Chaminade extends record state title game streak after crushing Trinity Christian

Moments after Dameon Jones’ host Chaminade-Madonna Lions crushed Jacksonville Trinity Christian 35-6 in a Class 1A state semifinal, he told his team take a knee in a horseshoe in the west end zone.

He then instructed anyone on the roster who will be playing for their first ring when Chaminade faces Clearwater Central in Wednesday’s championship game to stand.

Roughly half of his players rose to their feet.

So yes, Chaminade (12-2) might be in the state title game for a record ninth straight time in 2024 -- and going for their seventh championship since Jones took over as head coach. But this is still a one-in-a-lifetime moment for a bunch of really important players in this latest version of Lions football.

“I’ve done it every year, so we can point out to people who haven’t been there and don’t take it for granted,” Jones said. “This is something we kind of got used to but everybody don’t get this opportunity all the time. So don’t take it for granted.”

Chaminade certainly didn’t look like a team Friday resting on its laurels.

The Lions went running clock on the only team to beat them in the playoffs in the last nine years. The Conquerors (who finished their season 10-4) defeated the Lions in the title game in both 2016 and 2020.

But payback wasn’t on any Chaminade player’s mind Friday night. That game four years ago might as well been four decades ago.

Instead, these Lions’ singular focus was on maintain their absurd dominance of their classification. After Friday’s blowout win, the Lions have now outscored their postseason opposition by a ridiculous 50.3 points per game.

On Friday, they looked every bit of one of the top 15 teams in the country. Their roster might be the best in the state.

Here’s how good Chaminade is this year: The Lions’ three-star quarterback who’s headed to Penn State spent most of the first half of Friday’s game on the bench.

Sophomore Tyler Chance started over in-season senior transfer Bekkem Kritza -- and it wasn’t even a big deal.

Both have insanely live arms. Both threw multiple touchdown passes (three by Chance, two by Kritza). And both will surely see the field at Pitbull Stadium against the Clearwater Central Catholic Marauders, who advanced to the title game by beating West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman in overtime Thursday in Class 1A’s other semifinal.

“We ride the hot hand at the moment,” Jones said. “We want to come out fast. They got a bunch of guys playing both ways. So, you know, [Chance] knows our offense in and out when we want to go quick.”

Speed certainly killed the Conqueror’s chances Friday. They were so gassed and confused, they forgot about junior wide receiver Jasen Lopez -- another transfer -- on a 28-yard touchdown pass to open the scoring.

But Lopez definitely earned his second touchdown. On third-and-goal from the Trinity Christian 23 midway through the third, he had a one-handed touchdown catch down the left sideline that was so unbelievable, the officials had to huddle to make sure they actually saw what they thought they did.

“I think he’s the best receiver down here man, especially in his class,” Jones said. “...He’s a special talent.”

Added Lopez: “We don’t come to lose [any] game. We come to win. It never crossed our mind to lose. So we just got to keep going. We got one more.”

The Lions have a roster full of special talents. Signing day was a celebration in Hollywood. But perhaps their top recruit -- cornerback Chris Ewald, a four-star headed to the University Miami -- likely has played his final high school snap.

Ewald suffered what appeared to be a significant lower-body injury and was emotional as he was carted off the field and toward an ambulance.

Jones had no additional information on Ewald’s injury after the game.

This story was originally published December 6, 2024 at 11:27 PM.