CLASS 1M STATE CHAMPIONSHIP: Chaminade-Madonna pounces all over Clearwater Central Catholic in title game rematch

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – As it was expected all year by everyone for Chaminade-Madonna to win this year’s Class 1M state championship, the Lions did exactly that on Thursday morning in 45-degree weather as the 2023 FHSAA State Championships kicked off at Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium on the campus of Florida A&M University in Tallahassee.

Clearwater Central Catholic playing in the program’s third overall state championship game in program history was denied to get the program’s first-ever state championship going up against a roster of talented athletes from Chaminade-Madonna that includes the nation’s No. 1 overall prospect in the 2024 class by 247 Sports in Jeremiah Smith.

In the end as the temperature rose so did the heat that Chaminade-Madonna (14-0) brought, defeating Clearwater Central Catholic (13-1) 56-0, giving the Lions their third consecutive state championship and their sixth overall state championship under head coach Dameon Jones in the eight seasons he has been the head coach.

MORE: PHOTO GALLERY: 2023 Class 1M State Championship Game – Clearwater Central Catholic vs. Chaminade-Madonna

Bailey dominates fast with Trader and Smith helping the show

Cedrick Bailey, who has led the Lions to their past two state championships as the starting quarterback started fast and quick in getting the Lions as all it took was three plays on the opening drive by the Lions to find the end zone as Bailey threw a nice spiral pass to Smith for a 50-yard touchdown reception with just 30 seconds gone on the first quarter clock to make it 7-0.

Bailey was quick to find a touchdown again on their second drive of the game as a holding call on the Marauders reset the downs for Chaminade-Madonna to setup a 54-yard touchdown pass to Joshisa Trader to make it 14-0 with 5:23 left in the first quarter.

CLASS 1M STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

TOUCHDOWN CHAMINADE-MADONNA!

Cedrick Bailey finds Joshisa Trader for a 54 yard TD reception!

Chaminade-Madonna 14, Clearwater Central Catholic – 0 5:23 1st Q https://t.co/HaPIJUVy2F #flhsfb @HSFBamerica @DanLaForestFB @Biggamebobby @Nadeboyz pic.twitter.com/fVYGVamsl8

— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 7, 2023

Bailey would find Trader once more early in the second quarter on a highlight reel touchdown reception from seven yards out that would make it quickly 28-0 with 10:12 left to go before halftime.

CLASS 1M STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

TOUCHDOWN CHAMINADE-MADONNA!

Cedrick Bailey find Joshisa Trader for a 7 yard touchdown and the rout is on!

Chaminade-Madonna 28, Clearwater Central Catholic – 0 10:14 2nd Q https://t.co/HaPIJUVy2F #flhsfb @HSFBamerica @DanLaForestFB @Biggamebobby… pic.twitter.com/y9r4wUisJ5

— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 7, 2023

Bailey would find Denairius Gray midway through the third quarter to make it 35-0 for the Lions on a eight-yard pass in the end zone.

CLASS 1M STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

TOUCHDOWN CHAMINADE-MADONNA!

Cedrick Bailey finds Denarius Gray for an 8 yard touchdown reception! Running clock a for sure certain in second half.

Chaminade-Madonna 35, Clearwater Central Catholic – 0 6:16 2nd Q https://t.co/HaPIJUVy2F #flhsfb… pic.twitter.com/VLdUgwQiIm

— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 7, 2023

To add further insult to injury in the first half of the game, Bailey would hand it off to Trader in which Trader would find Bailey in the end zone for a two-yard touchdown to take a 42-0 lead into the locker room at half.

CLASS 1M STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

TOUCHDOWN CHAMINADE-MADONNA!

Cedrick Bailey find Joshisa Trader for a 7 yard touchdown and the rout is on!

Chaminade-Madonna 28, Clearwater Central Catholic – 0 10:14 2nd Q https://t.co/HaPIJUVy2F #flhsfb @HSFBamerica @DanLaForestFB @Biggamebobby… pic.twitter.com/y9r4wUisJ5

— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 7, 2023

Gause helps out when needed

Despite missing some games due to injury this season, Davion Gause was effective when needed for the Lions, adding a four-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter that would make it 21-0 for Chaminade-Madonna.

CLASS 1M STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

TOUCHDOWN CHAMINADE-MADONNA!

Davion Gause in from 4 yards out! Lions roaring here fast!

