Hurricanes coach Ed Holly promised the 55th Battle of the Keys would be intense and chippy but respectful, and his prediction was spot-on. In four quarters of gridiron action that left both teams exhausted with a physical, emotional matchup, it would be Holly’s Hurricanes who earned their 30th win in the series, but the Fins made them earn it the hard way.
Anyone fortunate enough to have attended the event saw first hand the intensity both teams carried and might be surprised to find out that anytime outside of the Battle of the Keys, both coaches are, as Holly described, respectful of one another and their respective teams. During football season, Holly and McDonald talk weekly, often giving one another some inside firsthand information on the teams they have already encountered and know the other will play soon. Both often compliment one another’s players, their system or a hard-earned win. But between the whistles, the rivalry is unmistakable.
Hurricane senior AJ Putetti was first to strike, quickly giving the ‘Canes a 6-0 lead off a short run. Marathon was quick to answer, though, and Fab Louis Jeune not only ran one in for six, he tacked on the extra point to give Marathon the lead. The first quarter ended quickly for a pair of teams who heavily favor the run game.
In quarter two, Coral Shores QB Yemcel Moreno kept one to himself, scoring on another short run. Not to be outdone, Louis Jeune repeated his first quarter performance, giving Marathon the 15-12 lead.
“Both number twos really produced in a spirited contest,” Holly said, referencing Putetti and Louis Jeune. “They are some tough, gritty kids we have here in Monroe County.”
Putetti tacked on a 17-yard touchdown run to bring the ‘Canes into the lead, then scored again on a 67-yard punt return just before halftime, giving his team a cushion the Fins could not overcome for the remainder of the game, though they certainly tried.
In the second half, Putetti struck again on a 5-yard run that gave the ‘Canes a 32-14 lead. But in a rivalry game, teams do not simply tap out; Louis Jeune fought his way into the end zone to bring the Fins closer. Then Moreno connected with Jarmoris Davis to stretch the Hurricane lead again. Marathon’s Carlos Lezcano broke free to bring the Dolphins back within striking distance, 39-27, but Moreno closed the door on the win, carrying the ball in for a three-yard run as the clock ticked down, making the final score 45-36.
The dazzling display of offense alone was worth the price of admission, and both teams must now prepare for the remainder of their schedules, with battle number 56 on the backburner for a spell.
Coral Shores, which plays as an independent school and is therefore not eligible to play for a state title, will face a very important opponent on Oct. 11 as they battle Archbishop Carroll for the Florida Independent Football Conference title. Though there will be three weeks remaining in the regular season, The FIFC is determined by the teams’ records. Archbishop Carroll is leading the conference, and if they win in week eight, the Bulldogs will seal a third-consecutive championship regardless of the final three weeks. If Coral Shores can pull off the upset and defeat the Bulldogs, they will be in a three-way tie for the conference title.
Marathon, on the other hand, will recuperate in week eight with a bye. They must then get back on the win wagon against their final three opponents in order to make the FHSAA Rural playoffs. The Fins could face a road trip as far away as within a stone’s throw of the Alabama border depending on their ranking and how the brackets pan out.
Key West hosted the Cougars of Killian High School Oct. 4, winning in a display of offense at Tommy Roberts Memorial Stadium. In all, four Conchs crossed the goal line in the victory against what head coach Johnny Hughes described as “a very talented Killian team.” Jaden Fox, Jeff DeJean, Teak Guyet and Walson Morin all scored for Key West, with Morin making it a hat trick. Key West’s defense was unusually generous in the 42-29 win, as they have been notably stingy this season. That defense will need to get impervious again for week eight.
On Oct. 11, Key West hosts Miami Northwestern for a district matchup and a chance to propel themselves up the rankings. Northwestern is ranked first in the district and Hughes is not taking them lightly. He explained that from his research, Northwestern looks to be “as advertised. Athletic, big up front and with elite skill guys.”
To pull off an upset over Northwestern, Hughes knows his team will need to play at their best. “We can’t help them beat us. We can’t have turnovers,” he said. “We’ve got a challenge, no question about that.”
Though Hughes has a tough task with the Bulls, he has a bull of his own in Jaden Fox. “Fox exudes confidence,” he said. “He isn’t intimidated by anything and the other guys feed off of that.” Fox has, indeed, proven he can stack up the yards against the best of them, and if the Conchs can catch fire this Friday, they can even hope for a home playoff game in November against the rest of what FHSAA 3A has to offer.
