4A CHAMPIONSHIP – Cardinal Gibbons Wins Title
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TALLAHASSEE – Throughout the pandemic, Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons head football coach Matt Dubuc was just hoping for the best for his players this season. Because of Covid and the fact that it didn’t look likely that there would be…
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Continue ReadingTALLAHASSEE – Throughout the pandemic, Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons head football coach Matt Dubuc was just hoping for the best for his players this season.
Because of Covid and the fact that it didn’t look likely that there would be a season.
With a belief that his players would get the exposure needed, the furthest thing from his mind was a state title.
On Thursday at Bobby Bowden Field at Doak Campbell Stadium, the Cardinal Gibbons teams that just wanted to see its senior players get the exposure needed, took it several steps further.
With senior quarterback Brody Palhegyi throwing for 358 yards and 4 scores and adding 78 more on the ground, the 8-1 Chiefs captured a state title for the second time in three years, 35-21, against Jacksonville Bolles.
The Bulldogs welcomed the Chiefs to the 4A finals from the start – when heralded junior running Kade Few went 60 yards for a 7-0 lead – at the 11:15 mark.
The Chiefs opened the second quarter with a four-yard scoring pass from Palhegyi to sophomore receiver Jesse Anderson to tie the game at 7 with 11:54 left in the first half.
The Chiefs went ahead with 6:33 left in the first half when Palhegyi found Clemson-bound receiver Troy Stellato Troy Stellato 6'1" | 190 lbs | WR Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons | 2021 State FL from seven yards out and a 14-7 advantage. Stellato caught six balls for 69 yards and two touchdowns.
The Chiefs took a 21-7 lead at the 8:41 mark of the third quarter when Palhegyi tossed another scoring pass – this time to Kamari Moulton from 32 yards.
It was Moulton once again with 6:51 left in the fourth quarter on a four yard run and a 28-7 lead.
The Chiefs extended the lead to 35-7 when Stellato was on the receiving end of a 9-yard pass from Palheygi.
Bolles added two late scores in the fourth quarter. One was on a kick return by David Ellis from 75 yards. The other came at the :47 mark on a 1-yard run by Frew, who finished the game with 128 yards and two scores.
Among the top defenders for the Chiefs include Zachary Farris, Jah-mal Williams, Trayvon Brown, Isaiah Farris, Sanaan Cuffy, Jertavis Black, Jai Levison and Mason Thomas.
For the Bulldogs, Mack Marrone, Caden Fordham Caden Fordham 6'2" | 220 lbs | DB Jacksonville Bolles | 2021 FL , Avery Epstein, Jack Pyburn Jack Pyburn 6'4" | 255 lbs | DL Jacksonville Bolles | 2022 FL , D.J. Johnson, Jackson Brill, Kavon Miller and Michael Bumphus.
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