FIU commit Zac Katz’s 2 TDs propel True North past Archbishop McCarthy

After a couple of early-season setbacks, Miami True North Classical Academy is starting to hit its stride.

The Titans took a big step forward on Friday night with an impressive 31-6 road victory against previously unbeaten Archbishop McCarthy.

Quarterback Zac Katz threw two touchdowns passes and unofficially amassed 234 yards through the air, and Cecil Smith gained 95 yards rushing.

In all phases, the Titans (2-2) impressed.

The defense recorded three interceptions, and limited a high-powered Mavericks’ offense to just one touchdown.

The kicking game accounted for a field goal, and on kickoffs kept McCarthy out of favorable field position.

“That’s a really good football team,” Titans coach Greg Laffere said. “They’re well coached. They do a great job. Their scheme is difficult. But we were able to play together. Guys were doing their jobs.”

The way the season started off, True North is starting to put things together. When it clicks, the Titans have the talent to be dangerous.

Early on, it was a challenge. True North opened with a pair of road losses – 41-14 to Sarasota Cardinal Mooney and 44-34 to Fort Myers Bishop Verot.

At home last week, the Titans bounced back with a 49-18 win against Monsignor Pace. And Friday night, they seized momentum in the first half and never trailed against McCarthy (3-1).

“Early, all the momentum swings went against us,” Laffere said. “Tonight, and really last week started this. We started making the key plays in the key moments. Complementary football. That’s a good team.”

In the first quarter, the Titans struck first on a passing combination of two players committed to FIU. Katz hooked up with Malik Denson on a 35-yard pass play.

Christopher Macias’ extra point made it 7-0.

McCarthy was positioned to answer back after quarterback Robert Kerns drove the Mavericks from their 20 to the Titans’ 16. But on third down, the drive stalled when Titans defensive back Dominic Turnbull made an interception in the end zone.

True North was able to cash in after the turnover. Katz completed a 25-yard pass to Kamari Bailey and Smith capped the drive with a 35-yard touchdown run, making it 14-0.

And in the closing minute of the first half, Kemari Morrison’s 1-yard touchdown run gave the Titans a 21-0 lead at halftime.

In the first two quarters, Katz was 9-for-11 for 158 yards.

“We called a great game,” Katz said. “Our coaches put us in a position to succeed, and we executed.”

McCarthy gained possession first in the third quarter, and promptly drove down the field on a 73-yard touchdown drive. Kerns scored on a 5-yard touchdown run.

But the big play was Kerns’ 54-yard completion to Malik Denson.

The extra point, however, failed.

Throughout the night, True North’s defense repeatedly contained McCarthy’s playmakers.

“I call it, ‘village tackling,’ “ Laffere said. “It’s not one guy trying to make a tackle. We had a bunch of people hats to the ball. [Kerns] is good. They’ve got some really good skill guys on the outside, but when you populate the football. That makes it hard for people to run away from you. We did a good job with that.”

And on offense, the Titans had their share of big plays.

Late in the third quarter, Katz connected with Kamari Bailey on a 50-yard pass play that set up a 22-yard field goal by Macias. True North headed into the fourth quarter ahead, 24-6.

In the fourth quarter, the running game, led by Smith, chewed up the clock. And in the closing minutes, the Titans added another insurance touchdown on Katz’s 1-yard touchdown pass to Z’aire Watson.

The last drive was set up by Andy Lopez Paiffer’s interception.

“We were able to make those big momentum plays that changed the tide,” Laffere said.

This story was originally published September 13, 2025 at 5:06 AM.