Miami La Salle edges Gulliver Prep to secure first playoff win in nearly 50 years
It’s been almost half a century.
But as of Friday afternoon, Miami Immaculata La Salle football fans can finally celebrate a playoff victory.
Senior quarterback Dorian Mallary accounted for all four touchdowns by the Royal Lions during a 27-21 victory over host Gulliver Prep in a Region 4-2A quarterfinal at Sean Taylor Memorial Field.
La Salle (10-1) reached the 10-win mark for the second time in four seasons and won its first playoff game since 1975. The Royal Lions will try to keep their season going next Friday night, Nov. 22, when they host Miami Monsignor Pace in the regional semifinals at 7 p.m.
La Salle found itself playing on the road despite being the No. 2 seed in the region because it was not a district champion and host Gulliver (4-7), the No. 7 seed, won its district.
The Royal Lions found themselves in a back and forth struggle for most of the game.
Mallary, who ran for over 150 yards and three touchdowns, and passed for another score to Alan Schael, broke a 21-21 tie with a 23-yard quarterback keeper with 3:03 left in the fourth quarter.
Gulliver moved the ball into La Salle territory on its final drive before a 15-yard penalty contributed to the drive stalling and ending with a completion that was short of the first down at midfield.
Mallary also ran for an 80-yard touchdown in the second quarter and completed a 2-point pass to Brandon Kinsey to give La Salle a 14-7 lead. Gulliver led only once at 7-6 after Luc Carroll caught a pass from Harvel Jackson on a crossing route and took off down the sidelines for a 46-yard score.
Jackson threw a second touchdown pass to Kenny Williams for 26 yards to tie the game at 14 just before halftime. But La Salle answered when Mallary scored on a 7-yard touchdown run.
Gulliver’s Dariel Cannon tied the game at 21 with a 4-yard touchdown run with 10:55 left in the fourth quarter.
But Mallary methodically led the Royal Lions on the winning drive that took up 7:50 on the clock.
This story was originally published November 15, 2024 at 5:52 PM.
