American Heritage Pounds Cardinal Gibbons

    It was supposed to be a competitive matchup to determine who would take first place in District 15-5A, but the American Heritage Patriots dismantled the previously unbeaten Cardinal Gibbons Chiefs 70-19 on Saturday night at Heritage Field in Plantation. The Patriots, who put up 42 points in the second quarter, visit Dillard on Friday to determine if the they can clinch the district title or be forced into a three-way tiebreaker.
    American Heritage(7-1, 3-0) got the initial score in the first quarter as Isaiah McKenzie caught a 25-yard pass from Tyler Cogswell. Cardinal Gibbons(7-1, 2-1) cut the lead down to 7-6 as George Rushing scored on a five-yard reception from Ryan Giaratano.
    Seconds into the second quarter, Torrance Nelson scored from 18 yards out for the Patriots. Alex Montes de Oca added to the lead with a 15-yard touchdown catch at 10:47. After a bad punt by the Chiefs, Sony Michel ran 40 yards down the right sideline on the first play to the Chiefs two-yard line. He scored on a two-yard run on the following play at 8:51 as he extended their lead to 28-6. Mark Aguilar Jr. would return a punt 50 yards for a touchdown at 6:37.
    Michel finished off the Patriots next possession on a 53-yard run at 5:35 in a two-play, 62-yard drive. McKenzie then followed on the first play of their next drive with a 45-yard touchdown reception down the left sideline at 3:04 to cap an American Heritage 42-point second quarter. They had a huge 49-6 lead at halftime.
    Surprisingly there was no running clock to begin the second half. David Senior of the Chiefs ran the opening kickoff 92 yards for a score at 11:48. McKenzie matched it for the Patriots with his own 80-yard kickoff return for a touchdown at 11:33.  Michael Ferguson narrowed the deficit to 56-19 on a one-yard run at 8:46.
    Walter Tucker completed a six-play, 65-yard drive with a one-yard run at 5:24. American Heritage scored on the first play of their next possession as Tyler Carmona caught a 30-yard pass with 5:13 left in the third quarter. A running clock was ordered by the officiating crew after that score.