At any level of football, the best teams find ways to win, even if they are unconventional. On Friday night, the Chaminade-Madonna Lions did just that.
In a game against a very good Cardinal Newman team, Chaminade grinded out a 20-7 victory over the Crusaders. The Lions got all of their offense early in the game, finding ways to score through the air and on the ground. But when things slowed down in the 2nd half, it was the defense that stepped up and led Chaminade to victory. The unit had great coverage, multiple 4th down stops, and a huge goal-line stand to keep the Crusaders off the board.
With the win, Chaminade moves to 5-2 on the season and further solidifies its resume for the Open Division. Cardinal Newman, with the loss, falls to 5-2 on the season.
The Lions’ Defense Steps Up
Whenever Chaminade’s football team is discussed, the offense is usually the first topic that is brought up. But in a rock-fight of a game against Cardinal Newman, the Lions’ defense was the main reason they took home the road victory.
Alexander Beltran, a key 2028 prospect for Chaminade, was everywhere against the Crusaders. The edge rusher was credited with nine total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and a sack. He showed impressive burst, strength, and play recognition all game long. Beltran ended some drives by himself, whether it was a pressure that forced an intentional grounding or a massive TFL on an option play.
Peter Pierre, operating opposite of Beltran, had a sack and three total tackles. Linebackers Keion Thomas and Kellan Alexander were very impressive for Chaminade as well. Thomas had a massive tackle on 4th down, shooting the gap and stopping the running back before the line to gain. As a whole, Thomas had seven total tackles and one tackle for loss, along with a forced fumble. Alexander had five total tackles on the night, flying all over the field to make plays.
As important as the trenches were for Chaminade, the play of the secondary was just as vital.
Sidney Milcent had five total tackles and two pass breakups, providing high-level coverage all game long. Derrick Jones Jr. had a massive third-down pass breakup in the 2nd half, and had three tackles of his own. Angelo Smith, along with his six tackles, had a pass deflection of his own.
The standout of the game in the secondary, though, was Jacarri Watson. Watson flew downhill consistently to make plays, notching 11 total tackles and five solo tackles. He provided great coverage all night, having two pass breakups and multiple other great reps. Watson’s biggest impact, though, came on one of the most important drives of the game. On 4th and goal, Cardinal Newman ran a reverse, and Watson was the last guy to beat on the defense. The defensive back flew downhill with zero hesitation and made the tackle, keeping the game at 20-7. I was very impressed with how Watson played, and he looks to be a key piece for the Lions heading into the stretch run of the season.
Chaminade’s Offense Does Just Enough
The defense finished the job for Chaminade in the 2nd half, but in the first half, the Lions’ offense put up enough points to give their defense a cushion.
On the first drive of the game, Amos Bradford immediately ripped off a chunk gain for Chaminade, setting the tone for what ended up being a scoring drive. Brady Quinn impressed on the drive as well, ripping off a chunk gain as a runner and powering into the end zone on 4th down. The touchdown ended up being a pivotal play that set up Chaminade’s physicality for the rest of the game.
Quinn kept things rolling for Chaminade on their second offensive drive of the game, extending the Lions’ lead through the air. The standout quarterback threw a strike to a wide-open Armani Strong, who rumbled for a 58-yard touchdown. Strong, a standout 2028 prospect, showed impressive burst and contact balance to finish the play for the score.
On the game as a whole, Quinn posted 127 passing yards and 63 rushing yards. It was not the easiest of games for the 2028 prospect, as he took a few sacks and struggled to consistently find open players down the field in the 2nd half. But to his credit, Quinn did not turn the ball over and did enough early in the game to help his team win the game. Heading into the back end of the 2026 regular season, Quinn has shown that he can help the Lions win in a variety of ways.
Outside of Quinn, the Lions’ running back room was the main source of offensive production on Friday night. Nakia Lambright had a key touchdown to make it a 20-7 game and had 56 rushing yards, including a key run late in the 4th quarter. Clinton Jean-Pierre had 49 yards on 10 carries, showcasing some nice power and toughness to help close out the game on the final drive.
Consistency is, and will be, paramount for Chaminade’s unit going forward. While they did not have the best game on Friday night, the Lions showed their overall versatility as an offensive unit. They will be a very dangerous team to deal with over the rest of the 2026 season.
Cardinal Newman Shows Plenty of Positives
Even in a losing effort, Cardinal Newman showed positives on both sides of the ball.
Offensively, Janarro Sumpter was effective as a runner and a pass catcher. He runs with impressive power and has the burst to make big plays in the open field. On a screen pass in the first half, Sumpter ripped off a big gain on a screen pass that helped to set up the Crusaders’ only touchdown of the gae.
Pedro Martinez Jr. was also impressive as a runner for Cardinal Newman on Friday night. Not only did he have the key touchdown for the offense, but his legs helped set up multiple scoring opportunities throughout the game. The quarterback hit some key throws, but the majority of his production came from making things happen with his legs under pressure.
Defensively, Justin Barerra made tackles all over the field for the Crusaders. He also was extremely explosive and dynamic as a kick returner. Michael Louidort was a constant force as a pass rusher, while Sean Fleming was in the backfield consistently. Ty Kirkpatrick, whether against the run or as a pass rusher, displayed impressive power and gave Chaminade plenty of problems in the 2nd half. In the secondary, Prince Curry made multiple pass breakups and had lockdown coverage.
The Crusaders, even in their losses, have shown that they have the talent to compete against the best teams. The main difference between their wins and losses, though, has been their overall consistency as a team. If they shore things up in the consistency department going forward, Cardinal Newman will be able to stack up a lot more wins in the 2026 season.
What’s Next?
Chaminade will face McArthur on October 16 at 6:30 P.M., while Cardinal Newman will face West Broward at home on October 16 at 6:30 P.M.
