Been there before

Cardinal Gibbons recovers from early deficit to beat U-School

DAVIE — Cardinal Gibbons fell behind 10-0 early in its regional final against University School.

But the Chiefs, who won the Class 5A state championship last year, didn’t panic. They’ve been in these spots before.

Gibbons scored 18 unanswered points and came out ahead 35-17 against U-School at Nova High in the Class 4A regional semifinals in Davie on Friday.

“Our guys have been battletested since I’ve been here,” Chiefs coach Matt DuBuc said. “We’ve been in these type of games for four years. It doesn’t matter if it’s Khris Bogle or whomever, the next guy (steps) up.

“Our guys are competing at a high level. They practice at a high level, and I think that’s why we’re having the success we’re having.”

The Sharks jumped ahead on an early field goal and a 60-yard pick-six by Emile Aime.

But the Chiefs came right back, scoring their first points on their next drive. Coleman Bennett punched in a 3-yard score to get Gibbons on the board with 13 seconds left in the first quarter.

The Chiefs had some more endof-quarter magic at the end of the second quarter. They took over with 2:56 left in the first half and drove down the field. Touted junior receiver Troy Stellato brought in a 27-yard pass, then followed it up with a diving 23-yard touchdown catch with 26 seconds left in the half.

Stellato’s score gave Gibbons its first lead of the game.

“He’s Mr. Reliable, man,” Chiefs quarterback Brody Palhegyi said. “He’s my guy I’m going to go to in those situations. Third-and-long, 20-something seconds left till halftime, he’s the guy I’m going to go to. He’s going to make that play, and he did.”

The Chiefs started the second half hot, scoring on a 33-yard touchdown pass from Palhegyi to Jackson Marseille. Palhegyi added a touchdown on the ground with a 26-yard run, extending the Chiefs’ lead to 28-10.

The junior quarterback finished the game with 12 completions on 19 attempts for 187 yards.

U-School stayed with the Chiefs, with Sharks quarterback Nick Vattiato finding Deion Small over the middle for a 69-yard score, but they never made up the difference. Gibbons held USchool in check, allowing only 154 yards of total offense.

Gibbons running back Tajae Davis drove the dagger in with a 27-yard touchdown run to make it 35-17 in the fourth quarter.

Cardinal Gibbons will play Miami Booker T. Washington in the Class 4A regional finals next week.

“We’ll get a home game and we’ll give them everything we’ve got,” DuBuc said. “They’re a hell of a team, a hell of a program, and we’re going to try hard.”