WEST PALM BEACH – The last time John Carroll High faced a West Palm Beach program, it wasn’t a pleasant night for the Catholic school from Fort Pierce.
The Rams got walloped 49-0 by Cardinal Newman in a season-opening home loss in late August. John Carroll hasn’t lost since.
Facing Forest Hill in its homecoming game at Bobby Riggs Stadium in West Palm Beach, visiting John Carroll and its luminous senior running back Jeremy Pittman rolled over the Falcons in a 41-0 blanking on Thursday Sept. 25.
Pittman scored on two 50-yard touchdown gallops in the first quarter and wound up with 148 yards on 7 carries as the Rams won its fourth straight to move to 4-1.
Pittman, getting heavy interest from a slew of Division II schools, didn’t gain a yard in the second half. And didn’t have to.
“I give my props to the line and the receivers as they did their part as well,’’ Pittman said. “I executed every chance I got the ball.’’
John Carroll led 34-0 at halftime and running time began early in the third quarter when the lead surpassed 35 points.
“This is just the beginning,” said Pittman, whose school went 10-0 in last season’s regular season before losing in the first playoff round. “We’re going to go all the way. I feel good about my performance but it could always be better.”
The Rams looked a lot different than the one that failed to compete against Cardinal Newman. “I feel we could’ve been better and we didn’t show the team that we were,’’’ John Carroll defensive lineman Paul Zyskowski said. “All we can do now is continue to have our playoff dreams.’’
The first-half splurge was capped by a 5-yard run by Pittman after an interception return of 35 yards by linebacker Joshua Dean.
The defense was just magnificent, holding the young Falcons (2-4) to 27 yards of total offense. The defensive line especially was stingy.
“It was good in all three phases,’’ coach Mickey Groody said. “A lot of things we can build on. It’s nice to come down here and get used to being on the road. We’re not sure where we’ll be in the playoffs. Hopefully a home game but these travels help.’’
Pittman, who racked up 300 yards in a 35-6 win over Centennial earlier this season, scored on two 50-yard touchdown runs in the first quarter. Missed tackles and Pittman’s grace led to John Carroll’s dominance.
Pittman struck two minutes into the game, breaking to the sidelines for his score under an orange sky at dusk.
“At this point I’m used to him doing his thing,” said Groody, a punter at FAU during the Howard Schnellenberger Era. “(Pittman) is just such a humble guy, hard worker. So proud he’s on our team and runs the ball for us.”
Forest Hill’s Reese Carter intercepted a pass on the Rams second possession but the Falcons offense wasn’t moving the ball. Forest Hill had just one yard of total offense late in the third quarter.
“I credit to the D line – they filled the gaps and made it easier for me to read,” said star linebacker Micah Coleman.
Forest Hill’s lefty running quarterback, Cole MacVane, who gained 101 yards the week before at Boca Raton High, had no holes to bust through and got sacked or caught behind the line of scrimmage myriad times.
John Carroll defensive linemen Trey Jackson and Manny Perez also created the pressure up front.
“I’d say it’s our chemistry overall,’’ said Zyskowski. “We’ve played together a long time.’’
Pittman had three rushing touchdowns total in the first half. After Pittman gained 33 yards to the 9, he scampered in on the next play with 1:29 left in the half for a 28-0 lead.
The other touchdown score that made it 21-0 was a 1-yard sneak on third-and-goal by quarterback Jackson Summerall early in the second quarter. Summerall was 10 of 14 for 82 yards.
The Fort Pierce school had previously beaten Centennial (35-6), Okeechobee (7-0), Port St. Lucie (48-0).
The Forest Hill coaching staff knew it was in for a big challenge, noting the Rams penchant for high-level misdirection plays while watching film.
After the rout, the Forest Hill players still sidled up to the school band that played the school’s fight song. It the Homecoming Game but it ended then with a long lecture from first-year head coach Evan Williams, a former Forest Hill standout who is the fourth head coach in six years.
“Every week is a battle especially when you’re a young team,’’ Williams said. “We knew what to expect. They’re a good team. They’re talented and well-coached. We knew we had to match their level of effort and execution. We had to be perfect. There was no surprise or shock. Losses show more growing points than wins.’’
The Rams put the finishing touches on the route in the third quarter on 79-yard punt return touchdown by Donevon Richardson, who got the key block from Devon Lewis.
John Carroll played reserves for the fourth quarter and ran out the clock despite driving deep into Forest Hill territory – a class act. Then it was onto the bus for what would be a contented 75-minute ride back to the Treasure Coast from West Palm.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: John Carroll football gaining confidence with winning streak: ‘This is just the beginning’
Reporting by Marc Berman / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
