By Dave Brousseau - BCAA Writer
PLANTATION – Plantation junior receiver Naijah Arnasalam sat at the Archbishop McCarthy two-yard line with a clear look of dejection as time expired in the Class 4A Regional Quarterfinal football game at PAL Field on Thursday.
The Colonels, poised to potentially send the game into overtime, had one final play on third-down at the McCarthy nine. Junior quarterback Jayden Chico found Arnasalam open over the middle fighting to reach the goal line for the tying touchdown.
No such luck as disappointment began to settle in from the 7-0 loss to the Mavericks.
“We needed a big play,” said Plantation coach Darrell Strong. “But in the end, we also needed a touchdown. It’s something we haven’t done all year.”
Chico completed passes of 43 and 32 yards that put his team in scoring position to tie the game. On his final attempt, time ran out.
“I’m not going to put that on him, it was all me,” said Chico. “I took a sack before, so I put that on me. I put that loss on me. I was frustrated during the game, and we had to keep fighting and find a way. That just didn’t happen.”
Archbishop McCarthy (7-4) lost to Plantation 19-3 earlier in the season as part of three-game losing streak that included losses to Miami Norland and American Heritage.
Early on it looked as if the Colonels (6-5) would have the ingredients to pull off a win against McCarthy.
They stopped the Mavericks on their opening drive after a fumble recovery by Taurus Damon Jr. The Plantation run game got the ball moving down field as running back Andre Barrington repeatedly got big chunks of yardage.
The Colonels’ drive was cut short by a Chico interception and McCarthy answered with a six-play scoring drive for the game’s only touchdown, Quarterback Kendall Brown connected for a 43-yard touchdown pass as the opening quarter expired for a 7-0 lead.
Barrington, who finished with 75 rushing yards, saw only a few touches in the second half and that proved costly.
After the McCarthy touchdown, Plantation drove to the Mavericks 17, settling a for a 35-yard field goal attempt that missed wide right
Damon Jr. had another fumble recovery and an interception, but his team failed to capitalize on each opportunity.
“At this point you would have through we could have cashed in on one of those turnovers. Tonight, we were just unlucky. I told my kids it’s tough to beat a team twice in the same year.”
Dave Brousseau can be reached on X at @dbrouss76 – or via e-mail at:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.