Cardinal Gibbons rallies in closing minutes to beat Calvary Christian
The Cardinal Gibbons High football team had never lost to Calvary Christian in four previous meetings.
As time was winding down Calvary clung to a nine-point lead with 5:36 to play after a two-yard run by Yohan-Li Louis.
The lead would not be safe.
Gibbons rallied and successfully completed the comeback as senior placekicker Brent Fardette drilled a field goal between the uprights with 28 seconds remaining to lift the Chiefs to 36-35 victory over the Eagles at Cardinal Gibbons High on Friday.
Gibbons (3-2) improved to 5-0 all-time against Calvary, but it was the first time in the series that Gibbons didn’t win by double digits.
“At the end of the day you just have to trust what you have been doing in practice will come through in a game,” Fardette said. “There was no pressure as I just did my job.”
The Chiefs closed the deficit following a Jayden Torres seven-yard touchdown pass to junior Merrick Todich with 3:31 remaining.
Fardette then surprised the Eagles with a successful on-side kick that was recovered by Jamarcus Pierre at the Calvary 34.
Cardinal Gibbons got as close to the Eagles 3-yard line before a pair of negative plays force the field goal attempt.
“Torres has been good all year and we have let him down at times,” Gibbons coach Matt Dubuc said. “Calvary stepped up their game, but we had one more play than they did.”
Torres finished the night with 374 passing yards and three touchdowns.
“I want to thank my teammates for allowing to have the game that I did,” Torres said. “We kept our heads in the game and eyes on the prize and fought hard to get the win.”
The Chiefs have had their ups and downs this season stopping the run. It was again an issue against Calvary (5-1).
Louis took advantage of the opportunity with 25 carries for 159 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
He had 215 yards on 30 carries and four touchdowns last week in a 48-36 victory over North Miami. He now has 13 touchdowns on the season.
In the Chiefs two losses this season, stopping their opponent’s run game has been a problem.
They yielded 281 yards on 33 carries against Lake Mary to open the season and 347 yards on 36 carries to West Broward. Despite the loss, Calvary was successful in the run game with 229 yards on 38 carries.
The two sides exchanged touchdowns in the first quarter with Calvary scoring on a 32-yard scoring pass by Camden Hartzell to Troy Ganter. Gibbons quickly answered on a Torres 29-yard run .
Hartsell added scoring runs of and 1 and 14 yards for a 21-7 lead before Gibbons scored with 1:19 left in the opening half cutting the lead to 21-14.
Torres threw a 47-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Jackson cutting the deficit to 21-20 after the point after was blocked.
Calvary responded with a 13-play drive on Louis 13-yard run with 3:38 left in the third quarter for a 28-20 lead.
Torres’ second scoring pass to Jackson late in the third quarter cut into the Eagles lead, but a two-point attempt failed, and the score stood at 28-26. Louis added another touchdown pushing the lead to 35-26, before the Chiefs went into comeback mode.
This story was originally published September 28, 2024 at 1:19 AM.