MIAMI ― With Cardinal Newman football taking down Chaminade Madonna in a dramatic Class 1A state title, veteran coach Jack Daniels has added another chapter to his illustrious career.
Daniels is now 3-1 in state championship games, with Thursday's victory being the first appearance with Newman after reaching the title game with Dwyer in 2000, 2009, and 2013.
But this one — being Newman's first appearance and victory in program history — was special. Playing at the peak of Palm Beach County football for Daniels' five-year tenure, the team has been knocking on the door of state stardom the last three seasons, getting closer and closer to . . .
. . . Well, to this moment. A moment that is as contagious as it is triumphant.
"It's a feeling that, once you get it, it keeps you coming back," Daniels said. "It's an incredible feeling, so you chase it. You chase it."
Newman has been 'chasing' it for as long as the program has been alive, but no more.
The Crusaders were ever so close last year, advancing to the state semifinals before falling to Clearwater Central Catholic in a stunning overtime turnaround, the unfortunate foundation for a bitter, what-if filled offseason.
That hump was one the Crusaders overcame readily this year, riding a punishing first half to cruise by Carrollwood Day in the same round. It was a win that marked the first state championship appearance, which in and of itself was cause for many to celebrate.
Not for Jack Daniels. Almost wasn't enough.
"We won last week and everybody's, 'Congrats' and 'You got there,'" Daniels said. "But getting there isn't the end of the road."
He took a moment to look around at the players and fans celebrating before continuing.
"This is the best feeling in the world," he concluded.
The team overcame challenges throughout the year, including enduring through a pair of ugly games to get to this point. The home opener, a loss to Roman Catholic, threatened to take the wind out of the Crusaders' sails before the year really got under way.
Weeks later, Cardinal Newman fell flat in a high-profile matchup against Jesuit (Tampa Bay), and the team could have taken the easy way out; they could have folded.
Instead, they licked their wounds, and Daniels' squad punched back.
"We played a great game," Daniels said. "We play as a team, they love each other. We work extremely hard and they bought into it. We got better every week, we really did."
When asked how it ranked among the top moment in his legacy, Daniels agreed that it was an instant favorite.
"No doubt, no doubt," he said. "It's up there for sure."
Alex Peterman is a high school sports reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Jack Daniels leads Cardinal Newman football to first state title