matchup.

“They ran the ball. They ran with effectiveness and you know when they put it on the ground, there was times when we had opportunities to jump on it and in a game like this you’ve got to cash in on things like that,” said University head coach Daniel Luque.

The Sharks had been seeking their first appearance in a state title game since 2012, when they won the Class 3A title, but it was apparent right away that they were overmatched against a Cocoa team that has appeared in 11 straight state semifinals.

The Tigers established themselves right off the bat, scoring on the opening possession courtesy of a 1-yard run by Willie Gaines. They’d add a field goal shortly after University failed to convert a 4th and 13 to take a 10-0 lead after a quarter of play. — Chris Bonanno