Carver-Birmingham’s Dimitri Howard returned the opening kickoff 60 yards, threw a touchdown pass on the first play from scrimmage and put on an exclamation point with a rushing score as the Rams smashed their way to a 26-7 victory over John Carroll in Thursday’s Class 5A, Region 5 showdown at Carver Stadium.

The Rams get a much-needed region win in their season opener while John Carroll has dropped three straight to open the season.