South Florida Sun-Sentinel Palm Beach (Sunday)
1st-time starter Polivka propels Chiefs
DELRAY BEACH — In 2018, Cardinal Gibbons turned to then-sophomore Brody Palhegyi to take the reins at quarterback, make his first career start and lead the Chiefs to a win in the regional finals.
On Friday, Gibbons looked to Mason Polivka to take over for Palhegyi and do the same.
Palhegyi delivered in 2018, leading the Chiefs to a state title. Polivka did too, throwing two touchdown passes in Cardinal Gibbons’ 26-14 win over American Heritage-Delray in the Class 4A regional finals in Delray Beach.
“He really stepped up tonight,” Cardinal Gibbons coach Matt DuBuc said. “We had confidence in him, but when you don’t start a game — and this is his first start — you never know what you’re going to get. And he really performed.”
Polivka, a senior, found out he was going to start midway through the week, and he said he had some jitters leading up to Friday’s matchup. Palhegyi, out with a minor injury, had some advice for his backup before his first start and spoke with him on the sidelines about what he was observing.
“He’s got more experience,” Polivka said. “He was just giving me his personal tips and advice and ideas of what he sees on the sideline. ... He was great. He was awesome.”
The game couldn’t have started any better for Polivka and the Chiefs. Senior Corde’ St. Louis blocked a punt on the Stallions’ first drive. On Cardinal Gibbons’ first offensive play of the game, Polivka hit Davon Kiser for a 25-yard touchdown pass.
“After the first play, I just got in a rhythm and delivered,” Polivka said.
American Heritage-Delray came back with a touchdown of its own, as sophomore quarterback Dylan Rizk hit Matthew Smicklas for a 20-yard score. Rizk gave the Stallions a lead in the second half when he found Florida Atlantic commit Brandon Schabert over the middle for a 64-yard touchdown.
Polivka tossed his second touchdown pass of the game with 11 seconds to go in the first half, hitting A.J. Jenkins and putting the Chiefs up 17-14 before the half.
“In crucial situations, he delivered strikes and the receivers caught the ball,” DuBuc said.
The Chiefs got solid production from a stable of running backs to balance the offense.
Kamari Moulton rushed for 78 yards on 11 carries, and Torrence Miller had 70 yards on eight carries and added a third-quarter touchdown. Jadon Morgan added 38 yards on two carries.
Cardinal Gibbons’ defense, which excelled all season, buckled down in the second half, shutting the Stallions offense out in the third and fourth quarters. Mason Thomas got the defense on the board as well, sacking Rizk for a safety in the fourth quarter.
“We’ve got a special group of guys,” DuBuc said. “A senior class that’s been in the state championship and competed in a state championship. I think that’s a big deal.”