Archbishop McCarthy football serves notice with shootout win over Gibbons
Archbishop McCarthy’s football team went 9-0 playing as an independent two seasons ago.
The Mavericks followed that with a return to district play last season, which ended with a winning 7-5 record and McCarthy advancing to the Region 4-4A semifinals.
The Mavericks appear to be ready for even more success in 2025.
A week after an eye-opening 20-13 exhibition victory over Miami-Dade County contender Miami Palmetto, Archbishop McCarthy scored an even bigger win on Thursday night over Broward County rival Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons 42-35 in the lone intracounty matchup of the 2025 Broward County National Football Showcase.
McCarthy (1-0), ranked No. 19 by the Miami Herald in its South Florida Top 20, took a 7-0 lead on a 36-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Robert Kerns to junior receiver Ja’Kobi Williams early in the second quarter.
From that point on, the Mavericks traded touchdowns with the host Chiefs (0-1), who tied the game five times but were never able to take the lead.
Gibbons, ranked No. 9 by the Herald, routed Sunrise Piper 31-0 in their kickoff classic last week and entered the season expected to be one of the top contenders in Class 2A.
Kerns shredded the Chiefs’ defense, throwing four touchdown passes and for over 350 yards to pace the Mavericks’ offense, which totaled over 500 yards.
Junior running back Damien Grant complemented the passing game with two touchdowns.
With the game tied at 35 with two minutes left in regulation, Grant found an opening and surged 29 yards into the end zone to put McCarthy ahead for good.
Gibbons had one last chance and reached midfield before a costly penalty pushed the Chiefs back into its own territory at the 35. The Mavericks defense came up with a rare stop on downs, sealing their victory.
Grant, who ran for over 150 yards, surged through the middle of Gibbons’ defense, broke a high tackle attempt 10 yards ahead of the line of scrimmage, and sped downfield for a 62-yard touchdown that put the Mavericks ahead 21-14 just after halftime.
Quarterback Jayden Torres countered the offensive onslaught from McCarthy by keeping Gibbons’ own offense humming throughout the game. Torres also threw for over 350 yards and four touchdown passes including a pair to Gary Hadley Jr.
A 69-yard connection between Torres and Hadley Jr. tied the game at 35 to give Gibbons a chance late.
After an earlier 31-yard touchdown hookup between Torres and Hadley Jr. tied the game at 21, the Chiefs had their best chance to take a lead midway through the third quarter. But McCarthy senior Joseph Shapiro picked off Torres and returned it into Chiefs’ territory. This led to a Kerns 20-yard touchdown pass to Williams as McCarthy grabbed the advantage once again, 28-21.
Williams and Malik Denson each had two touchdown catches and over 100 yards receiving each.
McCarthy is looking to make a splash this season in one of the deepest districts in the state, which includes defending Class 4A state champion Plantation American Heritage, Miami Norland and Plantation. All four teams made the playoffs last season. McCarthy defeated Plantation in the first round before losing to Norland in the second round.
Gibbons is in a two-team district with Hallandale and remains a favorite to win Region 4-2A this season.
This story was originally published August 22, 2025 at 10:37 AM.
