Rizk, defense lead Chiefs to regional final

FORT LAUDERDALE — Dylan Rizk threw for three touchdowns and ran for another to stake defending Class 4A state champion Cardinal Gibbons to a 28-0 halftime lead, and the Chiefs coasted to a 42-0 victory over visiting Pine Crest in the regional semifinal Friday night.

It was an efficient night for the junior signal-caller, who completed 9 of 12 passes for 93 yards and touchdowns to three different receivers and added 50 yards rushing, including a 38-yard scoring run. He left after leading the Chiefs to touchdowns on their first four possessions.

“Obviously, it is always good to get our other guys in and get some playoff experience,” Rizk said. “I thought we executed really well both on defense and on offense, so overall it was a really great game.

“It’s been kind of an up-and-down season. We lost some games we thought we should win and beat some teams we wanted to beat. We learned from those experiences. We faced a lot of adversity this year and we went through it.”

Cardinal Gibbons (8-2), which had a bye last week in the playoffs and took the field for the first time in three weeks, showed little rust in the contest. The Chiefs also won the Class 5A state title in 2018.

Gibbons will travel to play Gulliver Prep in the regional final next week.

“We were concerned about our timing, but we had a good week of practice and the kids were locked in tonight,” said Cardinal Gibbons coach Matt DuBuc, whose team had defeated Pine Crest 55-7 earlier in the season. “The kids practiced hard and did what they were supposed to do.

“We know what is looking ahead and we have another good opponent coming up. They are a quality team. It doesn’t matter. We just have to go out there and be us.

“I don’t think we played a complete game [here].”

Cardinal Gibbons’ losses have come against defending Class 5A state champion American Heritage (23-20) and two-time defending Class 7A state champion St. Thomas Aquinas (39-14).

Cardinal Gibbons, the No. 3-ranked Class 4A team in the state, took the opening kickoff and marched 80 yards in seven plays, capped by a 3-yard toss from Rizk to Elisha Edwards for a 7-0 lead. Rizk finished off a 69-yard drive on the next series with a 38-yard touchdown run to extend the lead to 14-0 with five minutes remaining in the first quarter.

Rizk connected with Davon Kiser for a 5-yard scoring toss with 9 minutes, 33 seconds left in the half to extend the lead to 21-0, and the Chiefs capitalized on the game’s first turnover. They needed just one play to make it 28-0 on a 15-yard TD from Rizk to Jesse Anderson with 7:33 left.

Cardinal Gibbons added two second-half scores when junior running back Kamari Moulton went 52 yards for a score to make it 35-0 with 5:14 remaining in the third quarter and force a running clock for the Chiefs. Willie Reed closed out the scoring on a 34-yard TD sprint around right end with 2:26 remaining.

The Panthers (4-7) were shorthanded after starting quarterback Jordan Faison was lost three weeks ago and backup quarterback Colby Gettis was injured last week and unable to throw. He did run eight times for 20 yards. Faison is headed to Notre Dame on a lacrosse scholarship.

“We got out of the game pretty healthy,” DuBuc said. “The kid who made the last tackle [senior DB Matthew Delva], I think he has played one play all year and he got to play tonight. That’s what high school football is all about. He is probably going to remember this for the rest of his life. That’s why we do what we do.”

After making the last tackle of the night, Delva was dogpiled by teammates and the coaching staff.

“Our guys were happy for him, the coaches were happy for him,” DuBuc said. “And we are happy about getting another opportunity for next week.”