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Photo by James Nicholas
The John Carroll wide receiver, eyes open field and heads towards the end zone during a game between John Carroll and Carver High Schools on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, at G.W Carver High School Stadium in Birmingham, Ala.
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Photo by James Nicholas
John Carroll team captains linebacker Braydon Lowery (18) and lineman Anthony Mokry (51) during the coin toss at a game between John Carroll and Carver High Schools on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, at G.W Carver High School Stadium in Birmingham, Ala.
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Photo by James Nicholas
John Carroll students during a game between John Carroll and Carver High Schools on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, at G.W Carver High School Stadium in Birmingham, Ala.
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Photo by James Nicholas
John Carroll players before a game between John Carroll and Carver High Schools on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, at G.W Carver High School Stadium in Birmingham, Ala.
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Photo by James Nicholas
John Carroll students during a game between John Carroll and Carver High Schools on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, at G.W Carver High School Stadium in Birmingham, Ala.
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Photo by James Nicholas
John Carroll band's saxophone section at a game between John Carroll and Carver High Schools on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, at G.W Carver High School Stadium in Birmingham, Ala.
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Photo by James Nicholas
John Carroll students during a game between John Carroll and Carver High Schools on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, at G.W Carver High School Stadium in Birmingham, Ala.
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Photo by James Nicholas
John Carroll's drum major at a game between John Carroll and Carver High Schools on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, at G.W Carver High School Stadium in Birmingham, Ala.
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Photo by James Nicholas
John Carroll defensive back, John Ford (9) grabs the Carver ball carriers jersey to drag him down during a game between John Carroll and Carver High Schools on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, at G.W Carver High School Stadium in Birmingham, Ala.
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Photo by James Nicholas
John Carroll running back, Tristan Rutledge (2) leaps over the Carver defender during a game between John Carroll and Carver High Schools on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, at G.W Carver High School Stadium in Birmingham, Ala.
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Photo by James Nicholas
John Carroll's offensive line gives quarterback, Garrett Barnes, (12) plenty of space and time for a pass during a game between John Carroll and Carver High Schools on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, at G.W Carver High School Stadium in Birmingham, Ala.
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Photo by James Nicholas
John Carroll wide receiver, Aubrey Walker (3) struggles to get extra yardage against the Carver defender during a game between John Carroll and Carver High Schools on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, at G.W Carver High School Stadium in Birmingham, Ala.
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Photo by James Nicholas
John Carroll running back, Tristan Rutledge (2) finds an open gap during a game between John Carroll and Carver High Schools on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, at G.W Carver High School Stadium in Birmingham, Ala.
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Photo by James Nicholas
The head referee, signaling a first down for John Carroll after a measurement time out at a game between John Carroll and Carver High Schools on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, at G.W Carver High School Stadium in Birmingham, Ala.
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Photo by James Nicholas
John Carroll cheerleaders celebrating a touchdown during a game between John Carroll and Carver High Schools on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, at G.W Carver High School Stadium in Birmingham, Ala.
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Photo by James Nicholas
John Carroll quarterback, Garrett Barnes, (12) connects with the wide receiver during a game between John Carroll and Carver High Schools on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, at G.W Carver High School Stadium in Birmingham, Ala.
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Photo by James Nicholas
John Carroll running back, Aubrey Coker, (25) threads the needle between Carver defenders during a game between John Carroll and Carver High Schools on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, at G.W Carver High School Stadium in Birmingham, Ala.
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Photo by James Nicholas
The John Carroll wide receiver, is able to gain a first down during a game between John Carroll and Carver High Schools on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, at G.W Carver High School Stadium in Birmingham, Ala.
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Photo by James Nicholas
The John Carroll ball carrier sweeps left inching towards the end zone during a game between John Carroll and Carver High Schools on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, at G.W Carver High School Stadium in Birmingham, Ala.
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Photo by James Nicholas
John Carroll wide receiver, Aubrey Walker (3) struggles to get extra yardage against the Carver defender during a game between John Carroll and Carver High Schools on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, at G.W Carver High School Stadium in Birmingham, Ala.
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Photo by James Nicholas
John Carroll running back Jacob DiChiara (23) during a game between John Carroll and Carver High Schools on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, at G.W Carver High School Stadium in Birmingham, Ala.
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Photo by James Nicholas
John Carroll offensive lineman, Nicolas Garrido (50) open the gap for his running back during a game between John Carroll and Carver High Schools on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, at G.W Carver High School Stadium in Birmingham, Ala.
