Thaddius Franklin’s big night sends Chaminade-Madonna back to Class 3A state title game

Thaddius Franklin rushed for 210 yards and two touchdowns to lead Chaminade-Madonna to a 28-7 victory over Clearwater Central Catholic in a Class 3A state semifinal on Friday.

The significance of the Lions (11-2) victory is two-fold.

Not only will they have an opportunity to defend their state championship against FSU High next Friday at Gene Cox Stadium in Tallahassee, they’ll have a chance to become the first team from Broward County to win three consecutive state football state championship.

It was also Chaminade’s third consecutive win over Clearwater Central Catholic in the state semifinals in the past three years.

Overall the Lions, the No. 1 ranked team in Class 3A, will be seeking their fifth state title in school history.

“We needed to establish the run the stop theirs.” said Chaminade coach Dameon Jones. I think that what it boiled down to.”

Chaminade-Madonna essentially put the game away when Lions quarterback Brady Kelly connected with Elijan Canion on 59-yard scoring play for a 21-7 lead with 9:02 left in the third quarter.

“It’s not going to be easy to win a third straight title,” Jones said, ”but that’s what we’re going there to do.”

Following a Quadric Bullard interception at the Marauder 15, the Lions finished the scoring on Derek Geffrard’s 15-yard run.

The biggest defensive play of the game for the Lions was a strip fumble recovery by Bullard at the Lions’ 1-yard linen just before Johntavious Bonner was about to score on a 26-yard pass play.

Benjamin Onwuzo and Jaylin Marshall also had interception for the Lions, who mow have 23 on the season.

Franklin scored two first-half touchdowns on run of 65 and 62 yards for a 14-7 lead at the break. He’ll have 1949 yards and 23 touchdowns in the stat championship game.

Clearwater Central Catholic (10-4) earned its lone score of the half on a 4-yard run by Jerzban Newton/that completed a 88 yards drive on 18 plays.

The Marauders were led by Jordan Niles with 145 yards on 32 carries. He had entered the game with 2006 yards on 243 carries and 27 touchdowns.

This story was originally published November 29, 2019 at 10:12 PM.