Key West football got off to a late start on Aug. 28 as the Conchs awaited what was scheduled to be a 7 p.m. kickoff against the Tigers of Palmetto High School. It turned out to be a late night for both teams, especially the Tigers, who made the trip to the Southernmost City from Bradenton.
That trip would prove well worth their time, however, as the Tigers drove home with a 35-7 win over the Conchs after nearly two hours of lightning delays pushed the start to just before 9 p.m.
Key West coach Johnny Hughes was well aware that the Tigers were stocked with talent. What he did not fully appreciate was the bonus Palmetto received when Booker High School’s varsity football program folded for the season and athletes there landed at nearby programs, including some top-notch talent at Palmetto. Booker’s program issues stemmed from recruiting violations, but the fallout ultimately strengthened neighboring rosters, leaving the Conchs facing an even more formidable Palmetto squad than anticipated.
From a 6-foot-5 quarterback to a 6-foot-3, 250-pound receiver and comparably imposing tight end, the Tigers dominated up front. And despite Key West’s own sizable defensive line, Palmetto proved to be the stronger force last week.
“They were loaded,” Hughes said of the Tigers’ roster, which included a slew of Division I commits.
Photos by ROCKY GONET/Keys Weekly
It was not all doom and gloom for the Conchs, though. Junior Matthew Oviedo scored Key West’s lone touchdown on the ground, and this week’s matchup, the Conchs’ first district test, should offer a much more evenly-matched opponent. The Generals of Miami Jackson will host Key West in the first of a three-week road series for the Conchs.
“We match up well,” Hughes said of the Generals.
CORAL SHORES
Coral Shores hosted Westminster Academy Aug. 28, holding its own against a team projected to remain a powerhouse among South Florida’s smaller schools.
The Lions jumped out to an early 14-0 lead, but some tough defense and an 8-yard touchdown run from Kevin Williams Jr. opened the gates for Coral Shores. On the Lions’ next possession, Hurricane Jack Brown tackled Westminster’s quarterback in the end zone for a safety, and Charles Royal capitalized on the Hurricanes’ momentum with a 3-yard scamper into the end zone to tie things up.
Marco Gudino’s quick interception made it look as if the comeback might turn into a reversal of fortunes for Coral Shores, but one play later, a fumble led to a Westminster touchdown just before the half.
In the final two quarters, David Beltran powered through the Lions’ defense for an 8-yard touchdown run, but Westminster tacked on three touchdowns of its own, making the final score 42-20 in favor of the Lions.
The Hurricanes racked up 316 yards on the ground, including 179 from Beltran, who also caught a 16-yard Sterling O’Keefe pass to finish just five yards shy of 200 all-purpose yards. Royal gained 86 yards on 12 carries, while Williams added 58 yards to the team total.
’Canes coach Ed Holly was proud of his team’s tenacity, particularly its unwillingness to give up after falling behind. And though the Hurricanes now stand at 1-2, Coral Shores remains undefeated in league play and has the potential to make a deep postseason run if the ’Canes can eliminate some mistakes and continue their upward trajectory.
“We played better week three than week two,” Holly said. “We played better on offense, defense and special teams. This has been a great learning experience for us.”
This week, Coral Shores hits the road for Pine Crest, where the Hurricanes will look to stop the Panthers’ strong spread offense.
“If we can tackle in the open field, it’ll be a great game,” Holly said. “If not, it’ll be a long night.”
MARATHON
The Dolphins had an early-season bye last week, but return to action at home against Oxbridge Academy in a rematch of their spring classic. In that contest, the ThunderWolves escaped with a one-point win, giving Marathon plenty of reason to believe this week’s rematch could be another exciting one.
