1 of 37
Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
Homewood’s Kameron Gaines (7) runs the ball during a game between Carver-Birmingham and Homewood on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood. The Homewood Patriots defeated Carver-Birmingham 35-13. Photo by Erin Nelson
2 of 37
Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
Homewood’s Pate Owen (18) makes the handoff to Homewood’s Trae Ausmer (9) during a game between Carver-Birmingham and Homewood on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood. The Homewood Patriots defeated Carver-Birmingham 35-13. Photo by Erin Nelson
3 of 37
Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
Homewood’s Trae Ausmer (9) runs through the end zone after scoring a touchdown during a game between Carver-Birmingham and Homewood on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood. The Homewood Patriots defeated Carver-Birmingham 35-13. Photo by Erin Nelson
4 of 37
Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
Homewood’s Brode Susce (4) makes the handoff to Homewood’s Kameron Gaines (7) during a game between Carver-Birmingham and Homewood on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood. The Homewood Patriots defeated Carver-Birmingham 35-13. Photo by Erin Nelson
5 of 37
Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
Carver-Birmingham’s Ca'Marion McKinney (9) is brought down by Homewood’s Charlie Goode (11), Homewood’s Gabe Madden (20) and Homewood’s Darrius Hentley (17) during a game between Carver-Birmingham and Homewood on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood. The Homewood Patriots defeated Carver-Birmingham 35-13. Photo by Erin Nelson
6 of 37
Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
Homewood’s Brode Susce (4) makes the handoff to Homewood’s Kameron Gaines (7) during a game between Carver-Birmingham and Homewood on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood. The Homewood Patriots defeated Carver-Birmingham 35-13. Photo by Erin Nelson
7 of 37
Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
during a game between Carver-Birmingham and Homewood on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood. The Homewood Patriots defeated Carver-Birmingham 35-13. Photo by Erin Nelson
8 of 37
Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
Homewood’s Len Irvine (3) catches a pass in the end zone for a touchdown at the end of the first-half of a game between Carver-Birmingham and Homewood on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood. The Homewood Patriots defeated Carver-Birmingham 35-13. Photo by Erin Nelson
9 of 37
Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
Homewood’s Cameron Green (13) runs through the Carver-Birmingham defense during a game between Carver-Birmingham and Homewood on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood. The Homewood Patriots defeated Carver-Birmingham 35-13. Photo by Erin Nelson
10 of 37
Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
Homewood’s Brode Susce (4) catches the snap during a game between Carver-Birmingham and Homewood on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood. The Homewood Patriots defeated Carver-Birmingham 35-13. Photo by Erin Nelson
11 of 37
Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
The Homewood Patriot marching band announces their 2021 appearance in the Rose Bowl Parade during a game between Carver-Birmingham and Homewood on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood. Photo by Erin Nelson
12 of 37
Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
The Homewood marching band performs during halftime in a game between Carver-Birmingham and Homewood on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood. Photo by Erin Nelson
13 of 37
Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
The Homewood marching band performs during halftime in a game between Carver-Birmingham and Homewood on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood. Photo by Erin Nelson
14 of 37
Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
The Homewood marching band performs during halftime in a game between Carver-Birmingham and Homewood on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood. Photo by Erin Nelson
15 of 37
Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
The Homewood marching band performs during halftime in a game between Carver-Birmingham and Homewood on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood. Photo by Erin Nelson
16 of 37
Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
The Homewood marching band performs during halftime in a game between Carver-Birmingham and Homewood on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood. Photo by Erin Nelson
17 of 37
Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
The Homewood marching band performs during halftime in a game between Carver-Birmingham and Homewood on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood. Photo by Erin Nelson
18 of 37
Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
The Homewood marching band performs during halftime in a game between Carver-Birmingham and Homewood on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood. Photo by Erin Nelson
19 of 37
Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
The Homewood marching band performs during halftime in a game between Carver-Birmingham and Homewood on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood. Photo by Erin Nelson
20 of 37
Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
The Homewood cheerleaders dance on the sideline during a game between Carver-Birmingham and Homewood on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood. The Homewood Patriots defeated Carver-Birmingham 35-13. Photo by Erin Nelson
21 of 37
Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
The Homewood marching band performs during halftime in a game between Carver-Birmingham and Homewood on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood. Photo by Erin Nelson
22 of 37
Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
Homewood’s Trae Ausmer (9) runs the ball during a game between Carver-Birmingham and Homewood on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood. The Homewood Patriots defeated Carver-Birmingham 35-13. Photo by Erin Nelson
23 of 37
Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
Homewood’s Kameron Gaines (7) runs the ball during a game between Carver-Birmingham and Homewood on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood. The Homewood Patriots defeated Carver-Birmingham 35-13. Photo by Erin Nelson
24 of 37
Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
Homewood’s Kameron Gaines (7) runs the ball as Carver-Birmingham’s Deatrius Williams (5) and Carver-Birmingham’s Jacarri Hill Rolley (22) make the tackle during a game between Carver-Birmingham and Homewood on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood. The Homewood Patriots defeated Carver-Birmingham 35-13. Photo by Erin Nelson
25 of 37
Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
Homewood’s Trae Ausmer (9) runs the ball during a game between Carver-Birmingham and Homewood on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood. The Homewood Patriots defeated Carver-Birmingham 35-13. Photo by Erin Nelson
