Cardinal Newman shocks No. 15 Chaminade-Madonna to Win Class 1A State Title

Nathaniel Parks' 36-yard field goal with 6:36 left in 4th quarter proves to be the difference as Crusaders win 1st championship, stop Lions' bid for 5th straight title

Cardinal Newman football beat Carrollwood Day in the Class 1A state semifinals on Dec. 5 to clinch a berth in the state championship Thursday, Dec. 11, against national powerhouse Chaminade-Madonna at FIU's Pitbull Stadium in Miami. / Chet Peterman / Special to The Post / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

In a brutal defensive struggle between two of South Florida's best high school football teams, it took a field goal to decide the Class 1A state champion on Thursday at FIU's Pitbull Stadium.

Nathaniel Parks' 36-yard field goal with 6 minutes, 36 seconds left proved to be the difference in West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman's shocking 17-14 victory against four-time defending state champ Hollywood Chamindade-Madonna, which came in ranked No. 15 in the nation by High School on SI.

After a scoreless first quarter, Cardinal Newman (12-3) got a 69-yard touchdown run from quarterback Jyron Hughley in the second quarter to take a 7-0 lead. But Chaminade-Madonna (11-3) came back to tie it at halftime, 7-7, on a 1-yard TD run by Texas signee Derrek Cooper.

The Crusaders then scored 10 unanswered points to take a 17-7 lead. Hughley, who was named the game's MVP, tossed a 35-yard TD pass to Ethan Holland in the third quarter, and then Parks made his field goal in the fourth quarter.

Chaminade-Madonna, behind the arm of freshman quarterback Malik Leonard, then drove to the Cardinal Newman 1-yard line to set up Cooper's second 1-yard TD run with 49 seconds left. Cardinal Newman led 17-14 at that point.

The Lions then failed to convert the onside kick, and Cardinal Newman ran out the clock, setting off a wild celebration.

Live Updates

(Refresh this post throughout the contest for live updates and analysis)

1st Quarter

Cardinal Newman kicks off to Chaminade-Madonna.

Sophomore LB Cooper Clark makes big 15-yard sack on Chaminade QB Malik Leonard on 3rd-down. Lions forced to punt on 3 and out.

Cardinal Newman driving, crossed midfield behind punishing running game.

BIG RUN BY CN senior Phoenix Donghia nullified by holding penalty.

Time out by Cardinal Newman at 7:10 left in 1Q.

Chaminade-Madonna monster DE Trevoris Finley sacks Cardinal Newman QB Jyron Hughley, forces punt!

TREMENDOUS DEFENSIVE battle in early going!

BIG PASS from Malik Leonard to Ahmari Stevens and then Derrek Cooper with a big run to push Chaminade-Madonna across midfield.

ARWIN JACKSON running wild for Chaminade-Madonna! Lions inside Cardinal Newman 20!

CHAMINADE-MADONNA receiver Ahmari Stevens fumbles the ball away after reception and Cardinal Newman recovers, but officials rule Stevens was down. End of first quarter. No score.

2nd Quarter

CHAMINADE-MADONNA field goal by Noah Sidan veers left. No good with 11:48 left in 1H.

TOUCHDOWN! Cardinal Newman QB Jyron Hughley explodes up the middle and down the left sideline for 69-yard TD! Crusaders shocking Chaminade-Madonna, 7-0, with 10:04 left in 2Q.

Cardinal Newman's Jyron Hughley is off to the races for a 69-yard touchdown run during the Class 1A state championship game against Chaminade Madonna on Dec. 11, 2025. / Chet Peterman / Special to The Post / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

JUNIOR Lee Prince, Jr., explodes for huge run down right sideline to put Chaminade-Madonna inside of Cardinal Newman 20-yard line!

TOUCHDOWN! Texas signee Derrek Cooper bulls in from 1-yard out for Chaminade-Madonna with 8:25 left in 2Q. Chaminade-Madonna 7, Cardinal Newman 7.

SACKED! Temorris Campbell sacks Cardinal Newman QB Jyron Hughley, forces punt. Hughley then hits poor punt.

CARDINAL NEWMAN LB Cooper Clark makes another big play, recovers fumble by Chaminade-Madonna on bad exchange. No score.

CHAMINADE-MADONNA OL Ekeem Atehortua injured on run play. Escorted off field at 4:24 mark of 1H.

LIONS forced to punt.

CARDINAL NEWMAN's Leslie Mosley fumbles the ball on run but ball bounces back right to him.

Crusaders forced to punt with 1:22 left.

CHAMINADE-MADONNA forced to punt as defenses continue to dominate.

