Coral Shores improved to 8-1 in a homecoming win that delighted an energized crowd on Oct. 25. The ’Canes were scheduled to play a markedly weaker Tradition Prep for their big game, but when that fell apart, St. John Neumann out of Naples answered the call and made the big trip to the Keys. Neumann was 5-1 heading into the game against a 7-1 Coral Shores, making for an even matchup that went into overtime before a winner could be decided.
The Hurricanes struggled offensively in the first half, stalling and then settling for three in quarter one. Freshman William Hudson’s field goal was the first this season for Coral Shores. That would be all the ’Canes would put on the board for the first half. St. John Neumann scored once and added a 2-point conversion in quarter two, sending the teams into the locker room with the score 8-3 at halftime.
Coach Ed Holly made some quick adjustments before sending his team back onto the field. “We had to settle down,” he said. “We had a great crowd for homecoming and came out excited.”
Holly said he mixed up his team’s coverage defensively to add more pressure on Neumann’s quarterback. The adjustments made the difference in quarter three, where the ’Canes held Neumann to a field goal. When the Hurricanes got the ball back on offense, AJ Putetti ran one in for 6 and Yemcel Moreno added a 2-point conversion to tie up the game. Neumann scored again, and things looked bleak until Moreno connected with Putetti on a 31-yard touchdown pass to tie it up again, sending the game into overtime.
Neumann chose to play defense first in overtime, and Moreno found the end zone to give the ’Canes the advantage. Holly’s defensive adjustments continued to prevail, and Neumann had just one chance left to extend the game. Putetti put an end to any hopes Neumann had, batting down a pass in the end zone to seal the homecoming victory, 25-18.
The Hurricanes already secured at least a shared FIFC championship this season and will finish with one of the best records in school history. Their sights are now set on doing what only one Hurricane team in history has ever done: beat Key West.
“Key West is a very good team,” Holly said. “We’re going to have to play our best game of the year to compete with them. We’re looking forward to it.”
Key West stayed alive in their hopes for a postseason game when they beat Miami Jackson on Oct. 25 in a road win. The Conchs traveled to Curtis Park, where they beat the Generals 24-19, picking up what Conch historian Judd Wise says was the team’s 400th win.
Walson Morin got the scoring started for Key West with a 35-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Jaden Fox’s pick-6 put the Conchs ahead 12-0 and Key West’s uncompromising defense kept Jackson scoreless until quarter two. In the second, Roman Van Loon connected with Daniel Oviedo for their solo score of the quarter. Jackson scored its lone TD of the half as well, making the score 18-7 at halftime with Key West on top.
Conchs coach Johnny Hughes knew Jackson was not a team to take lightly, though. “It was a tough game with an athletic team,” he said. The Generals were stocked with tall, strong targets at wide receiver, and despite the Conchs’ best efforts, Jackson hit those targets once in each of the final quarters. Key West managed to score one more and secure the win when Fox punched one in during the fourth quarter.
Up next for Key West is the home game against Coral Shores. “It’s great for the county,” Hughes said of the game. “It’s going to be fun. We’re fighting for a home playoff game so it definitely matters. We want to put ourselves in the best situation we can.”
Both Coral Shores and Key West have been playing great defense this season, and their offenses are similarly heavy on the run, making the matchup an exciting one. Key West holds the clear edge in all-time play against the ’Canes. The Conchs have won 11 of the 12 times the two teams have faced off, with Coral Shores’ only win coming in 2002. Kickoff is 7 p.m. on Nov. 1 at Tommy Roberts Memorial Stadium
Marathon had less luck last week, losing to the undefeated 4A John Carroll Catholic Rams from Fort Pierce. The sizable Rams were as advertised, and the Fins quickly found themselves at a disadvantage. On Marathon’s first possession, a fumble could not have bounced more perfectly for the Carroll defense, and the Fins were down 7-0 just seconds into the game. The Dolphins then drove the ball a few yards at a time, using the power of their offense to overcome the Rams’ defense.
A dropped pass in the end zone forced the Fins to settle for 3, and Fabbianho Louis Jeune’s kick cut the deficit to 7-3. Carroll scored again in the first quarter to make it 14-3. Quarter two was a replay offensively for Marathon, with Louis Jeune splitting the uprights for the only score the Dolphins could manage, while Carroll added 7 to send the teams to the halftime break with the score 21-6.
In the third quarter, Carroll scored a pair of TDs, but the Fins’ offense began to chip away at the Rams’ fortitude. Louis Jeune found the endzone for 6, then added the extra point to give Marathon some confidence heading into the final quarter. Tanner Ross willed himself across the goal line and Louis Jeune’s kick was, as usual, good for the Fins. Carroll scored one more time in quarter four to make the final score 42-20.
Coach Sean McDonald concluded that the hoped-for upset was flawed by “early mistakes and an inability to create a big play on either side of the ball.” He credited Ross with his refusal to let up regardless of the situation and Louis Jeune’s play against Carroll’s four-star offensive tackle.
“Fab held his own against the best that Florida has to offer, and that speaks volumes about his abilities,” McDonald said. Louis Jeune leads the team in multiple categories on offense, defense and special teams.
Despite the loss, Carroll’s considerably higher classification over the Fins and their unbeaten record could prove favorable to Marathon in the elusive and oftentimes fickle rankings. A last-minute decision by the FHSAA to change its playoff brackets for the 1A rural classification puts a Marathon playoff game in jeopardy, and a loss next week to Pine Crest would be catastrophic. Marathon travels to Fort Lauderdale to take on the Panthers on Nov. 1 for a 3 p.m. kickoff.
