Clearwater Central Catholic wins 1M state semifinal thriller over Trinity Christian

CLEARWATER, FLORIDA- All roads lead back to Tallahassee and that's exactly where the Clearwater Central Catholic Marauders are heading back to for the second season in a row.

The Marauders trailed at intermission but stormed back to defeat the Trinity Christian Academy Conquerors in a 39-32 win Friday night at James Brian Thomas Stadium in a Class 1M state semifinal.

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— Marauder Athletics (@CCCMarauders) December 2, 2023

CCC will face Chaminade-Madonna, a 47-7 winner over Archbishop Carroll, in a rematch of last year's 1M state championship game. The Marauders will face the Lions at 10 a.m. on Thursday of next week at Bragg Memorial Stadium on the campus of Florida A&M.

It wasn't all CCC throughout the course of the game as things actually started kind of shaky. Trinity Christian's Jayke Jones ignited the Conquerors' sidelines when he took a punt 82 yards to the house for a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.

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The Conquerors looked to take full control of the game in the second quarter when LSU commitment Colin Hurley (13-of-24, 243 yards) scored on a 34-yard touchdown run to put Trinity Christian ahead 14-0 with 5:36 until halftime. In a very familiar position like previous games, CCC began to work themselves back into the contest.

Getting the Marauders' offense in gear was quarterback Jershaun Newton (12-of-16, 147 yards), who found wide receiver Shamar Rigby (four catches, 61 yards) on a 28-yard touchdown pass to narrow the gap to 14-7. Hurley added another touchdown for the Conquerors with 20 seconds before halftime on a 5-yard scamper.

CCC finally breaks through on this 28-yard TD pass from @JershaunN to @Shamarrigby1. With 1:55 remaining till Halftime, @TC_Jax_Football leads @CCCMaraudersFB 14-7. @Andy_Villamarzo @SBLiveSports @SBLiveFL pic.twitter.com/L1R6DFZ3ET
— Alejandro Tamayo (@AlexTamayo22) December 2, 2023

Trailing 20-7 at the half, CCC knew right out of the gates in the third quarter they needed to answer back. The Marauders would on a 1-yard sneak by Newton to cut the lead back to one score at 20-14. Less than three minutes later, CCC would take its first lead of the game when Newton fired a 21-yard strike to wide receiver Caleb Goodloe (four catches, 48 yards) to give the Marauders a 21-20 advantage.

Trinity Christian took the lead for the last time with 11 minutes left in the fourth quarter when running back/linebacker Cam Anderson (nine carries, 44 yards) punched in a touchdown from two yards out. Now up 26-21, it would be a race to the finish line that CCC would more than oblige to reach as the Marauders out-scored the Conquerors 18-6 the rest of the way.

@Killa_Cam_13 punches it in from 2-yards out to put the Conquerors back on top. Two-point conversion is no good. With 11:00 remaining in the Game, @TC_Jax_Football leads @CCCMaraudersFB 26-21. @Andy_Villamarzo @SBLiveSports @SBLiveFL pic.twitter.com/hoEWZO6Q3m
— Alejandro Tamayo (@AlexTamayo22) December 2, 2023

CCC's go-ahead score to take a 29-26 lead was on running back Justin Stephens' 34-yard touchdown run and Chris Harvey's crew never looked back. Now they look ahead to a rematch against a Chaminade-Madonna squad that's considered one of the best in the entire country.

FHSAA 2023 CHAMPIONSHIPS BRACKETS

2023 FHSAA CLASS 4M STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

2023 FHSAA CLASS 4S STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

2023 FHSAA CLASS 3M STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

2023 FHSAA CLASS 3S STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

2023 FHSAA CLASS 2M STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

2023 FHSAA CLASS 2S STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

2023 FHSAA CLASS 1M STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

2023 FHSAA CLASS 1S STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

2023 FHSAA CLASS 1R STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

(Photo courtesy of Clearwater Marauders Athletics)

-- Andy Villamarzo | villamarzo@scorebooklive.com | @sblivefl