- December 11, 2025
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The Cougars know a thing or two about the end zone. Much of their season was spent within it or approaching it.
Piling up points is what they do — a tireless pursuit.
Offensive perfection, though, is a rarity. It's even rarer on this stage, where the state's absolute best do battle.
Eight scoring opportunities were presented to the Cougars with a title on the line. And not one of them was wasted.
This was their master class.
"No question," said coach Jared Clark.
Securing the ultimate trophy, Cardinal Mooney football (14-1) shredded Jacksonville Bolles (13-2) in the FHSAA Class 2A state championship with an all-out attack, 52-28, on Dec. 10 at Florida International University's Pitbull Stadium.
Its offense was fast and furious from beginning to end — no turnovers, no punts and no field goals. Only touchdowns.
With every drive, the Cougars hit paydirt. They're state champions for the third time in program history, and the second time in three years.
"If you stop our run, we're going to throw it. If you can't stop our run, then we're going to run it," said senior wide receiver Bo O'Daniel. "Both our passing game and running game... they're lethal."
It was back-and-forth before it was a beatdown. The two teams traded blows, and Cardinal Mooney was the first to land a punch.
Following a mishandled kickoff by senior safety/wide receiver LaRon Foye, the squad had to travel 96 yards to do so. Junior quarterback Davin Davidson hit O'Daniel, streaking down the left sideline, for a 34-yard touchdown pass with 8 minutes, 20 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
Bolles' pass-catchers found open space, too. Wide receiver Naeem Burroughs stood all alone downfield less than three minutes later, reeling in a ball that shifted the pressure right back to Cardinal Mooney.
Connail Jackson decided it was time to join the points party.
The junior running back regained the lead for the Cougars on the subsequent drive, punching it in from 3 yards. He's been a true workhorse — responsible for 2,253 rushing yards and 35 touchdowns entering the championship.
As the first frame turned to the second, offense stalled for the Bulldogs. They settled for a 24-yard field goal attempt, but missed, handing the ball right back to the team they couldn't slow.
"We got a chance to go up two scores. That's a big deal," Clark said. "That missed field goal was big. It was our first stop."
Both O'Daniel and Jackson capitalized. The former leaped upward for a catch-and-turn touchdown at Bolles' 16-yard line, while the latter willed his way past the line of scrimmage for another 3-yard score with just 0:18 to go before halftime.
Behind them, Cardinal Mooney possessed a commanding 27-7 advantage entering the locker room, riding high on relentless offense.
Its defense was tasked with stifling a 45-points-a-game team, and to stop running back Xander Edwards. The Florida Gatorade Player of the Year finalist entered the title game with 2,532 yards and 44 touchdowns on the ground.
He was held to 98 rushing yards, his second-fewest all season. For the first time in 2025, he didn't score.
"We needed to stop him. We were going to make them win the game throwing the ball," Clark said. "And we didn't feel like they could do that."
A two-headed monster had emerged. And in the quarters to follow, it roared.
O'Daniel and Jackson kept on powering the Cougars. In the immediate wake of a second Bulldogs' score, the difference ballooned back to 20 thanks to Jackson's work on the other end, breaking the plain with 5:28 left in the third frame.
And when his team looked to the air, O'Daniel was waiting. He beat his man down the sideline — again — to haul in his third touchdown and maintain breathing room on the scoreboard.
Combined, O'Daniel and Jackson accounted for seven of Cardinal Mooney's eight touchdowns. Senior quarterback Devin Mignery turned on the jets for a 54-yard scoring sprint to cap off the night.
The offense got whatever it wanted, whenever it wanted.
"Our defense has been stellar all year, but I knew there'd be a time where our offense would need to step up," said senior wide receiver Mason Jordan. "And that was here on the biggest stage."
Every emphatic tackle or big gain down the stretch came with a certain celebration. The Cougars each looked toward their fans and held out their hands, pointing at their ring fingers.
Soon enough, Clark embraced the inevitable. He walked over to the Cardinal Mooney bench as the last few minutes ticked away, putting down his headset and raising his fists.
Several of these players fought for him in 2023, when the program claimed its first state title in 51 years. They stayed and endured the disappointment of last season's state semifinal defeat.
But that one-of-a-kind feeling can be shared among them once again.
Eight drives. Eight touchdowns. One championship performance.
