Homewood Defeats John Carroll Catholic 31-14 to Claim 2026 Battle of Lakeshore
HOMEWOOD, AL – Homewood took control early and never let go, rolling to a 31-14 win over host John Carroll Catholic on Friday night to claim the 2026 Battle of Lakeshore crown. The Patriots leaned on a balanced attack and a stingy defense, outgaining the Cavaliers 360-177 and holding the home team to just 5 rushing yards for the game.
The victory sent a clear message about where Homewood stands. The Patriots controlled both lines of scrimmage, spread the ball around on offense, and shut down nearly every drive John Carroll tried to build. For the Cavaliers, it was a hard lesson in a rivalry game they badly wanted to win in front of their own fans.
First Half Action
Homewood set the tone right away. Quarterback Jack Myers found his rhythm early, spraying passes to open receivers and keeping the chains moving. His favorite target all night was Beckham Newell, who hauled in a short scoring strike to put the Patriots ahead.
Running back Jackson Chapleau added muscle to the ground game, grinding out tough yards between the tackles before punching in a rushing touchdown of his own. By the time the first half wound down, Homewood had built a comfortable cushion while its defense kept John Carroll bottled up. The Cavaliers struggled to string together drives, repeatedly stalling out on third down and forced into long-yardage situations.
Key Turning Points
The story of the night came down to third-down defense. John Carroll converted just 2 of 11 third-down attempts, a number that crushed any hope of sustained momentum. The Cavaliers rolled the dice on fourth down and had some success, cashing in on 3 of 5 tries, but those gambles simply couldn’t dig them out of the hole.
Homewood’s second passing touchdown to Newell proved to be the dagger. The connection stretched the lead and forced John Carroll into a one-dimensional, pass-heavy approach against a defense that was already teeing off. Timothy Roshell later added a burst on the ground, breaking loose for a touchdown run that put the game out of reach.
The Cavaliers found the end zone twice and showed flashes of fight, but every time they threatened to close the gap, Homewood answered.
By the Numbers
The stat sheet told the whole story.
- Total yards: Homewood 360, John Carroll 177
- Rushing yards allowed: John Carroll finished with just 5 on the ground
- Third-down conversions: John Carroll went 2 of 11
- Fourth-down conversions: John Carroll went 3 of 5
Jack Myers finished 10 of 15 through the air for 147 yards and 2 touchdowns, efficient and mistake-free. Beckham Newell was the standout target with 7 receptions for 81 yards and both of Myers’ scoring throws.
The Patriots’ backfield spread the load. Jackson Chapleau carried 12 times for 50 yards and a touchdown. Cyn’Mauree DeBruce chipped in 7 carries for 46 yards, while Timothy Roshell provided a spark with 3 rushes for 34 yards and a score.
Final Outlook
The road ahead only gets tougher for Homewood. The Patriots hit the road to North Shelby County for a showdown with the No. 3-ranked Briarwood Christian Lions, a marquee matchup that will test whether this performance can carry over against elite competition.
John Carroll, meanwhile, looks to bounce back on the road against the Talladega Tigers. The Cavaliers showed grit on fourth down and will need to clean up their third-down execution and jump-start a ground game that never got going. With the right adjustments, there’s still plenty of season left for John Carroll to find its stride.
For now, though, the Battle of Lakeshore belongs to the Patriots.
