Opening-night fireworks: Northwest outslugs Carroll 61-49

When was the last time Bishop Carroll gave up more than 60 points?

“I think it was the 13-game season in 2014 combined,” Carroll coach Alan Schuckman joked. “It’s been awhile, it’s been awhile....”

When was the last time a City League opponent marched into Carroll’s stadium and walked out with back-to-back victories?

“Nobody thought we could do it again, nobody,” Northwest senior Jahlyl Rounds said. “We showed tonight we could do it again. This is just amazing.”

When was the last time a first-year starter at quarterback account for more than 400 yards and seven touchdowns?

“I just did my job, my part,” Northwest junior Austin Anderson said. “I got it to my athletes and let them do what they do with the ball.”

After nearly three hours, 16 touchdowns, 110 points, and more than 200 snaps, Northwest prevailed over Carroll 61-49 in a wild season opener on Friday night.

Northwest, ranked No. 5 in Class 6A, gained a game advantage and the tiebreaker over Carroll, the top-ranked team in 5A, in the hunt to defend its City League championship.

“I think people got their money’s worth tonight,” Northwest coach Steve Martin said, looking up at the scoreboard. “That’s a lot of points up there.”

The game was wild was from the opening snap, which sailed clear over Anderson’s head and was recovered by Carroll on the Northwest 2-yard-line.

Just 11 seconds had expired when Braden Howell crossed the goal line. A quick defensive stand gave Carroll the ball right back and Adam Theis ran in a 5-yard touchdown for a 14-0 lead on Northwest in the first two minutes.

It started a scoring binge that would feature seven touchdowns in the first quarter alone, as Carroll would score on its first five possessions and maintain a two-score advantage for much of the first half.

But Northwest’s first defensive stand, a Luke Carter tackle for a loss on fourth down, sparked the Grizzlies. Over the next 20 minutes, they would go from down 35-21 to leading 54-35 at the start of the fourth quarter — a 33-point turnaround that no one saw coming in this rivalry game.

“My guys heard so much this week about how this game was going to be a rollercoaster because of all of the youth in the game for us and for them,” Martin said. “I think we just made the fewer mistakes tonight and that was the difference.”

Anderson was brilliant in picking apart a Carroll secondary that was replacing all four of its starters. Martin kept many of Anderson’s throws in the medium range, but Anderson showed his touch with three touchdown passes of 40 yards or longer.

In the end, Anderson would finish completing 14 of 26 passes for 386 yards and six scores through the air. Martese Mullins hauled in seven passes for 162 yards and three touchdowns, while Jaxson Reynolds added 137 yards on four catches and two touchdowns.

The running back tandem of Rounds and Myles Garner each ran for more than 100 yards and combined for 320 total yards and three touchdowns.

“I think tonight people got to see we have six guys that can score every time they touch the ball,” Martin said. “They’re a threat to take it to the house every time. That’s going to be tough to stop.”

That was expected from players like Rounds, Mullins, and Garner, all of whom are proven commodities at the varsity level.

But for Anderson to pick a part a Carroll defense that takes pride in being the strength of its team, that was unexpected.

“He plays Austin ball,” Mullins said. “I call Austin ball on the money, precise passes. He did great tonight.”

After falling behind by 19 points to start the fourth quarter, Carroll never trimmed the deficit to a touchdown or less.

Adam Theis led the Eagles with 195 total yards, including three touchdown runs and a touchdown pass.

“It was an emotionally and physically draining game for our kids,” Schuckman said. “They’re not used to getting beat down like that. We got humbled tonight. We’ve got to show up and be ready to work tomorrow.”

Martin told his team to expect a roller coaster.

But what happened Friday night was even more than what he was prepared for.

“Yeah, I’m tired,” Martin said. “I’m going to bed.”

This story was originally published September 2, 2016 at 10:48 PM with the headline "Opening-night fireworks: Northwest outslugs Carroll 61-49."