Eighth-ranked Gilman's defensive coach Nick Schloeder cashed in on a gamble with 3:18 left against No. 4 McDonogh yesterday
Schloeder called for linebacker Jason McCormick to blitz quarterback Bobby Sabelhaus, who was passing from his own 3.
McCormick blind-sided Sabelhaus, jarring the ball loose. Teammate George Bealefeld recovered at the 4, and Gilman's R. C. Kauffman (21 carries, 117 yards) ran it in on the next play for a 38-35 victory.
"Our defense gave some, but that play was just huge," said Kauffman. "Our offense had been underrated in the past and they [the Eagles] had the reputation. But we proved we could put up some numbers of our own."
McDonogh blew a final scoring chance with 0:51 left after a Dwayne Stukes fumble was recovered by Gilman's Whit Warlow at the Greyhounds' 5.
Gilman (6-2, 4-1) ended a three-game losing streak against McDonogh (6-3, 3-2) and increased its series lead to 46-28-5 over meetings. It also tied No. 6 Mount St. Joseph (8-1, 4-1) for the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference title. The Gaels beat No. 9 Loyola (4-3, 3-2) by 21-12 yesterday.
"We knew we couldn't stop them, but we wanted to stay within striking distance," said Gilman coach Sherm Bristow. "This is just a sweet, sweet victory for our program against a quality team."
Gilman trailed only 28-25 late in the third quarter after Lorne Smith (16-for-26, 212 yards) found James McIntyre (eight receptions, 107 yards) on the end of a 9-yard touchdown pass.
McDonogh took a 35-25 lead with 11:22 left on a 4-yard run by Stukes (22 carries, 143 yards, three touchdowns). Later, Stukes recovered a fumble at Gilman's 37. Four plays later, however, McCormick sacked Sabelhaus for a 9-yard loss.
Another McDonogh drive ended with four minutes left when Gilman's David Payne recovered a fumble at the Greyhounds' 23, setting up a 77-yard drive, which ended with a 1-yard run by David Biddison (12 carries, 34 yards). Gilman trailed only 35-31.
"We tried to hold them, keep scoring and not make any mistakes, but we just made too many," said Sabelhaus (13-for-16, 225 yards), whose 338 career completions eclipses the state record (337).
McDonogh led, 21-17, after a first half in which the lead changed hands five times.
Gilman led, 3-0, after Corey Popham's 33-yard field goal capped a 17-play, 66-yard drive with 4:18 left in the first period.
McDonogh went up, 6-3, less than three minutes later after a 1-yard keeper by Sabelhaus, who went 4-for-4 for 69 yards in the 80-yard drive. The first of Albert Davidson's five extra-point kicks made it 7-3.
But Gilman's Scott Banerjee (four receptions, 38 yards) returned the ensuing kickoff 64 yards to the McDonogh 18. Five plays later, Biddison bulled in from a yard away for a 10-7 lead 10:52 before halftime.
A 5-yard scoring run by Stukes gave McDonogh the lead again, 14-10, with 7:32 left in the half.
But the Greyhounds answered with Kauffman, who took an option pitch from Smith and ran 13 yards for a score and a 17-14 lead.
McDonogh appeared in command, leading 28-17 after Sabelhaus' 6-yard keeper 48 seconds before halftime and Stukes' 13-yard touchdown run that capped the opening drive of the second half.