Archbishop Carroll routs Palmer Trinity for second independent conference title in a row
Miami Archbishop Carroll’s rise to contender status included some growing pains.
Despite a dominant season last year, the Bulldogs learned the postseason is a different challenge after being upset by Miami Palmer Trinity in the first round.
The Bulldogs hope a year’s worth of experience makes the difference.
If Friday’s result is any indication, Carroll might be correct as the Bulldogs avenged their lone loss of this season by dominating Palmer Trinity 42-7 at Tropical Park.
Carroll completed a second consecutive 9-1 regular season with its second Florida Independent Football Conference championship in a row.
And next, just like last year, the Bulldogs are expecting to host Palmer Trinity again in the Region 4-1M semifinals when the playoffs begin in two weeks. The teams would have a bye next week since the Class 1M bracket involves only 16 teams instead of 32 like the other classifications.
“I know Palmer is banged up and we are too and we’ll see each other again in two weeks and it probably will be a different story because both teams will be healthier,” Archbishop Carroll coach Jorge Zagales said. “We’re a little bit older and last year we didn’t have the experience of having been in the playoffs. I think they might have gotten a little starry-eyed and Palmer, seeing us three times, stepped up and beat us. We’re hoping it’s a different story this time.”
If Carroll plays the way it did Friday, the result might not be too different in two weeks.
Implementing their Wing-T offense, the Bulldogs amassed 464 yards rushing and three running backs finished with over 100 yards in the game.
Sylus Villanueva totaled 134 yards and three touchdowns on 16 carries while Ryan Gonzalez ran for 125 yards on just six carries and scored twice himself. Gonzalez also had a 93-yard touchdown run nullified by a holding penalty in the fourth quarter.
Alejandro Isaza totaled 102 yards on seven carries.
Carroll’s defense also came up huge, forcing three turnovers including Eric Rodriguez’s 16-yard interception return for a touchdown early in the second half. Gonzalez also had an interception and Jorge Sanchez-Morales had a sack. Sebastian de la Pava recovered a fumble as well.
“We want to be opportunistic and our defense does that really well,” Zagales said. “Rodriguez stepped in front of that hitch route and looked great.”
Palmer Trinity’s lone score came on a 72-yard touchdown pass from Emil Infante to Max Drucker with 5:33 left in the second quarter.
The play, though, accounted for the only yards Carroll’s defense allowed in the first half.
“We’re playing really well on both sides of the ball and those guys up front really don’t get enough credit,” Zagales said. “We have great running backs and linebackers, but our offensive and defensive linemen come through every week with a lot of aggression and a lot of physicality and I’m really proud of these guys. They’ve done it all year long.”
