Defense carries Carol City to another close win, plus Thursday’s results
Carol City’s football team seems to have half the formula figured out.
For the past two weeks, the Chiefs have gone from losing three in a row to three of South Florida’s best to securing back-to-back wins and putting themselves back in position to contend for the playoffs.
And they have their defense to thank for it.
On Thursday afternoon, Carol City returned two interceptions for touchdowns in the first half and broke a seven-quarter offensive drought with a late touchdown run by Mekhi Horne to hold off Westland Hialeah for an 18-12 victory at Traz Powell Stadium.
With the two takeaways Carol City (3-3) turned into points, the Chiefs had a rare stretch of four consecutive scores created by their defense.
“After about the fourth game we came together as a staff and we decided we needed to switch some things around on defense,” Carol City coach Dorrean James said. “This is a testament to what these kids can do.”
After throwing an interception themselves on the game’s first play, senior James Dorsey picked off a Westland Hialeah pass moments later and ran 96 yards to paydirt to put Carol City ahead early.
Later in the half, senior Mister Clark picked off the other pass to give the Chiefs the lead again at 12-6 after the Wildcats (4-2) tied it up.
Westland’s Jamari Howard scored its second touchdown of the game with no time remaining.
The Chiefs are 1-2 and in third place in District 13-2M with losses to Miami Central and Miami Norland and a victory over Miami Gardens Monsignor Pace. They will next take on district rival North Miami Beach next Friday at Traz in a game that should have a major bearing on whether they can secure an at-large playoff berth and end a four-year postseason drought.
“Our message to our guys is to keep fighting and we can do this if we take it a week at a time,” James said. “Offensively, we’re still trying to find our identity. It’s relatively late in the season, but I think we’ll work it out.”
MORE SCORES
No. 7 Cardinal Gibbons 38, Belen 0
No. 9 Booker T. 41, No. 11 Norland 23
No. 13 Miramar 53, Pembroke Pines Charter 0
No. 16 Doral 48, North Miami 21
Avant Garde Academy 38, Palm Beach Christian Prep 6
Braddock 48, Coral Park 7
Coral Reef 35, Reagan 14
Everglades 12, Flanagan 0
Ferguson 42, Hialeah-Miami Lakes 14
Miami Beach 20, American 0
Mourning 14, Varela 8
Piper 38, South Plantation 20
This story was originally published October 7, 2022 at 8:06 AM.
