The Gilmour Academy varsity football team, led by an outstanding performance by Jake Kavcic '22, ran past Lutheran High School East 48-12 in their penultimate game of the regular season.
Playing under Thursday night lights at Euclid High School's stadium, Gilmour used a highly efficient rushing attack and a significant advantage in turnovers to improve to 6-2 on the season.
Kavcic ran for an astounding six touchdowns, tallying 11 carries for 155 yards. He led a GA rushing attack that accumulated 220 yards on 25 carries, an average of 8.8 per attempt.
Kavcic completed six passes for 90 yards on the day and also tallied two interceptions as a defensive back. The Lancer defense forced four turnovers on the day without turning the ball over once.
Gilmour took a dominating lead right out of the gate as the Lancers scored three touchdowns without reply in the first quarter.
Kavcic posted TD runs of 27 yards, 49 yards and 11 yards in the opening period, with each of those rushes serving as a one-play scoring drive. The first and third touchdowns were set up due to failed Falcon punt attempts on which the Lancer rush was too much for Lutheran East to handle.
Lutheran East did find the end zone near the midpoint of the second quarter, but the Lancers responded fewer than three minutes later with a one-yard TD plunge by Kavcic.
Not long before halftime, the Falcons were on the move and looking to cut into their deficit. However, Kavcic intercepted a pass in the end zone, stepping in front of the defender and leaping into the air to snare the ball.
Kavcic added touchdown rushes of 17 yards and one yard in the third quarter to remove all doubt about the final outcome.
Two other Lancers had notable highlights in the second half.
Tommy McCrone '23 had a 72-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, the first special teams touchdown of the season for the Lancers.
Anders Sorensen '22 posted his first interception of the season, showing great awareness by grabbing the ball out of the air after it had deflected off the intended receiver.
Rocco Hice '23 led the defensive effort for Gilmour, posting 17 tackles, the most by a Lancer this season. Brady Pietruszka '24 tallied a season-high 13 stops while Kavcic matched his season best of 12 tackles.
Gilmour will close the regular season this coming Saturday, October 23 when they face Trinity High School at Cuyahoga Heights High School.
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