HOLLYWOOD — Freshman Malik Leonard threw three first-half touchdowns as Chaminade-Madonna scored on its first six possessions and coasted to a 56-0 victory over visiting Western on Friday night.
“Coming into the game, I just wanted to come out here and execute,” Leonard said. “We didn’t take this team lightly, and I just played the best game I could play for my teammates. We just came out with a great mindset.”
Chaminade-Madonna (4-1), ranked No. 18 in the nation, was playing its first home game of the season. The start of the game was delayed 1 hour and 15 minutes due to lightning, but the Lions struck quickly and often in dispatching Western (1-4).
Leonard, who was 16 of 20 for 250 yards in the first half, found Arwin Jackson in the flat, and the junior went the distance on a 60-yard screen pass for all the points the Lions needed at 7-0. The score capped a 7-play, 79-yard drive on the opening drive of the game. Leonard finished the game 22 for 27 for 350 yards and career-high 5 TDs.
Leonard also hit Jasen Lopez on a 32-yard TD pass and Denairius Gray from 18 yards out. Lee Prince Jr. scored on a 2-yard run, and Derrek Cooper added a 32-yard scoring run, while Tromon Isaac Jr.’s 2-yard run helped the Lions grab a 42-0 halftime bulge and forced a second-half running clock.
Peter Pierre caught Leonard’s fourth TD from 18 yards out with four minutes remaining in the third quarter to make it 49-0, and Leonard’s fifth on a 38-yard TD pass with 3:34 left in the game to close out the scoring. Pierre had a game-high 6 catches for 111 yards and two TDs.
Chaminade-Madonna coach Dameon Jones has been impressed with his freshman signal-caller thus far.
“I’m not surprised at what he’s done,” Jones said. “He’s a real chill kid, and I’ve had his ear. He’s got an old man’s spirit.
“We planned all week to go faster,” Jones said of his hurry-up offense that regularly got the snap off within six seconds of the ball being spotted. “I have a stable of backs and receivers, so I am just trying to get everybody the ball. I’ve got great coaches on both sides of the ball, but our defense has been holding us down since week one. I am proud of those guys. They are getting better week to week, and they have been lights out every week.”
Western quarterback Jack Spader (12) fumbles after being hit by Chaminade-Madonna’s Peter Pierre (19) in the first half. Friday, Sept. 26, 2024 (Jim Rassol/Contributor).
Chaminade dropped the opening game of the season to the nation’s No. 2-ranked team, St. Frances Academy (MD), and has run off four straight since. Despite the lopsided victory, Jones said there is still work to be done.
“Championship teams don’t have (mistakes),” said Jones, whose team was whistled 11 times for 100 yards in penalties. “We’ve got to work on that. There’s stuff we’ve got to clean up. We are getting there, but we are not revved up like I want.”
Western, which snapped a three-game losing streak last week with a 72-0 victory over Taravella last week, could only muster 15 yards of total offense in the first half and 66 for the game.
University of Miami head football coach Mario Cristobal on the sidelines of the high school football game between Chaminade-Madonna and Western. Friday, Sept. 26, 2024 (Jim Rassol/Contributor).
