The Cardinal Newman football team has made history by advancing to the state championship for the first time. In a thrilling 1A state semifinal on Friday night, the Crusaders defeated Carrollwood Day 48-33, led by senior quarterback Jyron Hughley and senior wide receiver Leslie Mosley.
Hughley, who is committed to Auburn, played a pivotal role, accounting for five touchdowns in the victory. He completed three touchdown passes and also had two rushing touchdowns. The Crusaders” impressive season now stands at an 11-3 record, and they will face four-time defending champion Chaminade-Madonna in the state title game on Thursday at 12:30 PM at Florida International University in Miami.
“We”re blessed with great players and great coaches,” said Jack Daniels, head coach of Cardinal Newman. “It”s a very exciting night for us. You want the prize. That”s what you play the game for. We”re one of two teams left in that. I know we have a great opponent in Chaminade, so we have our work cut out. We have to have our best week.”
Hughley”s performance included a 38-yard touchdown pass to junior running back Janarro Sumpter in the first quarter, an 86-yard touchdown pass to Mosley in the second, and a 43-yard scoring pass to Mosley in the third. He also showcased his speed with a 67-yard touchdown run in the third quarter and a 53-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to help secure the win.
“I feel great and I am happy Coach Jack trusted me to run the offense this year,” Hughley stated. “We”re not done. We came up short last year. This year, we”re coming for it all. This is a blessing, and I am happy to be a part of this team. It means a lot. I am coming with a chip on my shoulder.”
Additionally, senior running back Phoenix Donghia contributed with a 13-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, while standout linebacker Adam Balogoun-Ali made a game-changing play with an 89-yard interception return for a touchdown midway through the second quarter.
Despite a strong start from Carrollwood Day, with junior Brooklyn Maxey returning the opening kickoff for a 90-yard touchdown, Cardinal Newman quickly responded with 34 unanswered points. The Crusaders led 14-7 after the first quarter and then pulled away to a commanding 28-7 lead by halftime, finishing the third quarter with a 41-19 advantage.
Carrollwood Day attempted a comeback, bringing the score to 41-33 before Hughley”s final touchdown run sealed the game at 48-33.
“The biggest thing is to bend and not break,” Balogoun-Ali said regarding the defense”s performance. “When they were driving and got in the red zone, that was our mentality. We just kept doing our job and let them make the mistake. This win means everything.”
With this victory, the Crusaders have not only made history but also set their sights on claiming a state title, a significant milestone for the entire program.
