CM’s Harwood runs over former team
DANVERS — On homecoming night for St. John’s Prep, it was former Eagle Carson Harwood who had himself quite the return to his old stomping grounds.
Harwood totaled 190 yards and a touchdown as the former Eagle guided No. 1 Catholic Memorial to a 38-9 win over their Catholic Conference rivals on Friday night at Cronin Memorial Stadium on Glatz Field in Danvers.
The Knights (5-0) dominated in every aspect of the game, torturing the Eagles (4-1) most notably on the ground. In addition to Harwood, Boston College commit Datrell Jones (two touchdowns) was impossible to bring down in the open field. When the Knights felt as though the Prep defensive line was worn down, they brought in 240-pound fullback Kyle King to bulldoze down the field. King scored a 3-yard touchdown in the first quarter. In all, the Knights totaled just 16 yards per carry.
“It means the world to me,” Harwood said on his night against his former school. “I was kinda looked down upon (when I came to the Prep). I wasn’t really given any chances. Our coach (John) DiBiaso opened up a spot for me at running back and I’m blessed.”
It took Catholic Memorial just four plays to score on its opening drive as a 47-yard run by Jones set up a 14-yard touchdown rush by Harwood to put the Knights up 7-0. The Eagles responded by going right down the field but Devon Marshall stepped in front of a pass in the end zone and returned it 86 yards down to the Prep 14-yard line.
Two plays later, King plowed in from three yards out to put CM up 14-0.
“I thought the pick from Devon was the biggest play of the game,” DiBiasio said. “We expected a tough game, they’re a great program that is well coached. I’m very proud of our guys.”
A couple of turnovers and a dropped touchdown from the Knights around a 22yard field goal from Prep kicker Lucas Verrier kept the Eagles within 14-3 at the half.
The Knights, however, dominated the second half to pull away. After a strip sack — recovered by Marshall — gave CM great field position, Jones went 26 yards off tackle for a score to extend the Knights’ advantage to 21-3.
A Prep punt that went out of bounds returned the ball to the Knights once again deep in Eagle territory and again CM took advantage. This time it was junior QB JC Petrongolo making himself known as he drilled Jaedn Skeete on a slant route for a 16-yard score that gave the Knights a commanding 28-3 edge.