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John Carroll running back/defensive back Derrick Davis Jr. (22) runs the ball dragging the Carver-Birmingham player during a game between John Carroll and Carver-Birmingham on Friday, SEP 03, 2021, at Pat Sullivan field in Birmingham AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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John Carroll offensive/defensive lineman Greg Shunnarah (57) flexes for the camera during a game between John Carroll and Carver-Birmingham on Friday, SEP 03, 2021, at Pat Sullivan field in Birmingham AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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John Carroll plaayers celebrate before a game between John Carroll and Carver-Birmingham on Friday, SEP 03, 2021, at Pat Sullivan field in Birmingham AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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John Carroll students run onto the field before a game between John Carroll and Carver-Birmingham on Friday, SEP 03, 2021, at Pat Sullivan field in Birmingham AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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John Carroll running back/athlete Aaron Mason (6) leads his team onto the field before a game between John Carroll and Carver-Birmingham on Friday, SEP 03, 2021, at Pat Sullivan field in Birmingham AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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The John Carroll students section cheers during a game between John Carroll and Carver-Birmingham on Friday, SEP 03, 2021, at Pat Sullivan field in Birmingham AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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John Carroll defensive lineman Tyler Johnson (95) waits for the next play during a game between John Carroll and Carver-Birmingham on Friday, SEP 03, 2021, at Pat Sullivan field in Birmingham AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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John Carroll wide receiver/linebacker/athlete Cambell McFadden (14) and John Carroll defensive lineman/athlete Lawrence Chambers Johnson (5) tackle Carver-Birmingham wide reciever Cornelius Jones (6) during a game between John Carroll and Carver-Birmingham on Friday, SEP 03, 2021, at Pat Sullivan field in Birmingham AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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John Carroll running back/defensive back Derrick Davis Jr. (22) tries to get a touchdown as he is tackled during a game between John Carroll and Carver-Birmingham on Friday, SEP 03, 2021, at Pat Sullivan field in Birmingham AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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John Carroll majorettes during a game between John Carroll and Carver-Birmingham on Friday, SEP 03, 2021, at Pat Sullivan field in Birmingham AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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the John Carroll students section cheers during a game between John Carroll and Carver-Birmingham on Friday, SEP 03, 2021, at Pat Sullivan field in Birmingham AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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the John Carroll students section cheers during a game between John Carroll and Carver-Birmingham on Friday, SEP 03, 2021, at Pat Sullivan field in Birmingham AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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the John Carroll dance team cheers during a game between John Carroll and Carver-Birmingham on Friday, SEP 03, 2021, at Pat Sullivan field in Birmingham AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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John Carroll band members during a game between John Carroll and Carver-Birmingham on Friday, SEP 03, 2021, at Pat Sullivan field in Birmingham AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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A John Carroll coach watches the game from the top of the stands during a game between John Carroll and Carver-Birmingham on Friday, SEP 03, 2021, at Pat Sullivan field in Birmingham AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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John Carroll’s announcer watches for the call during a game between John Carroll and Carver-Birmingham on Friday, SEP 03, 2021, at Pat Sullivan field in Birmingham AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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John Carroll fans enjoying a game between John Carroll and Carver-Birmingham on Friday, SEP 03, 2021, at Pat Sullivan field in Birmingham AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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John Carroll cheerleaders during a game between John Carroll and Carver-Birmingham on Friday, SEP 03, 2021, at Pat Sullivan field in Birmingham AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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John Carroll wide receiver/defensive back Bobby Campbell (7) and John Carroll quarterback/wide receiver/linebacker Tyler Black (26) on the sideline during a game between John Carroll and Carver-Birmingham on Friday, SEP 03, 2021, at Pat Sullivan field in Birmingham AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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John Carroll defensive lineman Tyler Johnson (95) signals a turnover from the sideline during a game between John Carroll and Carver-Birmingham on Friday, SEP 03, 2021, at Pat Sullivan field in Birmingham AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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John Carroll wide receiver/defensive back Christian harper (3) gets a reception and scores a touchdown during a game between John Carroll and Carver-Birmingham on Friday, SEP 03, 2021, at Pat Sullivan field in Birmingham AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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John Carroll offensive/defensive lineman Greg Shunnarah (57) blocks for his running back during a game between John Carroll and Carver-Birmingham on Friday, SEP 03, 2021, at Pat Sullivan field in Birmingham AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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John