WEST PALM BEACH – They are coming for it all.
For the first time in its 65-year history, the Cardinal Newman Crusaders high school football program has earned the right to appear in a state title game by way of a scintillating team performance on Friday night (Dec. 5).
Led by senior quarterback and West Virginia signee Jyron Hughley, No. 2 overall seed Cardinal Newman blazed through No. 3 overall seed Carrollwood Day for a 48-33 home win in the Class 1A state semifinal round.
Save for an opening kickoff return for a score and extra point by Carrollwood Day, this one was never in doubt for Cardinal Newman as it scored 34 unanswered points from the first through third quarters.
Hughley engineered a quick drive that resulted in his 39-yard touchdown pass to junior running back Janarro Sumpter. Following the extra point by kicker Nate Parks (6-for-7 in extra points on the night), Newman tied the game up at 7-7 with 9:51 left in the first quarter.
Newman forced multiple turnovers in this game, including an interception returned for a touchdown by senior linebacker and Auburn signee Adam Balogoun-Ali at the 10:09 mark of the second quarter. This was perhaps the longest pick-six of the Under Armour All-American’s career as he raced down the field almost untouched for 84 yards to the end zone.
Balogoun-Ali’s score – and subsequent extra point – extend Cardinal Newman’s lead to 21-7 over Carrollwood Day.
Newman’s other score that did not directly involve Hughley was back in the middle of the first quarter, as senior running back and James Madison signee Phoenix Donghia barreled his way through a host of defenders for a 16-yard touchdown run.
You can watch this one for yourself right below.
The rest of Cardinal Newman’s scores were either by way of a Hughley touchdown pass or run.
Palm Beach County’s No. 1 overall player had three touchdown passes, with two of them going to senior athlete Leslie Mosley. One of the those scores came off a tipped pass that Mosley would jump up and grab as he turned on the jets for a breathtaking 87-yarder to the end zone.
Mosley’s first of two receiving touchdowns extended Newman’s lead further to 28-7 over Carrollwood Day with 3:47 left in the first half.
The 21-point lead would hold at halftime and then through the start of the third quarter, when Hughley took a 67-yard run straight to the end zone. His score gave Cardinal Newman (11-3) a 34-7 lead over Carrollwood Day (12-1 final record).
Carrollwood made the second half a bit interesting with its four touchdowns scored, cutting the lead all the way to single digits at one point in the late going. But Newman’s final two scores were enough to put this game away, including Hughley’s 57-yard touchdown pass to Mosley, who finished the game with a team-high six catches for 142 yards and two touchdowns.
As for Hughley, he had a night to remember with the following statistics:
PASSING
8-for-8, 204 yards, 3 touchdowns, no interceptions
RUSHING
5 carries, 155 yards, 2 touchdowns
TOTALS
359 total yards, 5 total touchdowns accounted for
While Belle Glade’s duo of Hughley and Mosley provided for most of their team’s offensive production – Newman gained 478 total yards – it was a true team effort, as the overall blocking from the offensive line, running backs, and wide receivers was supreme from start to finish.
And as for the defense?
Credit the entire unit for forcing at least three turnovers in this one, as they recorded at least two interceptions and recovered at least one lost fumble.
When the game reached close to the final buzzer, legendary head coach Jack Daniels was doused with a well-deserved bath as the Crusaders celebrated their history-making win at Sam Budnyk Field.
Daniels made himself available to a host of media members as he recapped Friday night’s 15-point margin of victory.
Also providing commentary individually were Hughley and Mosley.
With the win, Newman has advanced to the Class 1A state title game against a familiar opponent. It will face off against defending state champion and No. 1 overall seed Chaminade-Madonna (11-2), a 35-0 winner at home over No. 4 overall seed Trinity Christian Academy (9-5 final record) in the other 1A state semifinal game on Friday night.
The Class 1A state title game will be held at FIU Stadium on Thursday, Dec. 10 at 12:30 p.m.
VIDEO CREDITS: Solitario Visuals
Muck City Media Enterprises 
Leave a comment