American Heritage edges Cardinal Gibbons in triple-overtime regional final that had it all

When Cardinal Gibbons scored a pair of first-half touchdowns in proximity to each other to go up by two and then three scores, American Heritage coach Patrick Surtain relayed the same message to his players as they ran back to the sideline.

“Long game, long game,” Surtain reminded them each time.

He was right, but not even he could imagine just how right he would be and how “long” the Region 4-5A final between the rivals would turn out.

Down 27-6 then, Heritage reeled off 35 straight points to lead 41-27 — only to have the Chiefs rally back with two touchdowns to force overtime.

And after three back-and-forth overtime periods, an extra point would end up being the difference. Heritage blocked Gibbons’ point-after attempt and then converted on the one that followed the score for the Patriots to come away with a 58-57 triple-overtime victory at home on Friday night.

“We hung in there,” Surtain said. “That’s what championship teams do. Hang in there and find a way to win. We did.”

The Patriots (11-0), the third-ranked team in the nation, according to MaxPreps, have now reeled off 25 consecutive victories dating back to last year when they won their third state title in four seasons. Heritage hosts Immokalee in a Class 5A state semifinal next Friday night.

Senior defensive lineman John Alyn came up with the block on the point-after that followed Gibbons running back Vincent Davis’ touchdown on the opening play of the third overtime. Anthony Schwartz came down with the touchdown catch delivered by Cam Smith on third down to set up Jimmy Lowery’s extra point to seal it and bring the Patriots storming off the sideline onto the field in celebration.

“I thought it was going to come down to one play, and I was right,” Cardinal Gibbons coach Matt DuBuc said. “I just thought we were going to make that one play this time.”

Over the last two seasons, Cardinal Gibbons (11-2), while going a perfect 20-0 against all other opponents has lost all four meetings with American Heritage.

Schwartz scored three touchdowns – two receiving and one on a kickoff return that ignited Heritage’s 35-point run.

“When the ball’s in the air, it’s mine,” Schwartz said. “This game was the best game I’ve ever played – optimist and high school.”

Smith, also tossing a tying score to Josh Alexander in the first overtime, threw for five touchdowns and ran in two more.

For Alyn, the blocked kick was redemption for an earlier mistake where he thought he heard a whistle and stopped pursuit of Chiefs quarterback Nik Scalzo on a play where he connected with Lavontae Decius to bring Gibbons within one possession at 41-34.

“I felt responsible for that, the continuation, the reason they had the fight like that,” Alyn said. “The only thing going through my brain was, ‘Alright, cool. I’ve got to make it up.’”

The Chiefs tied it at 41 with 2:06 remaining in regulation when Ron Hardge picked up a fumble on a third-down Heritage run and returned it for a touchdown. The Patriots drove down the field and had a shot at a 39-yard field goal to win it in regulation but couldn’t get the hold down.

Heritage, down 27-6 with about three minutes remaining in the first half following a blocked punt returned for a touchdown by Sidney Porter, got to work quickly. Schwartz returned the ensuing kickoff and Smith connected with Marcus Lodge for a touchdown to cut into the deficit.

Smith ran in a 1-yard sneak to cap the Patriots’ opening possession of the second half and tie it. He then hit tight end Beau Johnson in the corner of the end zone to give Heritage its first lead at 34-27.

Scalzo threw a 51-yard touchdown to a wide-open Tajai Davis on a double-reverse flea flicker in the first half that preceded Porter’s special teams touchdown. Gibbons tried another flea flicker later on, but Scalzo was intercepted by Dyllon Lester.

Schwartz scored the Patriots’ first touchdown on a 25-yard catch and run over the middle. Gibbons back Vincent Davis accounted for the Chiefs’ first two scores – one from 3 and the second from 5 yards out after cornerback Marquis Williams nearly housed a kickoff by taking it 94 yards before getting pushed out.

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