Head coach Johnny Hughes knew that Key West’s Sept. 5 sport towards Somerset Academy Canyons was a must-win if his staff is to have any likelihood of constructing the playoffs. His Conchs delivered, overcoming the Cougars with over 400 yards of offense, all on the bottom.
Hughes credited his offensive line with permitting the backs to stack up huge numbers. “We do an awesome job of blocking and creating holes,” he mentioned.
Jeff Dejean broke free for a 53-yard run and Walson Morin’s longest was 78. Morin discovered the top zone 3 times and added a two-point conversion. Leo Batista touched the ball simply twice, however made essentially the most of his possessions. He scored the fourth landing of the sport, discovering daylight for a 24-yard Conch TD.
The win was about as thrilling as they get for Key West. Down 21-20 late within the fourth quarter, the Conchs scored to take the lead. The outnumbered Conch athletes, a lot of whom play each methods and have been exhausted, held their breath and positioned their hopes on Josh Johnson. Greater than a two-way participant, Johnson merely doesn’t go away the sector, including a triple-duty kicking function to his repertoire of expertise.
“Fatigue was an element,” mentioned Hughes. “I used to be nervous I left an excessive amount of time on the clock.”
The Cougars had already scored on a kick return, and slightly than threat them taking one other one to the home, Hughes thought-about an on-side kick. With 53 seconds left within the sport, he turned to Johnson, who reportedly mentioned, “Coach, I’ll put it in the long run zone.” Johnson delivered, blasting a 60-plus-yard bomb on the kickoff.
Key West’s protection held robust within the closing seconds of play, stopping the Cougars on their final drive and securing their first win of the season.
The Conchs’ win may simply be the start of a streak. They kick off towards longtime rival Belen Jesuit Sept. 12 and hope to make the most of the Wolverines’ new unfold offense. Belen is 0-3 and hasn’t scored multiple TD in a sport this season.
Marathon didn’t earn their first win of the season towards Westminster Christian final week. The unbeaten Warriors handed the Fins a 56-0 loss to maintain their document unblemished whereas the Dolphins have been left winless. Marathon might want to flip the tide this week towards Zephyrhills Christian to be able to preserve hopes alive for a postseason bid. Coach Sean McDonald mentioned his staff will return to fundamentals in observe this week to catch some new roster additions up to the mark and shore up some areas of weak spot left uncovered by their loss to the Warriors.
Coral Shores didn’t get an opportunity to play final week. Their sport scheduled with BridgePrep Village Inexperienced final week was canceled because of climate, leaving the Hurricanes a sport and a half down this season. The Hurricanes had already taken the sector for warmups when the foreboding and all-too-familiar sound of the lightning detector horn sounded.
Coral Shores performed only one half towards Palmer Trinity two weeks in the past and can make up the second half later this month. The staff hopes to reschedule BridgePrep for later within the season. Whereas the groups work on doable dates, head coach Ed Holly studies that his staff is well-rested and blessed to be with out damage for his or her subsequent opponent, SmartEn Sports activities Academy.
“We’re wanting ahead to getting again on the sector,” mentioned Holly. The SmartEn Goats will make the journey to Tavernier Sept. 12 to present the ’Canes their first motion since August.
Photographs by Maicey Malgrat and Justice Lee