St. Michael”s delivered a powerful performance, defeating the New Mexico Military Institute (NMMI) 54-8 to earn a spot in the championship game against Dexter. This decisive victory occurred at the Christian Brothers Athletic Complex, paving the way for a highly anticipated rematch between these two teams next weekend.
Running back Isaiah Dominguez was a standout, rushing for an impressive 272 yards on just eight carries and totaling 318 yards of offense. He scored four touchdowns on runs of 39, 40, 96, and 40 yards, all occurring in a dominant display that began late in the first half. Additionally, he caught a 46-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Kamal Stith in the second quarter.
Stith also had an excellent game, throwing for 207 yards and three touchdowns, while contributing 179 rushing yards, which included a remarkable 69-yard touchdown run early in the contest. After the game, both players credited their success to the offensive line. “All the credit to the line,” Stith remarked. “They had a great week at practice and brought all the energy.” Dominguez echoed this sentiment, acknowledging the crucial support of his teammates.
The Horsemen took an early lead, never trailing throughout the game. They amassed over 400 yards of offense in the first half alone, concluding the game with nearly 700 total yards. Their performance was a testament to their offensive prowess, showcasing one of the most well-rounded outings in their current 32-game winning streak.
Looking ahead, the upcoming matchup against Dexter is particularly significant, as the Demons were one of the few teams to challenge St. Michael”s in recent years, notably in last year”s 3A championship game. The second-seeded Demons (10-1) reached the finals by defeating Hope Christian 24-6, setting the stage for a clash that both teams have anticipated.
In their semifinal, NMMI struggled against St. Michael”s defense, accumulating only 75 yards of offense in the first half. The Colts could not find the end zone until the third quarter, when a fumbled reverse by St. Michael”s allowed them a brief moment of hope, cutting the lead to 34-8 after a short drive.
Despite a slow start for Stith, who recorded negative yards on his first two plays due to a sack and a slip, he quickly turned things around with an explosive 69-yard touchdown run. By halftime, he had already accumulated 153 yards rushing.
In addition, Ryan Hunt, a tight end, also made contributions to the offense, catching five passes for 126 yards and scoring on a 55-yard touchdown reception that established a 20-0 lead in the second quarter. The Horsemen”s offensive line was particularly impressive, as they did not face any penalties until the final drive of the first half.
Overall, St. Michael”s has outscored its opponents this season 530-71, demonstrating their defensive strength by holding 11 of those teams to single-digit scores.
