North Carolina commit leads Cardinal Gibbons to victory in Broward Showcase game
Cardinal Gibbons senior quarterback Michael Merdinger made his second career start on Friday.
Just short of a miracle performance, Merdinger helped rally the Chiefs from a 14-point halftime deficit to a 28-21 victory over North Carolina’s version of Cardinal Gibbons in the second annual Broward County National Football Showcase.
Merdinger completed 20 of 43 attempts for 276 yards and three touchdowns, but it was a three-yard run on a third-down play by senior running back Patrick Anderson Jr, with 21 seconds left that was the eventual game-winner.
The winning drive was set up when the Chiefs (1-0) forced an interception with 30.8 seconds left in regulation. A 24-yard completion from Merdinger to senior tight end Colton Heinrich and a pass interference penalty helped set up the winning score.
The victory was the second straight for the Chiefs in the Showcase after an 11-6 victory over DeMatha last year. Gibbons improved to 31-4 over its past 35 games with its only losses coming against St. Thomas Aquinas and American Heritage.
“Merdinger’s play was sloppy, and he’s committed to North Carolina, and we expected a lot more from him,” Gibbons coach Matt Dubuc said.
Despite the criticism, Merdinger had the resolve to rally the Chiefs.
He threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Young with 7:51 left in the third quarter.
Gary Edmund was on the receiving end of a 44-yard scoring pass to open the fourth quarter and suddenly the score was tied at 14-14.
“We had trust in each other, and my guys had trust in me,” Merdinger said. “That’s really what changed. “Our toughest game this year was tonight and next week it will be Chaminade-Madonna. I still have plenty of work to do.”
The Crusaders (0-1) though weren’t about to fold as they slowed the Chiefs comeback bid on a 9-yard run up the middle by senior quarterback Whitt Newbauer with 7:15 remaining in the game.
Newbauer finished with 259 yards passing and a pair of touchdowns to junior wide receiver Sam Dodd. Both scores were set up by fumble recoveries inside the Chiefs side of the field.
On the ensuing possession the Chiefs evened the score at 21-21 on Merdinger’s third scoring pass of the evening on a 43-yard toss to a wide-open Jalen Young.