COCONUT CREEK – Cardinal Gibbons hadn’t played a game since Sept. 5 due to weather, yet the Chiefs began the game with a 7-minute touchdown drive and finished with a goal-line stand late in the game to pull off an 11-6 victory over previously undefeated Coconut Creek on Saturday night.
The victory by the Chiefs (2-1) not only spoiled the Coconut Creek homecoming but also prevented the Cougars (4-1) from starting the season at 5-0 for the first time since 2002.
It was also Cardinal Gibbons’ fifth consecutive win over the Cougars, dating back to 2015, and was their eighth victory in 10 games since 2007.
“It’s just been so bizarre,” said Cardinal Gibbons coach Matt DuBuc. “You are used to the hurricanes messing you up, and unfortunately, it’s been on the field, off the field, practice, no practice (due to the weather). We practiced at 6 a.m. on Friday for a Saturday game, and now we have a Thursday game and then a Monday game. We care about the kids.”
Cardinal Gibbons took the opening kickoff and drove 70 yards in 13 plays to take a 6-0 lead. Sophomore running back Jeremy Douglas went around right end from 10 yards out with 4:35 left in the first quarter to cap the drive.
“The plan for me early in the game was to slow the game down, and we did with the 7-minute drive,” DuBuc said. “We wanted them to go 3-and-out and take as much time off the clock as we could to keep their two backs off the field.”
The Chiefs tacked on a 52-yard field goal by senior kicker Dominic Celli with 1:04 remaining in the half to extend the lead to 9-0.
Host Coconut Creek, who entered the game averaging nearly 30 points per game, failed to get much going in the first half as they were held to 66 yards of total offense.
The Cougars eclipsed that on one play on a 77-yard catch and run by junior wide receiver Everett Butler on a throw by sophomore Josiah Sanchious, which gave Coconut Creek the ball on the two, setting up a 2-yard plunge by senior running back Jordan Thompson with 9:17 left in the third quarter.
Cardinal Gibbons extended the lead to 11-6 when the Chiefs forced a punt deep in Coconut Creek territory, and the ball was snapped over sophomore punter Jordan Hernandez through the end zone for a safety.
Coconut Creek had one final chance to score when they drove from their own 45 to the Chiefs’ 7-yard line. Cardinal Gibbons held the Cougars on downs as sophomore Tyson Henley batted down Sanchious’ pass intended for junior wideout Jaden Frances on fourth and goal with 4:30 remaining in the game.
Cardinal Gibbons, which began the season with a 42-35 loss to Archbishop McCarthy, ran out the clock as it converted three third downs in the final drive.
“Those two running backs are excellent, and their quarterback is also an excellent player,” DuBuc said. “I am happy with the way we started the season against McCarthy and didn’t make those plays that we did tonight. We’re getting better.
“That’s a good win,” DuBuc continued. “That’s a good football team. They’re explosive, and I can see why they have beaten the teams they have beaten. Listen, this was the old 2018, 2019, 2020 Gibbons defense tonight. It was fun to watch.”
