MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — At Christopher Columbus High School, loyalties will be split when Miami and Indiana meet for the national championship Monday night — a rare moment when one South Florida campus can cheer for both sides.
Head football coach Dave Dunn joked about the dilemma before acknowledging the unique position Columbus finds itself in.
“We have a lot of young men playing in this game and two coaches that I’m really good friends with,” Dunn said. “I’m just hoping for a good game.”
The Hurricanes roster includes three Columbus alumni: offensive lineman Ryan Rodriguez, quarterback Vinny Gonzalez, and defensive back Bryce Fitzgerald.
Gonzalez carries a legacy familiar to Miami fans.
“He’s the son of Joaquin Gonzalez, who was a great player here and also was the captain of 2001 University of Miami team, which is probably the arguably the best college football team ever assembled,” Dunn said.
Indiana’s sideline is just as familiar, led by quarterback brothers Fernando and Alberto Mendoza. Fernando, the starter and Heisman winner, and Alberto, the team’s backup, were both coached by Dunn during their high school careers.
“Between the two of them (Mendoza’s) they have three state championship rings so it’s it was a special time, coaching both of those guys,” Dunn said.
That history runs even deeper. Columbus’ most recent state title came in 2023, sealed by a connection that now mirrors Monday night’s matchup.
“The last State championship win for us was in 2023, and the last touchdown scored in that game was Bryce Fitzgerald catching a pass from Alberto Mendoza to put the game away against Mandarin, which was Carson Beck’s high school,” Dunn said.
“There’s a lot of things intertwined going on going on with this game in Columbus and I have one involved in the University of Miami,” he added.
Miami head coach Mario Cristobal and offensive line coach Alex Mirabal are also Columbus alumni. Former head coach John Lynskey remembers their playing days vividly.
“The intensity was like a supernova,” Lynskey said of Cristobal.
He also described Mendoza a a police but simmering
Lynskey also pointed out another familiar face tied to the moment.
“This is Fernando Mendoza Sr.,” he said, noting that Mendoza’s father was a teammate of Cristobal and Mirabal. “They were all offensive linemen and they played together.”
Lynskey said Mendoza Sr. was a “polite young man,” but also described him as a “simmering volcano.”
No matter the outcome, Lynskey says CCHS has already won.
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