Boca Raton football: Chance Routson's big night not enough against Cardinal Gibbons
BOCA RATON — Cardinal Gibbons senior quarterback Michael Merdinger came to Glades Road on Friday night with glossy credentials — the 6-3 gunslinger committed to the University of North Carolina.
But Boca Raton High School’s sophomore quarterback Chance Routson more than held his own.
Though he didn’t notch an upset victory against the Broward County powers in a 31-19 defeat, Routson passed for 301 yards, going 20-of-28 with three touchdown passes.
The 6-2 sophomore ended the night with a 40-yard touchdown bomb to Dante Ambrose with 38 seconds left, signaling Rouston will one day be headed to a big-time college, too.
“I think Chance is one of the best quarterbacks in the area," first-year coach Alex Savakinas said of his squad that dropped to 5-3. “I can’t say enough good things about him. He works his ass off. He’s a leader on this team and understands the 'D-line' will overpower our 'O-line' and it’s how he reacts and competes in those moments."
Boca Raton has been amid a boom season, clinching the District 11-4M title with last week’s win over powerful Santaluces — its first district title since 2001.
And the surprising Bobcats hung with visiting the stacked Cardinal Gibbons team, trailing just 10-7 midway through the third quarter, defending their home artificial turf.
But then the floodgates opened and the visiting Chiefs reeled off three consecutive touchdowns in a seven-minute span to go up 31-7. Boca Raton didn’t quit, notching two fourth-quarter touchdowns to get within 12 and nearly had a third but fumbled at the 1.
“It was an opportunity for us to get better and prepare ourselves for the playoffs against a great team," Savakinas said. “It is only going to make us better. They’re hurting from this — they’re a big team. We’re going to grow from this.
"We were able to compete. I can’t give them enough kudos for working their asses off. Our next step is coming up on top in games like this. Going into halftime, we set up ourselves to have a chance."
No, the Bobcats couldn’t go four quarters with the bigger, faster Chiefs, who won Florida state titles in 2018, 2020 and 2021 and made the state final four last season. But they left their gorgeous facility off Glades with respect.
“I don’t think you can be happy with a loss," Routson said. “It’s tough going up against a team like Gibbons with those players and coaches. We came in with the same record. We know the talent we have on both ends. It adds a cherry on top and we’re ready to go forward and get to the postseason."
More: Boca Raton football beats Santaluces to win first district title since 2001
Not only is Cardinal Gibbons quarterback Merdinger headed to a Power Five program but so is 6-4 tight end Colton Heinrich, bound for Georgia.
And yet it was Boca Raton’s receiver Damien Taylor who lit up the field with eight receptions for 152 yards, including a 3-yard TD catch.
Taylor set up Boca’s two other touchdowns, grabbing a 47-yard toss to arrange their first score late in the half. And in the fourth, he hauled in a fourth-down 27-yard grab.
When Roustson had time, his connection with Taylor was pure. But Routson was often under pressure.
He had completed 12 of his first 16 passes before a major gaffe under a heavy rush. Routson threw a pick-six as Cardinal Gibbons’ Ivan Pagan intercepted at the 29 and rambled in. The lead swelled to 24-7 with 5:47 left in the third quarter.
“I feel we had a good rhythm but the pick-six stuff happens," Routson said. “As a quarterback, there’s a lot of ups and downs. Good or bad, I have to take responsibility, bounce back and keep composure."
The Chiefs had only 10 points midway through the third with a Boca defense that stood up to the opponent’s size. Defensive end Lavar Jamison was all over the field, and Amir Holstick ended Cardinal Gibbons’ first drive with a sack for a 19-yard loss that set the tone.
“It doesn’t matter who we play, we compete," Jamison said. “Defensively, I think we did a good job of executing plays. Our defense played well but we have to be better next time, a little better job of making tackles shedding a block or making a correct read."
The score was respectable, but it could’ve been even closer as Boca had two possessions where it got to the 1 and didn’t score.
Routson’s 3-yard TD run was nullified by a hold. It was a tough day for kicker Santiago Cortes, who missed a 29-yard field goal and an extra point.
But if anyone thought the Bobcats’ season had been a fluke, Friday wiped out that allegation.
“He’s doing a great job, a class act," Cardinal Gibbons coach Matt DuBuc said of Savakinas. “He’s doing a lot with some guys. He’s got them playing well and as a team."
Week 9 Scoreboard
Friday
Cardinal Newman 17, Benjamin 14
Atlantic 28, Dwyer 7
Palm Beach Gardens 23, Palm Beach Central 14
Seminole Ridge 34, Park Vista 14
Jupiter 36, Forest Hill 6
Palm Beach Lakes 60, Wellington 34
King’s Academy 40, True North Classical 34
Glades Central 41, Suncoast 3
Somerset-Canyons 48, Jupiter Christian 7
West Boca Raton 58, Northeast 0
Lake Worth 21, John I. Leonard 6
Thursday
Santaluces 52, Spanish River 34
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Boca Raton football can't keep up with Cardinal Gibbons in second half
