Three high schools are celebrating big wins this week in a rare trifecta of success for Monroe County prep football. The wins themselves couldn’t be more diverse, though. Coral Shores put up huge numbers in a shutout win, Marathon had to grind for its win, fighting mother nature as well as their opponent, and Key West was credited with a win despite being outscored by 20 points.
Coral Shores
The Hurricanes improved their record to 2-1 on Sept. 9 with a decisive 48-0 win against the Eagles of Palm Glades Prep Academy. Coach Ed Holly attributed the win to a team effort as well as that of the fans. “It was jam-packed. The community support is incredible and it grows every week,” he said. “Our guys feed off of that energy. We love it!” And the fans loved the offensive onslaught the ’Canes put on, spreading out the scoring over five different players.
Robert Dube set the tone on the Eagles’ first drive when he read a hitch route early, got the jump and took an interception to the house to put Coral Shores up 6-0. AJ Putetti added two scores for the ’Canes, one in the air and one on the ground. Chuck Jacobsen had a 20-yard reception in the end zone, Derek Smith had a 14-yard rushing TD, and Danty Diorio had a pair of rushing touchdowns.
The defense managed the shutout despite being without a few key players due to illness. The ’Canes adjusted to the new roles without issue and ensured the show was all Coral Shores. The big defensive line led by John Holly and Xavyer Arrington had multiple sacks and put pressure on the Eagles’ quarterback all night. The few plays that slipped through the line were ended quickly by Eddie Holly, who played defensive end this week, linebackers Jacobsen and Elijah Palmisicano, and the rest of the ’Canes defense, who worked to keep their end zone clear all night.
The Hurricanes will take the show on the road this week as they play their lone away match this year at Miami Sunset. The ’Canes will face the 1-2 Knights on Friday, Sept. 16 at 3:30 p.m. in South Miami.
Marathon
Marathon improved its record to 2-1 with a big win over University School in Fort Lauderdale. The Fins took on the Sharks on Sept. 8 but didn’t return to the Keys until early Friday morning due to multiple lightning delays, even with shortened third and fourth quarters.
The late start didn’t put a damper on the Dolphins’ offense as Marathon steamrolled into the end zone on the first drive of the game, moving the ball via team effort. Senior Thomas Eubank earned the touchdown, followed by a two-point conversion by Malachi Hawkins to put the Dolphins on top, 8-0. Then came the first delay. The Sharks struck next, but were stopped in their two-point conversion attempt just in time for another delay. The Sharks used the break to their advantage and scored another six shortly after, but again failed to convert the extra point.
The Fins answered back with a 55-yard touchdown run from freshman Shamar Wright and an extra two points from Hawkins. The lead was short-lived, as the Sharks added another seven just before halftime. After the break, Marathon controlled the clock, scoring toward the end of the abbreviated eight-minute third quarter with a Hawkins touchdown. The conditions became sloppy by the fourth quarter, causing miscues and a fumble for the Sharks that put an end to their comeback hopes.
Hawkins had 122 yards on the ground in the shortened game and added three sacks defensively. Eubank and Wright had more than 50 yards apiece rushing, and Fab Louis Jeune tacked on three tackles.
After a week of recovery, the Fins will look to make it a three-game win streak when they take on Ransom Everglades on Friday, Sept. 23 at home.
Key West
Anyone who watched the Key West game on Sept. 9 might have thought the Saints of Tru Prep Academy looked bigger, stronger and more developed than the Conchs.
They would have been correct, for all the wrong reasons. Tru Prep played six ineligible players in the contest, giving Key West an unusual win after scoring 20 points to the Saints’ 40.
Key West coach Johnny Hughes was tipped off that the Saints might be playing with some post-graduate athletes. His suspicions were exacerbated when the game film the school sent to him showed the Saints playing McDougal Tech, a junior college located in Pompano Beach. Tru Prep’s record was 1-0 coming into the game, with the win ironically coming by forfeit a week prior. Hughes followed up on the concerns prior to kickoff, but Tru Prep’s athletics department assured Key West that all was well and the game, which was a fill-in contest for the Conchs after a different team folded earlier this season, was played.
After the 40-20 “loss,” it was discovered via social media that the prior allegations were, indeed, true, and every score made by Tru Prep was credited to an ineligible player.
The Conchs did manage to score three touchdowns against the Saints despite the disadvantage, with Jakari Blackman scoring two and running back RJ Reynolds scoring one in what Hughes described as “an outstanding effort” in his first full game this season.
With a win in the books, the 1-2 Conchs will face yet another untested team on Sept. 16 in Dade Christian, a team with no games yet this season and just 19 players listed on its roster. The Conchs are at home again in The Backyard at 7 p.m.
