Big plays, key turnovers power Chaminade-Madonna’s victory against Miami Norland

It was only a matter of time before the Chaminade-Madonna Lions would start hitting their stride.

The Lions revealed that again on Thursday night, with a convincing 45-20 victory over a strong Norland squad at Zappone Field.

Derrek Cooper, a 5-star athlete according to Rivals, put on a show. The Class of 2026 sensation started the game off with a 55-yard touchdown run to give Chaminade (3-2) the early lead.

On the defensive side, from his linebacker position, Cooper had a 23-yard interception return for a touchdown to start the second half, putting the Lions’ ahead 31-20.

The turnover was deflating for the Vikings (3-1), who received the kickoff to start the second half.

“These kids are resilient,” Lions coach Dameon Jones said. “You lose two games, and that puts you in a different mindset. I knew it was going to be a dogfight. I knew it was. But these kids came to play, man.”

For Chaminade, the first five games of the season have been a time for this youthful, yet talented, roster to establish an identity.

The season, obviously, didn’t get off to a Chaminade-like start. The Lions lost their first two games to St. John Bosco (34-27) and Blanche Ely (35-34). But since then, they’ve won three straight in high-scoring fashion, outpacing their opponents, 149-84.

“The mindset,” Jones said. “We had a hell of a week of practice. We haven’t had a week of practice like this all year. Without turnovers, that was our mindset. If we came to do what we were supposed to do, it wouldn’t be close.”

That proved to be the case.

Thursday night was a game of momentum swings.

Chaminade scored on its first two possessions. After Cooper’s long run, Jaquari Lewis powered in from a yard out. Noah Sidan, who played at Norland last year, booted the extra point, making it 14-0.

A potential blowout was in the works. However, Norland stormed back, and scored the next 20 points, courtesy of three Chaminade turnovers.

Chaminade was driving for a potential third touchdown in the first quarter, but Jerrard Smith intercepted Preston Wright’s pass near the goal line and returned the ball to his own 17.

The turnover sparked an 83-yard scoring march, directly by Ennio Yapoor. The senior quarterback had completions of 18 and 41 yards to Dawson Quarterman.

Yapoor capped the drive with a 16-yard touchdown run. However, the extra point was missed, and Chaminade led 14-6 after the first quarter.

Early in the second quarter, Smith’s defense stepped up again. The ball-hawking Vikings defensive back intercepted Wright again and scampered about 50 yards for the touchdown, making it a 14-13 game.

Another Chaminade turnover, a fumble recovery for a touchdown put the Vikings ahead. Shawn Smith returned the fumble 57-yards for a score that put Norland up, 20-14, after Noah Ali’s extra point.

But from there, Chaminade regained control.

Wright hooked up with Denarius Gray on a 26-yard touchdown pass play, and the Lions went ahead, 21-20.

Sidan’s 28-yard field goal in the closing minute gave the Lions’ a 24-20 lead at halftime.

The second half was all Chaminade, which scored the final 31 points in the game.

Two plays into the third quarter, Lions’ defensive back Camari Hall broke up a pass play, and the ball popped into the air. Cooper snared it and dashed into the end zone, making it 31-20.

“Me and my teammate, Camari Hall, we were just ready,” Cooper said. “Camari Hall got that smack in, and the ball was in the air. That’s me being an athlete. Go get the ball. Pick six.”

The Lions kept the pressure on, and Wright’s 8-yard touchdown pass to Jasen Lopez made it 38-20.

“Defense and offense really pushed each other all week in practice,” Wright said. “Everybody looked sharp. The offensive line played amazing. I’ve got to give them a great shout out. They played extremely well, especially with all the circumstances. With a very good D-line across from them. Talking. Everybody hears it.”

Chaminade’s defense never allowed the Vikings to seriously come back. Matthew Pointer, who had a fumble recovery earlier in the game, sacked Yapoor on fourth and long at the Lions’ 40.

Lewis’ 1-yard touchdown capped the scoring late in the third quarter.

“Just clean football,” Jones said of how the Lions pulled away. “Those penalties and turnovers took points away from us. When we don’t turn the ball over, and we minimize penalties, this is what happens.”

This story was originally published September 20, 2024 at 7:08 AM.