This article was written by Vanessa Ryals, class of 2018.
After almost two weeks worth of canceled games due to Hurricane Irma, the varsity football team came back to defeat the Chaminade-Madonna Lions 41-13 in a highly contested high school showcase aired on ESPNU.
The Patriots had an impressive start to the 2017 season, ranking among the top-10 high school football teams in the nation. With a defensive team backed by Patrick Surtain II and Tyson Campbell, #1 and #2 cornerbacks in the nation, and a pre-season win against Booker T. Washington, the Patriots (2-0) were favored to beat the Lions (1-1).
Just 10 minutes into the game senior quarterback Cam Smith completed a 26-yard pass to wide receiver Joshua Alexander for the first touchdown of the night. A series of overthrows held the Lions back during this time, and they emerged from the first quarter with a total of four penalties.
Senior running back Jordan Johnson and junior running back Tyler Jones came through toward the end of quarter one with a three-yard and nine-yard rushing touchdown, respectively. Senior kicker Jared Elstein followed through with both after having his first kick blocked, bringing the score to 20-0 by the end of the first quarter.
Entering the second quarter, attention shifted to wide receiver and cornerback Anthony Schwartz. In addition to being ranked in the top 250 prospects in the nation, the accomplished senior broke a Florida Relays record 100-meter dash with a time of 10.15 seconds last March. His skills on the track also shined on the field tonight.
Following a seven-yard rushing touchdown by Chaminade-Madonna, a 21-yard pass completed to Schwartz put the Patriots ahead 26-6. Then, with just under three minutes left in the quarter, Smith completed a one-yard rushing touchdown.
Halftime came with a weather delay due to lightning in the area, but players were back on the field within a half hour.
The game culminated with an epic 70-yard pass by Smith to Schwartz in the third quarter, and a second touchdown by the Lions in the fourth. However, last minute efforts made by the Lions to organize weren’t enough to surpass the Patriots’ 41-13 lead.
The Patriots will play Stranahan High School Oct. 6.
The next time the Patriots play at home will be for the Homecoming game against Hallandale High School Oct. 27.
