Football preview: Chaminade-Madonna at Miami Central

This game will be nationally televised on ESPN2, 7 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday night

MIAMI, FLORIDA- It’s truly put up or shut up for two of South Florida’s most dominant programs of the last decade on Thursday night at Traz Powell Stadium. 

SBLive Florida's No. 2-ranked Chaminade-Madonna (4-0) will face off against No. 3-ranked Miami Central (1-1) in a game that many wanted to see last year, but had to wait until this season to see. It has the feel of Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao, but on the high school football level.  

The game is that big on the national scene as the Lions and Rockets are ranked nationally No. 6 and No. 8, respectively. Both teams have won state championships five out of the last six years, with Miami Central looking to win five consecutive in December. 

Both are chasing the ever elusive, coveted national championship as they’ve watched loses up their regular season schedules in order to do so. 

The Rockets started off the 2023 season in a narrow 39-35 loss to nationally ranked Bishop Gorman (Nevada) in Las Vegas before bouncing back with a 38-28 win over Booker T. Washington. Losing to Bishop Gorman certainly hurts Jube Joseph’s club from winning a national crown, but they’re not out of it just yet. 

A win over a very impressive Chaminade-Madonna team would do wonders in changing the minds of many folks on where they should be ranked. The Lions are undefeated and each of the four wins have impressed in their own regard. 

Chaminade-Madonna in the season opener played a different style of football than most opponents are accustomed to and that's via the ground attack with Davion 'Bullett' Gause. Gause led the way with nearly 200 yards rushing in a 35-14 victory over St. Frances Academy (Maryland) in the Broward County Classic Elite Showcase. 

Everything with the Lions starts with North Carolina State commitment Cedrick Bailey at quarterback, who has thrown for 893 yards and 11 touchdowns through four games. He's joined by arguably the best wide receiver tandem in the state of Ohio State commit Jeremiah Smith and Miami commit Joshisa Trader. 

Flipping over to the defensive end of the ball, Chaminade-Madonna can play some solid defense with the best of 'em. Leading the way on defense is defensive back Zaquan Patterson (Miami commitment) and edge rusher Zach Crothers (six tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks). 

Now on the Miami Central side of things, Joseph has continued to employ a platooning of the quarterback position between Antonio Smith and JC Evans. Each signal caller is talented in their own regard and brings different intangibles. 

Smith has proven to be more of the passer of the two, with the senior throwing for 185 yards and two scores through two games. Evans has done more damage offensively with his legs as the Texas transplant has rushed for 149 yards and scored twice. 

Defensively is where this Rockets' team has a boatload of talent, but is yielding 33.5 points per game. Miami Central will have to be better on defense if they want to beat a Chaminade-Madonna ball club that's currently averaging an impressive 41.2 points per game. 

Leading the charge on the defensive line will be Miami (FL) commitment Armondo Blount (16 tackles, three sacks). Another player in the front seven that will need to come up big is 6-foot, 190-pound linebacker Ezekiel Marcelin (29 tackles, three sacks), who has offers from schools like Auburn, Florida State and Miami (FL). 

The last time these two teams met was Oct. 25th, 2019 when the Lions defeated the Rockets 27-7. Joseph reminded his team aplenty when the program lost to Bishop Gorman previously before falling again to start the season. Can Miami Central avoid a 1-2 start or will Chaminade-Madonna improve to 5-0? 

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WHEN: Thursday, 7 pm. Eastern Time 

WHERE: Traz Powell Stadium, Miami 

HOW TO WATCH: ESPN2

LAST MEETING: Oct. 25th, 2019 - Chaminade-Madonna 27, Miami Central 7

ANDY'S PREDICTION: Chaminade-Madonna 42, Miami Central 40

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