Chaminade-Madonna 21, Clearwater Central Catholic – 0 0:54 1st Q https://t.co/HaPIJUVy2F #flhsfb @HSFBamerica @DanLaForestFB @Biggamebobby @Nadeboyz pic.twitter.com/2eTlUMcJrz

— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 7, 2023

Gause finished his final game of his senior year with 53 yards rushing on eight carries with the one touchdown.

Marauders struggle with their worst performance of the season

For Clearwater Central Catholic it was not the game they wanted as they needed to play a perfect game and it was nowhere near perfect on the scale of things as the Marauders saw their first drive which got inside Lions territory fell short on converting a 4th and short that would set the Lions up for their second touchdown of the game.

First drive for @CCCMaraudersFB ends on a turnover on downs at @Nadeboyz 36. #flhsfb pic.twitter.com/j8BvznIJoY

— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 7, 2023

Marauders would find things would get worse late in the first quarter when Jershaun Newton would get strip sacked by Khaili Hudson with Donta Simpson recovering for the Lions. That fumble recovery by Simpson would ultimately turn into the touchdown that was scored by Gause near the end of the first quarter.

And that drive comes to an end for CCC as a strip stack happens by Khali Hudson with Donta Simpson getting the recovery for Chaminade. #flhsfb pic.twitter.com/sGLbeBBHTI

— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 7, 2023

If things could get worse, they did as Newton suffered with five total sacks from the Chaminade-Madonna defense and was intercepted twice in the game by Zaquan Patterson in the first-half and a second-half interception by Gavin Sheppard in the second half.

What an interception by @Nadeboyz ATH Zaquan Patterson in the end zone to end what was the best drive of the game for CCC! Chaminade-Madonna doing Chaminade-Madonna things! #flhsfb pic.twitter.com/DR7J4kqpI1

— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 7, 2023

And if the interceptions were a problem, it was also finding the end zone and thinking you had a sure touchdown that the officials said was out as Artrevian McClellan thought he had in the second quarter of the game and proceeded to spike the ball that drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

CCC gets called for unsportsmanlike after Artrevian McClellan thought he has a touchdown. Sure looked like he was in but official said no. #flhsfb pic.twitter.com/QsP1EBNj2a

— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 7, 2023

History made by Chaminade-Madonna

For the Lions, this was their eighth consecutive appearance in a state championship game, which is something no team in Florida has been able to accomplish until this point.

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

CM – 11:30 – Bailey 50 pass to Smith (Andrew Abu-Akel PAT)

CM – 5:23 – Bailey 54 pass to Trader (Abu-Akel PAT)

CM – 0:54 – Gause 4 rush (Abu-Akel PAT)

Second Quarter

CM – 10:14 – Bailey 7 pass to Trader (Abu-Akel PAT)

CM – 6:16 – Bailey 8 pass to Gray (Abu-Akel PAT)

CM – 0:15 – Trader 2 pass to Bailey (Abu-Akel PAT)

Third Quarter

CM – 3:16 – Arwin Jackson 1 rush (Abu-Akel PAT)

Fourth Quarter

CM – 2:02 – Jaquari Lewis 3 rush (Abu-Akel PAT)

Statistical

Clearwater Central Catholic
QB Jershauan Newton – 13-of-22 passing yards, 158 yards, 2 INTs
WR Shamar Rigby – 5 receptions, 79 receiving yards
RB Justin Stephens – 13 carries, 57 rushing yards
LB Ryan Gross – 6 tackles, 1 sack, 1 TFL
DE Keo Jenkins – 6 tackles, 1 FF

Chaminade-Madonna:
QB Cedrick Bailey – 17-of-23 passing, 322 passing yards, 4 TDs
WR Jeremiah Smith – 11 receptions, 170 receiving yards, 1 TD
RB Jaquari Lewis – 10 carries, 94 rushing yards, 1 TD
DE Zach Crothers – 8 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 4 TFL
CB Gavin Shepard – 6 tackles, 1 PBI
FS Khalil Hudson – 5 tackles, 1 sack, 1 TFL, 1 FF
OLB Kaleb Stewart – 5 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 2 TFL, 1 FF
SAF Zaquan Patterson – 2 tacklws, 1 INT, 1 PBU, 1 QBH

First Downs: CCC – 18; CM – 25
Rushing Yards: CCC – 51; CM – 228
Passing Yards: CCC – 158; CM – 324
Offensive Yards: CCC – 209; CM – 552
Time of Possession: CCC – 31:00; CM: 170
Third Downs: CCC – 5-11; CM – 4-5
Fourth Downs: CCC – 1-3; CM – 1-1