Coming off its first loss of the season, the Gilmour Academy varsity football team got back on track in the best way possible as the Lancers held off archrival University School 35-28 this past Saturday at a cloudy and cool Weber Stadium.
Gilmour never trailed in the game although the victory did not come easily. It was a back-and-forth affair in which the same team scored consecutive only once—the host Lancers pulled off the feat spanning halftime which proved to be the difference in the contest.
Andy Kavcic '24 led the way for Gilmour as he hit 18-of-25 passes for 217 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran 14 times for 54 yards and a TD.
As has been the case in earlier games, Andy's brother, Jake Kavcic '24, was one of the main beneficiaries of his brother's arm. Jake caught a team-leading seven passes for 92 yards. Dan Jevnikar '22 added four catches for 93 yards as well.
After neither team scored on its opening possession, Gilmour would draw first blood late in the first quarter.
GA had earned good field position courtesy of a defensive stand, and Andy Kavcic capitalized as he plunged into the end zone from two yards out on a quarterback keeper around the left end.
The scoring picked up considerably in the second quarter with each team finding the end zone twice.
A big pass play down the right sideline set up the Preppers' first score, a five-yard touchdown run.
Jevnikar came up big on the next drive for Gilmour. He hauled in a long pass down the right sideline to advance the ball near midfield. Later in the drive, the Lancers opened up their bag of tricks. Mick Hopkins '22 took a handoff heading left but then pitched the ball to Tommy McCrone '23, who was headed in the other direction. McCrone sprinted right and then launched the ball to Jevnikar for a 46-yard touchdown pass.
University School would respond with a 10-yard touchdown run after a Gilmour interception was nullified by a pass interference penalty.
With just over two minutes remaining in the first half, McCrone was on the other end of a long touchdown pass. Andy Kavcic hit him in stride with a 35-yard strike to give Gilmour the halftime lead.
As University School threatened to tie the game on its opening drive of the second half, McCrone again factored prominently. He intercepted a pass intended for a Prepper receiver in the end zone, making sure to toe-tap his feet in bounds to ensure the catch.
Late in the third quarter, Jake received a screen pass from Andy and ran in from seven yards out to push Gilmour's lead to 28-14.
US scored on a 19-yard pass early in the fourth quarter to cut its deficit back to seven.
However, Gilmour responded about five minutes later with a score of its own. After Andy Kavcic hit McCrone to convert a big third down and set up first-and-goal, Jevnikar plunged in on a two-yard run.
The Preppers scored on a five-yard pass with 3:52 left in regulation to again pull within seven points. The guests then attempted an onside kick, but Anders Sorensen '22 did brilliantly to recover it without issue.
Gilmour's offense took care of the rest as the Lancers were able to successfully gain enough yardage to run out the remainder of the clock. Facing a third-and-five with the clock winding down, Hopkins found a seam and converted a first-down rush to seal off the win.
For the fourth time in five games, Rocco Hice '23 led the team in tackles as he posted 14 stops against US. Jevnikar added seven tackles while Griffin Johnson '23, seeing his first significant action of the season, contributed six stops.
Sorensen went 5-for-5 on extra points.
Gilmour tallied 365 yards of total offense while US managed 323. The Lancers also held a 18-15 edge in first downs.
Gilmour will remain at home this weekend as it hosts Cleveland Central Catholic High School.