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Photo by James Nicholas
An aerial view of G.W Carver High School Stadium during a game between John Carroll and Carverl on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, at G.W Carver High School Stadium in Birmingham, Ala.
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Photo by James Nicholas
John Carroll running back Koron Wright (8) looks towards the side line for the play call during a game between John Carroll and Carver High Schools on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, at G.W Carver High School Stadium in Birmingham, Ala.
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Photo by James Nicholas
John Carroll offensive lineman, Anthony Mokry (51) during a game between John Carroll and Carver High Schools on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, at G.W Carver High School Stadium in Birmingham, Ala.
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Photo by James Nicholas
John Carroll wide receiver, Aubrey Walker (3) throws a juke move on the Carver defender during a game between John Carroll and Carver High Schools on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, at G.W Carver High School Stadium in Birmingham, Ala.
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Photo by James Nicholas
John Carroll defensive lineman Nic Gagliano (52) looks to the sideline for the play call during a game between John Carroll and Carver High Schools on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, at G.W Carver High School Stadium in Birmingham, Ala.
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Photo by James Nicholas
John Carroll wide receiver Aubrey Walker (3) is able to avoid the first Carver defender to gain extra yardage during a game between John Carroll and Carver High Schools on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, at G.W Carver High School Stadium in Birmingham, Ala.
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Photo by James Nicholas
John Carroll's defense had to use teamwork to slow down the Carver run game during a game between John Carroll and Carver High Schools on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, at G.W Carver High School Stadium in Birmingham, Ala.
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Photo by James Nicholas
John Carroll Player (57) looks downfield for his assigned block during a game between John Carroll and Carver High Schools on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, at G.W Carver High School Stadium in Birmingham, Ala.
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Photo by James Nicholas
John Carroll Head coach, Will Marat takes a time out to call a jump pass to close out the first half during a game between John Carroll and Carver High Schools on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, at G.W Carver High School Stadium in Birmingham, Ala.
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Photo by James Nicholas
John Carroll students during a game between John Carroll and Carver High Schools on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, at G.W Carver High School Stadium in Birmingham, Ala.
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Photo by James Nicholas
John Carroll players run onto the field before a game between John Carroll and Carver High Schools on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, at G.W Carver High School Stadium in Birmingham, Ala.
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Photo by James Nicholas
John Carroll cheerleaders during a game between John Carroll and Carver High Schools on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, at G.W Carver High School Stadium in Birmingham, Ala.
BIRMINGHAM – The John Carroll Catholic High School football team hung around for much of Thursday night’s game against Carver-Birmingham, but the final quarter proved unkind.
The Cavaliers dropped to 0-3 on the season and 0-1 in Class 5A, Region 5 play with a 26-7 loss to Carver.
John Carroll had some chances, particularly late in the first half. The Cavs capped a 70-yard drive with a 4-yard run by Aubrey Walker to cut the deficit to 12-7, then recovered the ensuing kickoff. A pooch kick dropped near the sideline and stayed in bounds long enough for a Cavs gunner to reach it, allowing them to keep possession.
The Cavs took the ball from there and drove down inside the 5-yard line, but three straight plays from the 2 were unfruitful and allowed Carver to hold the halftime lead.
In the third quarter, John Carroll had a couple chances to make something happen. Koron Wright blocked a punt to set the Cavs up with solid field position, but they eventually had to punt.
A collection of Carver mistakes gave John Carroll the ball in the red zone later in the quarter, but a missed field goal ended that hope as well.
Carver scored both times it possessed the ball in the fourth quarter to put the game away.
“Carver’s much improved, they’ve got a good football team,” John Carroll head coach Will Mara said following the game. “We’ve got to try to right the ship next week. Got to execute better, got to coach better.”
There were a few bright spots in the game for John Carroll. Senior Braydon Lowery notched a sack, broke up a pass and caught a pass on the evening. Wright’s blocked punt was a big moment in the game. Quarterback Garrett Barnes made some strong throws, particularly in the second quarter, to move the Cavs down the field.
But Walker went out with an injury on the final play of the first half, as his carry came up a half yard short of the goal line.
“A lot to learn from, continuously,” Mara said. “All the goals we set are still intact, we’ve just got to dig ourselves out of a hole. We’ll see what we’re made of.”
Barnes finished 11-of-20 passing for 66 yards. Tristen Rutledge led the Cavs on the ground with 26 yards on 12 carries.
Next week, John Carroll returns home to play Hayden. Carver plays again on its home field, hosting Briarwood.
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