CCC (Florida) tops Carrollwood Day in district thriller

Marauders' quarterback Jershaun Newton totals 226 yards of offense in the win

CLEARWATER, FLORIDA- Never doubt the heart of a champion. 

Or a team really trying to be a state champion, anyways. 

Clearwater Central Catholic couldn't have had a more demoralizing start to a game. Trailing 14-0 against a Carrollwood Day team they seemingly always figured out, CCC looked a bit perplexed. 

When the clock hit all zeros, it was once again apparent why not many ever count out a club coached by Chris Harvey. 

Jershaun Newton pulled out theatrics once again, totaling 226 yards of offense in a thrilling 28-27 victory over Carrollwood Day on Friday night. 

The Patriots opened up the scoring with a 58-yard scoring play when quarterback Jordan Magwood (14-of-17, 264 yards) connected with Florida commitment Izaiah Williams for a touchdown. Magwood's second touchdown pass would come when the signal caller found wide receiver Tayshaun Burney on a 68-yard touchdown. 

Trailing 14-0 after one quarter, that's when Newton (7-of-11, 118 yards; 18 carries, 108 yards) went to work. Newton completed a 10-yard scoring pass to Artrevian McClellan to trim the deficit to 14-7 in the second quarter. CCC tied the game up at 14-all when running back Justin Stephens (eight carries, 34 yards) scampered into the endzone on an 18-yard run. 

At intermission, the game was tied at 14-14 and it was truly anyone's ball game from there. It began a back-and-forth between the two clubs. Carrollwood Day took the lead back when Michigan State commitment Anthony Carrie (15 carries, 57 yards) punched it in the endzone on a 3-yard plunge. 

The Marauders answered back on a 3-yard run of their own when Keo Jenkings scored to knot the game up 21-up. Clearwater Central Catholic would claim its first lead of the night when Newton found wide receiver Caleb Goodloe (two catches, 80 yards) on a 68-yard touchdown pass to put the Marauders up 28-21. 

CCC wouldn't relinquish the lead from there as they notched an interception down the stretch to run most of the clock out. Carrollwood Day got one more shot, but time would expire. 

The Patriots out-gained the Marauders 405-317 in total offense. Patriots' wide receiver Bredell Richardson ended with five receptions for 64 yards and Marauders' running back Nasir Hutchinson finished with 64 yards on 17 attempts. 

-- Andy Villamarzo | villamarzo@scorebooklive.com | @sblivefl