COCONUT CREEK – Cardinal Gibbons hadn’t performed a sport since Sept. 5 resulting from climate, but the Chiefs started the sport with a 7-minute landing drive and completed with a goal-line stand late within the sport to tug off an 11-6 victory over beforehand undefeated Coconut Creek on Saturday evening.
The victory by the Chiefs (2-1) not solely spoiled the Coconut Creek homecoming but in addition prevented the Cougars (4-1) from beginning the season at 5-0 for the primary time since 2002.
It was additionally Cardinal Gibbons’ fifth consecutive win over the Cougars, relationship again to 2015, and was their eighth victory in 10 video games since 2007.
“It’s simply been so weird,” mentioned Cardinal Gibbons coach Matt DuBuc. “You might be used to the hurricanes messing you up, and sadly, it’s been on the sphere, off the sphere, observe, no observe (as a result of climate). We practiced at 6 a.m. on Friday for a Saturday sport, and now now we have a Thursday sport after which a Monday sport. We care in regards to the children.”
Cardinal Gibbons took the opening kickoff and drove 70 yards in 13 performs to take a 6-0 lead. Sophomore working again Jeremy Douglas went round proper finish from 10 yards out with 4:35 left within the first quarter to cap the drive.
“The plan for me early within the sport was to gradual the sport down, and we did with the 7-minute drive,” DuBuc mentioned. “We needed them to go 3-and-out and take as a lot day off the clock as we might to maintain their two backs off the sphere.”
The Chiefs tacked on a 52-yard subject objective by senior kicker Dominic Celli with 1:04 remaining within the half to increase the result in 9-0.
Host Coconut Creek, who entered the sport averaging almost 30 factors per sport, didn’t get a lot going within the first half as they had been held to 66 yards of complete offense.
The Cougars eclipsed that on one play on a 77-yard catch and run by junior large receiver Everett Butler on a throw by sophomore Josiah Sanchious, which gave Coconut Creek the ball on the 2, organising a 2-yard plunge by senior working again Jordan Thompson with 9:17 left within the third quarter.
Cardinal Gibbons prolonged the result in 11-6 when the Chiefs pressured a punt deep in Coconut Creek territory, and the ball was snapped over sophomore punter Jordan Hernandez by way of the tip zone for a security.
Coconut Creek had one closing likelihood to attain once they drove from their very own 45 to the Chiefs’ 7-yard line. Cardinal Gibbons held the Cougars on downs as sophomore Tyson Henley batted down Sanchious’ cross supposed for junior wideout Jaden Frances on fourth and objective with 4:30 remaining within the sport.
Cardinal Gibbons, which started the season with a 42-35 loss to Archbishop McCarthy, ran out the clock because it transformed three third downs within the closing drive.
“These two working backs are glorious, and their quarterback can also be a superb participant,” DuBuc mentioned. “I’m pleased with the best way we began the season in opposition to McCarthy and didn’t make these performs that we did tonight. We’re getting higher.
“That’s win,” DuBuc continued. “That’s soccer staff. They’re explosive, and I can see why they’ve crushed the groups they’ve crushed. Hear, this was the previous 2018, 2019, 2020 Gibbons protection tonight. It was enjoyable to observe.”