Chaminade-Madonna to face Miami Central in must-see Week 5 matchup of 2023 season

The Class 1M state champions Lions will travel to face the Class 2M champion Rockets at Traz Powell Stadium in Week 5 of 2023 season

MIAMI, Fla.- You wanted the ultimate Broward vs. Dade matchup and South Florida delivered. 

According to Rivals.com’s Frank Tucker, it is official that the Chaminade-Madonna Lions will travel to Traz Powell Stadium to face the Miami Central Rockets in Week 5 of the 2023 regular season. That date would be Sep. 22, 2023 if the game is on a Friday. 

IT’S OFFICIAL

Two of South Florida’s best will match up Week 5 this season for a battle that has been in the making for multiple years now. The Chaminade-Madonna Lions will travel to Traz Powell Stadium to play the Miami Central Rockets in what will be a sellout matchup.

Who… pic.twitter.com/ydoHuJDve9

— Frank Tucker (@TheCribSouthFLA) February 28, 2023

The matchup immediately becomes the must-see game of the 2023 campaign already and many were clamoring throughout 2022 for the two teams to play. Now, everyone gets what they want with the two heavyweight powers facing off. 

"Hey man, we want to play anybody and everybody," Lions head coach Dameon Jones said about a potential Chaminade-Madonna vs Central game back after the Lions beat Clearwater Central Catholic in the Class 1M title game. "So trust me, it ain't us."

Both programs are coming off state championship victories and posed a case at one point last year on being the country’s top team. The Lions were dominant when facing any team from the Sunshine State, going a perfect 13-0 en route to defeating CCC 48-14 for the 1M title. 

Photo by Matt Christopher

It was in the GEICO national championship game that the wheels unranked on the hopes of the being the country’s best when Chaminade-Madonna lost 49-14 against Bishop Gorman (NV). With a team filled with talent coming back like quarterback Cedrick Bailey and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, the Lions will be a contender once again for the nation’s top spot. 

On the Rockets’ end of things, Miami Central didn’t lose a game. The Rockets ran the table to the end, defeating Plantation American Heritage 42-34 for the Class 2M championship. The marquee victory of the season came in Week 1 for Miami Central when they defeated IMG Academy on the road 20-14. 

Miami Central loses some key pieces from its 2022 state championship team like defensive end Rueben Bain (Miami signee) and quarterback Keyone Jenkins (FIU signee), but the Rockets have several transfers incoming that should help fill the voids. 

Nonetheless, this game is one everyone has been waiting for and will be well worth the price of admission down in Dade County. Broward vs. Dade at its finest. 

Andy Villamarzo can be reached at andyvillamarzo@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @Andy_Villamarzo.