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Chestin Jones finally got a grip and when he did he was able to show off his speed.
Jones had problems fielding punts and free kicks in the first half, dropping one and mishandling another. He regained control of the ball both times, but had little chance for a good return.
But on the second half kickoff, Homewood’s junior running back made a clean catch and then raced 95 yards for a touchdown, fueling a third quarter surge that carried the No. 9 Patriots to a 35-0 homecoming victory against John Carroll Catholic Friday night at Waldrop Stadium.
“They changed balls and I felt like I had a good grip on it,” Jones said. “I ran behind my blocks and then used my speed. When I got into the open, I knew I was gone.”
Meanwhile, Homewood’s defense totally shut down the Cavaliers, allowing only 1 total yard and one first down, as the Patriots recorded their second consecutive shutout. They beat Briarwood 27-0 last week.
“Our defense was unbelievable,” Homewood coach Ben Berguson said. “Our first team defense never gave up a first down.”
Homewood improved to 4-1 overall, 3-0 in Class 6A, Region 5. John Carroll remained winless, 0-4 overall, 0-3 in the region.
The kickoff return was Jones’ first touchdown of any kind this season, since he became eligible before the Briarwood game.
Jones’ score ignited the Patriots, who sputtered offensively in the first half, despite a 14-0 lead at the break. Homewood turned the ball over twice in the half on a fumble and an interception.
“I was disappointed our offense didn’t start the game the way we wanted to,” Berguson said. “We had a tough time sustaining any momentum, although we were able to hurt them with a couple of big plays.
“Chestin’s kickoff return was big. It kind of got us going.”
The Patriots’ offense scored on two of its first three second-half possessions to turn the game into a complete rout.
Senior quarterback Carson Griffis threw a 33-yard touchdown pass senior wide receiver Alec Marsch with 8:42 remaining in the third quarter. It came one play after the two had combined on a 10-yard completion on a fourth-and-5 play for a first down.
Griffis scrambled 9 yards for a touchdown on another fourth-down play with 10:32 left in the final quarter to close the scoring.
Homewood recorded two safeties to build its 14-0 halftime lead.
Wesley Butler, Antarius Mitchell and Griffin Gentry sacked John Carroll quarterback Bailey Mara in the end zone for the first safety with 7:51 left in the second quarter.
After the free kick, the Patriots quickly moved into John Carroll territory. On a fourth-and-7 play from the 39-yard line, Griffis completed a 35-yard pass to Ronald Claiborne, but Claiborne was stripped of the ball following the reception. The Cavaliers recovered the fumble at their 4.
Four plays later, Homewood's Tobbie Taylor partially blocked John Carroll's Lucas Strachan's rugby-style punt out of the right side of the end zone for the Patriots' second safety with 3:32 remaining in the half.
“That’s crazy,” Berguson said. “That’s the first time I’ve had a team with two safeties in a game.”
Homewood's first points came on Roger Castro's 26-yard field goal on the Patriots' first possession of the game.
The Patriots increased their lead to 10-0 on Derrick Underwood's 10-yard touchdown run around right end with 8:50 remaining in the half.
