Andrew Painter is hoisted high in the endzone after a score during Davidson’s 45-14 throttling of Dublin Jerome. (Press Pros Feature Photos by Logan Gapen)
Hilliard Davidson used its patented grind-it-out style, led by the power running of Keevin Gibbon, to throttle Jerome and run its record to 2-1. Gibbon rushed for 214 yards and three TDs to pace the Wildcats.
By Jarrod Ulrey
Hilliard, OH – For most of the past two-plus decades prior to a short stretch of lean years, losing seasons rarely were a part of Hilliard Davidson’s vocabulary.
A 4-0 start that turned into a 5-6 finish a year ago didn’t sit well with the Wildcats, but every indication so far this fall is that the program is headed back in the right direction.
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During a 45-14 victory Friday over Dublin Jerome that improved its record to 2-1, Davidson showed the grind-it-out ability it had become accustomed to before enduring losing records in three of the past four seasons.
Veteran central Ohio columnist Jarrod Ulrey writes the OCC and sports at large for Press Pros
“We had some injuries last year and some bumps in the road,” senior running back Keevin Gibbon said. “We had a tough loss in week one (this season), but we wanted to show that we can bounce back and beat some pretty good teams.”
Gibbon, whose team opened with a 35-24 loss to perennially strong Gibsonia (Pennsylvania) Pine-Richland, was a big reason the Wildcats led the Celtics 35-7 by halftime and enjoyed a running clock for a short time in the third quarter.
Gibbon finished with 23 rushes for 214 yards and three touchdowns, with all three of his scores coming in the first half.
Jerome, which also is trying to bounce back from a year ago when it went just 3-8, slipped to 1-2.
Jerome’s Lucas Franks tries to haul down Davidson’s Keevin Gibbon during OCC play in Week 3.
“We always have a chip on our shoulder, and we always have something to prove,” Wildcats senior safety Paul Knapke said. “We mainly wanted to prove to ourselves that we can compete against anybody. Credit goes to our defensive line and linebackers for sure because they couldn’t run the ball against us.”
Davidson set the tone early when senior lineman Hayden Hughes fell on a fumble to end Jerome’s opening drive. The Wildcats then marched 73 yards in nine plays, with Gibbon breaking for 26 yards on fourth-and-1 from the Davidson 36 to help set up his 3-yard touchdown midway through the opening period.
Davidson made it 14-0 when senior quarterback Johnny DiBlasio hit junior wide receiver Kaden Windham for a 29-yard touchdown with 1 minute, 46 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
The Wildcats struck again in the first period on a 22-yard touchdown run by Gibbon with 31.9 left after they began the drive at the Jerome 25 following a 6-yard punt.
Dublin Jerome’s Marty Giannantonio hauls in a pass from Nolan Peoples for a 40 yard TD against Hilliard Davidson.
“We have a little bit more back on offense, but we also have seven starters back on defense as well,” Davidson coach Jeremey Scally said. “Having kids back with experience on both sides makes things go a little bit smoother.”
A 1-yard touchdown run by Andrew Painter midway through the second period gave Davidson a 28-0 lead before Jerome finally broke through with a 40-yard touchdown from junior quarterback Nolan Peoples to junior Matty Giannantonio.
The Celtics, who also got a 67-yard touchdown pass from Peoples to Giannantonio with 1:06 remaining in the third quarter, wound up being held to (minus)-5 yards rushing on the night.
“We couldn’t drive the ball, we couldn’t run, we couldn’t get them off the field on defense,” Jerome coach Brett Glass said. “They were more physical and were the better team tonight. We’ve got to get better and keep working. We’ve got to tackle, and it’s a want-to thing. (Gibbon is) a really good back, and we’ve got to get better.”
While DiBlasio finished 13-for-18 passing for 126 yards and one score, Windham rushed for 46 yards and added 52 yards receiving.
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DiBlasio’s brother, junior Josh DiBlasio, recovered a fumble on a kickoff after Gibbon ran for a 14-yard touchdown to give the Wildcats a 35-7 lead with 1:10 before halftime.
Gibbon credited his offensive line that Scally said is anchored by junior Owen Crokie — who plays right guard and center — for helping the Wildcats produce more than 400 total yards.
Nolan Peoples plants and fires during an offensive series against the Wildcats.
While Jerome plays host to Westerville Central next Friday, Davidson is preparing to play at Hilliard Darby.
Gibbon, who rushed for 1,003 yards a year ago, also scored three touchdowns during the Wildcats’ 36-15 win over Canal Winchester on Aug. 30.
“(Gibbon’s) development has come as a young man first, and the football part has taken care of itself,” Scally said. “What we’ve seen since March, other people are just now seeing. He now has that ability to make more explosive runs.
“We play Darby next week, and they know us inside-out and we know them inside-out. I want us to clean up our mistakes, clean up our penalties, and just have more attention to detail.
Our kids are playing very hard but we’re making mistakes that down the road are going to cost us games.”
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