Carroll players discuss the previous series on the sideline during a game between John Carroll and Carver-Birmingham on Friday, SEP 03, 2021, at Pat Sullivan field in Birmingham AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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John Carroll defensive lineman/athlete Lawrence Chambers Johnson (5) reviews game footage during a game between John Carroll and Carver-Birmingham on Friday, SEP 03, 2021, at Pat Sullivan field in Birmingham AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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John Carroll wide receiver/linebacker Gabe Wilbur (16) heads towards the sideline after a touchdown during a game between John Carroll and Carver-Birmingham on Friday, SEP 03, 2021, at Pat Sullivan field in Birmingham AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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John Carroll wide receiver/linebacker/athlete Cambell McFadden (14) tries to close the gap putting pressure on Carver-Birmingham’s quarterback during a game between John Carroll and Carver-Birmingham on Friday, SEP 03, 2021, at Pat Sullivan field in Birmingham AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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John Carroll quarterback/defensive back Carson McFadden (17) runs out of pocket keeping the ball for a run during a game between John Carroll and Carver-Birmingham on Friday, SEP 03, 2021, at Pat Sullivan field in Birmingham AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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John Carroll running back/athlete Aaron Mason (6) is tackled by Carver-Birmingham wide reciever Camarion McKinney (9) during a game between John Carroll and Carver-Birmingham on Friday, SEP 03, 2021, at Pat Sullivan field in Birmingham AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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John Carroll wide receiver/defensive back Christian harper (3) tries to run his route against Carver-Birmingham defensive back Darrin Mencer (1) during a game between John Carroll and Carver-Birmingham on Friday, SEP 03, 2021, at Pat Sullivan field in Birmingham AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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John Carroll tight end/defensive back/athlete Quad Harrison (4) waits for the play call during a game between John Carroll and Carver-Birmingham on Friday, SEP 03, 2021, at Pat Sullivan field in Birmingham AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
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John Carroll head coach Will Mara talks with players before a game between John Carroll and Carver-Birmingham on Friday, SEP 03, 2021, at Pat Sullivan field in Birmingham AL. Photo by James Nicholas.
BIRMINGHAM -- The John Carroll Catholic High School football team held on at home to beat Carver-Birmingham 14-6 on Friday night, earning the Cavaliers their first Class 5A, Region 5 win of the season.
“To see this team respond (with a win) after last week, it’s huge,” said second-year John Carroll head coach Will Mara.
John Carroll (2-1, 1-0 in region) dominated much of the game, especially in the first half, controlling time of possession and keeping Carver from putting together long drives. However, the Cavaliers had multiple offensive drives stalled in opponent territory, allowing the Rams to make it nervy for the home team in the final minutes of the game.
The opening drive of the game for John Carroll saw the Cavs drive all the way into the Rams red zone, only for a fourth-down incompletion in the end zone hand the ball to Carver (0-3, 0-1) without any points. John Carroll’s final possession of the first half ended in a similar fashion, turning it over on an interception in the end zone.
“Getting down in the red zone, we’ve got to figure something out,” said Mara. “We’re getting it down there and then just shooting ourselves in the foot.”
“It’s definitely something that we’ve got to work on,” he added.
The home team, however, did look like scoring on its second possession. After forcing a Carver three-and-out and getting the ball in good field position, the Cavs took advantage and turned a six-play, 51-yard drive into seven points when sophomore quarterback Carson McFadden found wide receiver Christian Harper on a 7-yard touchdown pass with 51 seconds left in the first quarter.
McFadden, who finished 9-of-13 for 73 yards, would link up with Harper again with 7:00 to go in the second quarter on a 12-yard touchdown pass. John Carroll would take the 14-0 lead into halftime.
To start the second half, Carver opened with a 12-play drive that saw the Rams get inside the John Carroll 10 for the first time in the game. But the Cavs defense held and forced a turnover on downs at the 5-yard line.
“They came out in a wishbone and that wasn’t something we prepared for,” Mara said. “They were able to move it on us, but our kids are going to fight.”
After the first real threat to John Carroll’s shutout ended, the offenses for both died down with the next five possessions ending in turnovers or punts. It wasn’t until the final five minutes, with John Carroll still maintaining its 14-0 lead, that the game suddenly sparked back to life.
With 4:25 left, Carver took over at its own 20-yard line, then proceeded to drive 80 yards on six plays to score a touchdown on a 2-yard run by senior running back Melvin Harris. After the failed two-point conversion, Carver cut the John Carroll lead to 14-6 with 2:52 remaining.
Then, a three-and-out by John Carroll following the kickoff gave Carver the ball back for one last chance to tie it up. However, after allowing one first down on fourth and 9, the Cavs defense stepped up and smothered the Rams offense, ending the game on a fourth down sack.
“(Our defense) is a scrappy bunch of guys. They take pride in swarming to the ball and that’s what they did this week,” Mara said. “All props to our defense for the way they played tonight.”
The win, Mara said, will give his players confidence going into next week, but he isn’t giving his team too much time to celebrate.
“We’re 0-0 going into next week starting on Monday. We’ve got some things to build on, but we’ve got some mistakes we can fix,” Mara said. “It’s good when you come out of a win and you still got things you can work on. It’s exciting.”
