Chiefs soar into 2M regional semis

FORT LAUDERDALE — Friday night’s Region 3-2M quarterfinal game between host Cardinal Gibbons and Pine Crest was almost a carbon copy of last year’s game.

The Chiefs (10-1) scored on every possession of the game and cruised to a 45-0 victory over the Panthers (8-3). Cardinal Gibbons has won the last three matchups between the schools, 56-7 in the regular season a year ago and then 42-0 in the playoffs.

“It was a tough week, and everybody went through the same situation with lack of practice and whatnot,” said Cardinal Gibbons coach Matt DuBuc said of the weather. “We had a really good practice on Tuesday, and I think it carried over to tonight.”

Cardinal Gibbons, the second seed in the region and winners of five straight, will host Calvary Christian in the regional semifinal.

Pine Crest opened the game with an onside kick that the Panthers recovered. They drove to the Chiefs’ 33 where the drive stalled, and Cardinal Gibbons took over.

The Chiefs then drove 67 yards for the first score of the game, an 18-yard scoring toss from senior quarterback to Dylan Rizk to junior wideout Tyrell Fuller for a 7-0 lead.

Rizk capped a 5-play, 52-yard drive with a weaving 24-yard score with 57.3 seconds remaining in the first quarter. Cardinal Gibbons then put together its most impressive drive of the first half on a 7-play, 91-yard drive as Rizk completed 4 for 4 passes for 53 yards, the final pass going to junior Antonio Lindsey Jr. for a 21-yard TD and a 21-0 lead.

Rizk finished his night with 10 completions in 14 attempts for 120 yards and two TDs. He also carried six times for 69 yards and another score.

Cardinal Gibbons managed to covert an interception by senior defensive back Adonis Allen into a 29-yard field goal by Robert Hammond III with 5.9 seconds left for a 24-0 halftime cushion.

After a three-and-out, Cardinal Gibbons upped the lead to

31-0 on a 35-yard run by Iowa commit and senior Kamari Moulton. He finished his abbreviated night with six carries for

106 yards and the TD. He sat out the final quarter as DuBuc pulled his starters.

“He’s recovered his game-breaking speed,” DuBuc said. “He’s been injured all year and we are getting him back at the right time. He’s been doing this since his sophomore year. We don’t expect anything different.”

Junior quarterback Michael Merdinger entered the game in relief of Rizk and hit senior Tugg Hollandsworth for a 5-yard TD pass and then later found Fuller for a 21-yard score and the 45-0 margin

“We get to play another week and that is what playoff football is all about,” DuBuc added. “I think we are getting there. We have had a different group on the offensive line, and I think we are settling in, and we are going to give teams some problems down the road and hopefully we will be where we need to be at the end.”