HALFTIME: Chaminade-Madonna 7, Cardinal Newman 7.

3rd Quarter

SECOND HALF UNDERWAY! Cardinal Newman has the ball.

CARDINAL NEWMAN pass tipped, falls incomplete. Crusaders forced to punt again.

Cardinal Newman DB Leslie Mosley makes big stop!

CHAMINADE-MADONNA WR Jasen Lopez makes big catch over middle, then Derrek Cooper powers inside the 10-yard line of Cardinal Newman!

CHAMINADE-MADONNA 31-yard FG blocked! Lions 7, Cardinal Newman 7, middle of 3Q.

TOUCHDOWN! Cardinal Newman QB Jyron Hughley perfect 35-yard strike to Ethan Holland! Crusaders shocking 4-time defending state champ Chaminade-Madonna, 14-7, with 2:01 left in the 3Q!

FUMBLE! Chaminade-Madonna QB Malik Leonard hit hard, fumbles! Cardinal Newman's Zion Brown recovers. Cardinal Newman 14, Chaminade-Madonna 7, end of 3Q.

4th Quarter

CARDINAL NEWMAN RB Phoenix Donghia big run inside 20-yard line!

Crusaders plow inside the Chaminade-Madonna 10-yard line!

CHAMINADE-MADONNA safety Angelo Smith sacks Cardinal Newman QB Jyron Hughley for 16-yard loss!

FIELD GOAL! Nathaniel Parks makes 36-yard field goal to give Cardinal Newman a 17-7 lead with 6:36 left in the game! Score follows controversial fumble by QB Jaron Hughley that was recovered by Chaminade-Madonna but officials rule play was over.

PERSONAL FOUL 15-yard penalty on Chaminade-Madonna gives Cardinal Newman ball inside CM 20-yard line.

FUMBLE! Cardinal Newman QB Jyron Hughley fumbles on keeper, Angelo Smith of Chaminade-Madonna recovers!

CHAMINADE-MADONNA long pass from Malik Leonard to Tromon Isaac, Jr.

AT THE 1-YARD LINE! Chaminade-Madonna QB Malik Leonard long pass to Jasen Lopez! 1:08 left!

CHAMINADE-MADONNA RB Derrek Cooper slams in from the 1-yard line! Touchdown! Cardinal Newman 17, Chaminade-Madonna 14 with 49 seconds left!

ONSIDE KICK: Cardinal Newman sophomore Knox Fletcher leaps high and makes great grab and then takes huge hit, but hangs onto the ball! Cardinal Newman 17, Chaminade-Madonna 14.

FINAL: Cardinal Newman 17, Chaminade-Madonna 14

	1	2	3	4	F
Cardinal Newman	0	7	7	3	17
Chaminade-Madonna	0	7	0	7	14

Let us know how you believe will win, by playing our Pick'Em contest.

Pre-game Notes

Kickoff is at 12:30 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 11, at FIU's Pitbull Stadium in Miami.

Cardinal Newman

Cardinal Newman is making its first state championship game appearance after knocking off previously unbeaten Tampa Carrollwood Day School, 48-33, in a state semifinal on Dec. 5.

Players to Watch:

Jyron Hughley, Sr., QB -- West Virginia signee, 1,901 yards passing, 16 TDs; 1,405 yards rushing, 18 TDs.

Phoenix Donghia, Sr., RB -- James Madison University signee, 1,379 yards rushing, 23 TDs.

Leslie Mosley, Sr., WR --Has eight D-1 offers, 48 receptions for 944 yards, eight TDs.

Adam Balogoun-ali, Sr., LB -- Auburn signee, 117 tackles, including 108 solo and 17 for loss.

Kahlil Gabaud, Soph., S -- Has six interceptions and 48 tackles.

Chaminade-Madonna

Chaminade-Madonna is making its 10th consecutive state finals appearance. The Lions’ only losses this season were to No. 1 nationally ranked St. Frances (Baltimore) and Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas, which is playing for the Class 5A state title on Dec. 11.

Players to watch

Malik Leonard, Fr., QB -- 2,756 yards passing, and 31 TDs, three rushing TDs.

Derrek Cooper, Sr., RB -- Texas signee, 1,424 yards rushing, 17 TDs.

Jasen Lopez, Sr., WR -- FSU signee, 59 receptions, 1,110 yards, 13 TDs.

Jaiden Roper, Sr., LB -- Has 111 tackles, including 57 solo and 10 for loss.

Trevoris Finley, Jr., DE -- Has 16 sacks and 74 tackles, including 37 solo and 26 for loss.

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Jeff Gardenour can be reached via email at jgardenour1962@gmail.com or X @JMarkG1962