Cardinal Gibbons ends regular season with blowout loss to Clearwater Central Catholic
Cardinal Gibbons coach Matt DeBuc didn’t have much to say after his team’s 34-14 loss to undefeated Clearwater Central Catholic on Friday night in Fort Lauderdale.
“The better team won, across the board. Not better players [but] better coached team, better executing team — better,” DuBuc said.
The Chiefs (7-3) rarely looked in sync during the tough loss just before the start of the playoffs next week.
Quarterback Michael Merdinger, who had an unofficial 128 passing yards, struggled with accuracy while his receivers had trouble catching the ball when it did find their hands.
As a result, Cardinal Gibbons quickly dug themselves a 20-0 halftime deficit thanks to three turnovers on downs, a punt and an interception in the first half. Two of those failed conversions came on fourth-and-1, when running back Patrick Anderson Jr. was stuffed both times.
However, Anderson opened the second half with a 25-yard rushing touchdown to put the Chiefs on the board, 20-7. Merdinger had back-to-back completions of 12 and 22 yards on the drive, but the Marauders quickly responded with a rushing touchdown of their own and blocked a punt that led to another touchdown just two players later.
Clearwater Central Catholic (10-0) held a 34-7 lead before running back Derrek Cooper’s 14-yard reception gave the Chiefs their second touchdown in garbage time.
With the regular season wrapped up — and all three of Cardinal Gibbons’ losses coming in ugly fashion to elite teams, including American Heritage and Chaminade-Madonna — DeBuc said he doesn’t know how the Chiefs will be able to compete in the playoffs.
“I haven’t been in this situation before,” DeBuc said. “We’ve lost three games in the year and have just not played with the intensity you need, the toughness you need in order to be a good team. That’s really it. I don’t know what else to say. This is a rough-and-tumble game. You have to hit people, you have to avoid being hit. We don’t do any of those things.”
The Chiefs defense had few answers for dual-threat quarterback Jershaun Newton, who passed for 164 yards and had two rushing touchdowns. Fullback Keo Jenkins had the Marauders other two touchdowns — both rushing — and made an impact on the other side of the ball as a defensive lineman.
Cardinal Gibbons started out strong, forcing a three-and-out on Clearwater Central Catholic’s first possession, but it scored on the next four — two touchdowns and two field goals.
Meanwhile, the Marauder defense had three interceptions and stunted a promising Chiefs drive toward the end of the first half with two sacks in three plays to push Cardinal Gibbons out of field goal range. Their last interception in the fourth quarter effectively sealed the game.
Clearwater Central Catholic now hopes to challenge Chaminade-Madonna for the 1M state title once again, after falling to the Lions in the state final last year. The Chiefs lost to district rival American Heritage in the 2M quarterfinals last season and could meet again in the regional finals this season.