If you’re looking for elite-level prospects and some need-to-know sleepers, there’s no better Freedom Bowl contest for you than the Saturday morning matchup between Chaminade-Madonna (FL) and Muscle Shoals (AL).

Both teams are armed with blue chips—John Dunmore (Penn State), Keontra Smith (Miami) and Jackson Bratton (Alabama), for example—and impressive players who’ve, thus far, flown beneath the radar (see: Menard, Daelen). 

Chaminade-Madonna’s heartbreaking loss to Deerfield Beach (FL) in its opener will only fuel the motivation for Dameon Jones’ defending state champs. Meanwhile, Muscle Shoals will come in riding high off of a 31-0 beatdown of Deshler (AL) in Week 1.

Who: Chaminade-Madonna (FL) vs. Muscle Shoals (AL)

Where: Milton HS, Milton, GA

When: Saturday, Sept. 1 at 10 AM ET

Watch: LIVE on FloFootball

Keevon Hankins Will Need To Carry The Trojan Offense

During our visit to Chaminade-Madonna last month, we asked Te’Cory Couch how any team was supposed to throw against a Lions secondary that features no fewer than three Power Five-caliber defensive backs on any given play.

“You’re not,” he responded plainly.

Chaminade-Madonna is loaded on defense in general, with big time players like the aforementioned Smith, defensive tackle Willie Moise (Miami), defensive end Cam Williams (Miami) and cornerback James Williams (Wisconsin) joining Couch (Miami).

It’s that secondary, though, with childhood friends Couch and Williams, manning the corners, that really leaps out as a no-fly zone for opponents—particularly opponents who are not extremely adept in the passing game.

Muscle Shoals will need to be able to move the chains with a steady dose of Hankins, who erupted for 174 yards against Deshler—and needed just 15 carries to get there.

Bratton, McDonald Put The Onus On The Lions’ Passing Attack

The story may be the opposite when Chaminade-Madonna has the football. Muscle Shoals’ primary strength is in its front seven—especially at linebacker, where Bratton and McDonald roam with oversized hit sticks.

Under Jones, the Lions have long since established a reputation for running over opponents on the ground. But Jones has also made a point to announce that he has the best quarterback in south Florida in the senior Menard. 

With a pair of lethal weapons on the outside, Chaminade-Madonna may be best served by leaning on its passing attack in this one.

A Big Stage For Daelen Menard

Earlier this week, we released a piece on Menard, calling him “The Forgotten Prospect.”

The 6-0, 190-pound senior has been a starter since his freshman year at Miami Pace, and led Chaminade-Madonna to a state title as a junior. But a shoulder injury suffered in the state semifinals required surgery and stripped him of the opportunity compete in the summer camp circuit.

Due at least in part to injury concerns and/or his recovery timeline, Menard has been largely ignored by recruiting services like Rivals and 247, and remains without a Power Five offer as we head into the second week of his senior season.

Menard called the first four weeks of the season his personal Super Bowl, which makes this the second quarter—and, by far, the largest platform he will perform on during that span.

The time has come for leader of the Lions to show out.

Prospects to Watch

• Jackson Bratton, LB, Muscle Shoals — 4-star, committed to Alabama
• Keontra Smith, LB/S, Chaminade-Madonna — 4-star, committed to Miami
• John Dunmore, WR, Chaminade-Madonna — 4-star, committed to Penn State
• Te’Cory Couch, CB, Chaminade-Madonna — 4-star, committed to Miami
• Willie Moise, DT, Chaminade-Madonna — 4-star, committed to Miami
• Elijah Canion, WR, Chaminade-Madonna — 3-star, uncommitted
• James Williams, CB, Chaminade-Madonna — 3-star, committed to Wisconsin
• Cameron Williams, DE, Chaminade-Madonna — 3-star, committed to Miami
• Terrell McDonald, LB/QB, Muscle Shoals — 2-star, committed to UAB
• Daelen Menard, QB, Chaminade-Madonna — unranked, uncommitted
• Keevon Hankins, RB, Muscle Shoals — unranked, uncommitted