26 of 37
Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
Carver-Birmingham’s Ca'Marion McKinney (9) catches a pass guarded by Homewood’s Cameron Humes (28) during a game between Carver-Birmingham and Homewood on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood. The Homewood Patriots defeated Carver-Birmingham 35-13. Photo by Erin Nelson
27 of 37
Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
Homewood’s Kameron Gaines (7) dives for extra yardage during a game between Carver-Birmingham and Homewood on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood. The Homewood Patriots defeated Carver-Birmingham 35-13. Photo by Erin Nelson
28 of 37
Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
Carver-Birmingham’s Chad Tarbert (11) and Carver-Birmingham’s Ross Holloway (7) tackle Homewood’s Kameron Gaines (7) during a game between Carver-Birmingham and Homewood on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood. The Homewood Patriots defeated Carver-Birmingham 35-13. Photo by Erin Nelson
29 of 37
Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
Homewood’s Charlie Goode (11) high-fives teammates after intercepting a pass in the end zone for a touchdown during a game between Carver-Birmingham and Homewood on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood. The Homewood Patriots defeated Carver-Birmingham 35-13. Photo by Erin Nelson
30 of 37
Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
Homewood’s Trae Ausmer (9) runs the ball into the end zone for a touchdown during a game between Carver-Birmingham and Homewood on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood. The Homewood Patriots defeated Carver-Birmingham 35-13. Photo by Erin Nelson
31 of 37
Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
Homewood’s Kameron Gaines (7) runs the ball as Carver-Birmingham’s Ross Holloway (7) makes the tackle during a game between Carver-Birmingham and Homewood on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood. The Homewood Patriots defeated Carver-Birmingham 35-13. Photo by Erin Nelson
32 of 37
Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
Homewood’s Katie Crim (83) high-fives a coach after kicking the extra point for the Patriots during a game between Carver-Birmingham and Homewood on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood. The Homewood Patriots defeated Carver-Birmingham 35-13. Photo by Erin Nelson
33 of 37
Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
The Homewood Patriots celebrate following a game between Carver-Birmingham and Homewood on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood. The Homewood Patriots defeated Carver-Birmingham 35-13. Photo by Erin Nelson
34 of 37
Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
The Homewood student section rallies behind the Patriots during a game between Carver-Birmingham and Homewood on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood. The Homewood Patriots defeated Carver-Birmingham 35-13. Photo by Erin Nelson
35 of 37
Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
Homewood’s Trae Ausmer (9) runs the ball during a game between Carver-Birmingham and Homewood on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood. The Homewood Patriots defeated Carver-Birmingham 35-13. Photo by Erin Nelson
36 of 37
Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
Carver-Birmingham’s Matthew Young (1) throws a pass during a game between Carver-Birmingham and Homewood on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood. The Homewood Patriots defeated Carver-Birmingham 35-13. Photo by Erin Nelson
37 of 37
Photo by Erin Nelson Starnes Media
Homewood’s Blake Bunshaw (22) catches a pass in the end zone during a game between Carver-Birmingham and Homewood on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood. The Homewood Patriots defeated Carver-Birmingham 35-13. Photo by Erin Nelson
HOMEWOOD -- The first half of the game wasn’t pretty, much like the first half of the season.
But Homewood High School’s football team got its offense in gear in the second half and powered to a 35-13 win over Carver-Birmingham on Friday night at Waldrop Stadium. In the process, the Patriots extended their streak of consecutive seasons with postseason appearances to eight.
After getting off to a quick start with a touchdown in the first two minutes of the game — a 6-yard run by fourth-string running back Kameron Gaines, set up by a pair of long passes by quarterback Pate Owen — Homewood saw the Rams suddenly take the momentum. Carver quickly evened the score on its first play from scrimmage, a 65-yard bomb on a halfback option pass from LaDarius Camp to Ca’Marion McKinney. Then on the subsequent kickoff, the visitors recovered an onside kick.
But the Rams could not capitalize on that surprise, and likewise came up empty when they recovered a Homewood fumble with five minutes left in the first quarter. That drive ate up eight minutes and included a missed field goal negated by a roughing-the-kicker penalty, but it ended four plays later on a fake field goal attempt, where holder Ross Holloway threw a pass into the end zone that was intercepted.
Late in the first half, Owen and the Patriots offense ran a two-minute drill to perfection. Five straight passes in 74 seconds led to a 9-yard touchdown reception by Len Irvine with 26 seconds before the break.
From that point on Homewood dominated the game, stopping a Rams drive at the 22-yard line and then racing to a score in five plays. Owen finished the drive with a pass to Trae Ausmer, who found a hole in the middle of the Carver secondary and dashed 49 yards for the touchdown.
Then coach Ben Berguson cranked up the ground game, with Gaines running on 10 out of the next 12 plays, capped by a 1-yard scoring dive, his second of the evening.
The Patriots’ defense got on the scoreboard as well, as linebacker Charlie Goode intercepted a Carver pass and ran back 25 yards for a pick-six with 3:10 left in the game. The Rams added a touchdown in the last minute on a 73-yard pass from Matthew Young to Jacolby Houston.
Kicker Katie Crim was perfect on five extra point conversions.
The victory, coupled with Chelsea’s loss to Minor, gives Homewood the third seed in the region going into the playoffs.
“What a wild and crazy season it’s been,” Berguson said afterward. “Two weeks ago, we were sitting there with a 1-5 record. But these guys just came to work every day and followed through, and here we are.”
Berguson was especially proud of his offensive line, which had struggled earlier in the season. The Patriots gained just 107 yards on the ground, but most of it came in the second half and enabled them to wear the Rams defense down while running time off the clock. Gaines ran 17 times for 77 yards, mostly after halftime.
“This is the first time this season we’ve really run the ball effectively,” Berguson said.
Owen had 13 completions on 16 pass attempts, two for scores, gaining 241 yards. Ausmer led the receiving corps with five catches for 76 yards, and Cameron Green’s two receptions were good for 65 yards.
Homewood (3-5, 3-2 in region) plays its last home game next week against Jackson-Olin.
Click here to purchase photos from the game.
