Sidan’s game-winning FG lifts Chaminade to much-needed win over American Heritage
“(Dang), we needed that!”
One of Chaminade-Madonna’s football assistant coaches slowly walked away from the team’s huddle postgame and summed up perfectly how important Friday night’s result was for the Lions.
After two weeks of adversity, roster turnover and hearing the doubts as to whether Chaminade was still Chaminade, the Lions finally got a win.
It took a major and complete effort against an elite opponent.
But when junior kicker Noah Sidan’s 25-yard field goal split the uprights as time expired, the Lions vanquished visiting Plantation American Heritage in a thriller, 48-45 at Vince Zappone Field. Chaminade beat Heritage for the third consecutive season.
“God’s good, we faced a lot of adversity,” Chaminade quarterback Preston Wright said. “We lean on our faith and I’m extremely proud of this team. We came through. We’ve been hearing it. The coaches told us to ignore social media. But we hear it. This team has been through a lot and for us to come out and fight like this shows how much we’ve bonded as a team these past few weeks.”
Sidan is no stranger to that pressure situation.
Last season, Sidan drilled two game-winning field goals in overtime when he was a sophomore at Miami Norland to beat powerhouse Miami Central, helping the Vikings go 14-1 and make it to the state final.
“Last week didn’t go to plan, I had one blocked, but it didn’t affect me mentally at all,” Sidan said. “I’m always confident in these situations and that’s why I’m here to make kicks like this.”
Chaminade (1-2) and American Heritage (1-2), two teams which opened the season ranked nationally, now sport sub-.500 records through three weeks. But throw those out as each team Friday showed why they are still state championship contenders in their respective classifications.
The Lions, whose losses came against nationally-ranked St. John Bosco (CA) and an unbeaten 3-0 Blanche Ely squad, amassed 558 total yards. This was thanks largely to Wright, a transfer from Ocala Trinity Catholic, who made his first start for the Lions in place of sophomore Tyler Chance, who suffered a right leg injury last week against Ely.
Chaminade opened the season with Chance and transfer Zach Katz as its top two quarterbacks. But with Katz transferring after their season opener and Chance hurt, Wright stepped up with a career performance, completing 27 of 42 passes for 461 yards and threw four touchdown passes and no interceptions.
Senior receiver Koby Howard and junior receiver Jasen “J-Roc” Lopez were Wright’s top two targets. Lopez caught 11 passes for 243 yards while Howard caught four passes for 30 yards, but hauled in two key fourth quarter touchdown passes for help the Lions - who remarkably never trailed - hold off Heritage.
Senior Byron Louis paced the Patriots on the ground with 19 carries for 149 yards a touchdown. Junior quarterback Dia Bell completed 18 of 26 passes for 270 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. Bell also ran for a 14-yard score on a run-pass-option keeper to tie the game at 45 with 1:39 remaining.
But Wright conducted Chaminade’s comeback with cool accuracy as he played for most of the game.
His key 33-yard completion down the far sideline to Lopez with 26 seconds left set up Sidan’s game-winning field goal.
The Lions hope it will steer the back on course after a tumultuous few weeks with injury setbacks and departures like Katz and receiver Jabari Brady, who transferred back to Monarch High as well.
“I always tell my guys we get oiled up by game five or six,” Chaminade coach Dameon Jones said. “We tried not to put emphasis on (0-2). We’re family here and we’re going to work through it. They bought in. The parents, they were solid. The ones that weren’t? They got off the ship.”
Chaminade led 14-0 and 21-7 in the first half before Heritage found its offensive rhythm.
Malachi Toney, who finished with 62 yards receiving and 59 rushing, ran for a touchdown and hauled in a 37-yard touchdown catch from Bell just before halftime to cut Heritage’s deficit to 24-21.
The teams traded scores, but after Louis’ 1-yard touchdown cut Chaminade’s lead to 31-30, defensive tackle Chris Gonzlez blocked the extra point keeping the Lions ahead. Wright would then connect on the first of his two touchdown passes to Howard to extend the lead to 38-30. Brandon Bennett broke loose for a 29-yard score for Heritage that was followed by a 2-point pass from Bell to Jamar Denson to tie the game again at 38 with 4:45 left.
