CCC Takes Control in First Meeting With Calvary in Nearly Seven Years

Friday night brought the matchup back, this time as district opponents, and CCC took control early.

The Marauders beat Calvary 42-7 to move to 1-0 in District 2A-6, handing the Warriors their first loss of the season.

It was a much different night for a Calvary offense that had just set a school record with 633 total yards in a 54-28 win over Victory Christian the week before.

Freshman Gabriel Vetter got the start at quarterback for the second straight game, with Jaden Quenga having now missed the last two due to injury. Calvary was still able to put together its biggest offensive performance in school history without Quenga a week earlier, but CCC never allowed the Warriors to find that same rhythm Friday night.

The Marauders showed how much flexibility they have at quarterback with Khayse Barrett and Sean Hickey II.

CCC used both throughout the night, and near the goal line showed a two-quarterback look with Hickey at quarterback and Barrett in the backfield.

Barrett scored on an eight-yard run with 4:58 remaining in the first quarter, then took the two-point conversion himself to give CCC an 8-0 lead.

It was a good example of what makes Barrett one of the more dangerous all-around football players in the state. He can run the offense at quarterback, but CCC can also move him around when Hickey is on the field and still find ways to put the ball in his hands.

The defense got involved next.

Defensive lineman Na’im Jefferson came away with an interception and returned it 52 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter, pushing the lead to 14-0.

Barrett found the end zone again later in the quarter before Hickey connected with Malik Newton for another touchdown with 41 seconds remaining in the half.

Barrett finished a perfect 8-for-8 passing for 60 yards while also scoring twice on the ground. Hickey completed 9 of 13 passes for 83 yards and a touchdown, as the Marauders finished 17-of-21 through the air as a team.

Most of CCC’s production came on the ground.

The Marauders ran for 224 yards and four touchdowns on 37 carries. Melvon Wallace led the group with 78 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries, Peyton Simms added 54 yards on 10 attempts and Daveyon Epps finished with 51 yards on six carries.

Luke Wilson led the receiving group with seven catches for 73 yards, while Newton caught four passes for 30 yards and a touchdown.

Calvary finally got on the board in the second half when Vetter connected with sophomore Georgios Panagiotopoulos for the Warriors’ lone touchdown of the night.

That was about all CCC’s defense gave them.

Vetter and fellow freshman Luke Lekites combined for 113 passing yards, while the Marauders held Calvary to just 27 yards on the ground. CCC also forced two interceptions as Calvary finished with 140 total yards, a week after putting up a school-record 633.

That turnaround may have been the most impressive part of CCC’s night.

The Warriors had just produced 306 passing yards and 327 rushing yards against Victory Christian. Against the Marauders, neither part of the offense was able to get going.

CCC continued to control things in the second half, and Wallace helped finish it off with a 35-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to extend the lead to 42-7.

For the Marauders, the win carries some weight beyond bringing back a matchup that hadn’t been played in years.

CCC, Tampa Catholic and Lakewood are now 1-0 in District 2A-6, while Calvary, Boca Ciega and Berkeley Prep have each taken an early district loss.

It’s still early, but CCC has looked the part through three games. The Marauders are 3-0 with three convincing wins, and Friday was another strong showing from a team that has looked like one of the area’s best to start the season.

Nearly seven years after CCC and Calvary last met, the first one back belonged to the Marauders.