Sep 14, 2008 3 min read

The Rockets bolted to a 21-0 halftime lead as Lubich sped 14 yards for one score and ran 61 yards for another on a pass-run combination with quarterback Brandon Kozich, while Ryan Knight raced nine yards for the other TD. But it was Lubich’s third touchdown that wrested momentum back to the Rockets after the Gators scored consecutive touchdowns that cut the lead to 21-14 in the third quarter.

Geibel (1-2) struck quickly on the third play after the second half kickoff.

Quarterback Mick Betler found receiver Brendan Costantino behind a defender at the Rockets’ 30 yard line. Costantino took the pass in stride and dragged the would-be tackler into the end zone less than two minutes into the third quarter.

The Rockets blocked Joe Laurion’s conversion kick to leave the score at 21-6, but the touchdown energized the Gators and the home faithful.

The visitors fumbled the ball back to Geibel on the first play after the kickoff, and the Gators drove 34 yards in six plays.

Christian Henckel capped the drive from two yards out, and Betler passed to Patrick Blackstone for the two-point conversion to slice the lead to seven.

With momentum on Geibel’s side, Jefferson-Morgan faced second-and-21 at the Rocket 25. Kozich threw a pass up for grabs for Lubich who literally ripped the ball from a defender’s grasp at the Geibel 40 and continued to the end zone.

Kicker Taylor Barchiesi was perfect on his fourth conversion kick.

The Gators had one last chance when Chris Erdely intercepted a Kozich pass at the Rockets’ 27 yard line with 11:03 remaining.

Geibel drove to the five yard line, where Hudnell Caldwell was stopped on fourth-and-three with 8:06 left.

Six plays later, J-M’s Jake Sigley broke for a 43-yard run to the Gator 43 yard line, and the Rockets were able to run out the clock.

Lubich accounted for 241 all-purpose yards, intercepted one pass and had another interception nullified by penalty.

Jefferson Morgan outgained Geibel 421 to 164 on the afternoon.

Two first half turnovers hampered the Gators, and a penalty wiped out a 55-yard punt return by Henckel that would have set Geibel up at the J-M 15.

Coach Ron Marciante said the Gators have been “snake bitten” in the last two games.

“We’ve got to eliminate our fumbles and turnovers,” Marciante said. “In the past, we’ve been blown out (by Jefferson Morgan), and it took until the second half for our kids to realize they could play with this team.”

Despite his team’s 3-0 record, Jefferson-Morgan coach Jan Haiden said his team made too many mistakes for the third week of the season. “We’re young and only have six seniors, but we can’t have mistakes.”