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," saiKauffman. "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.
"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.
Mt. St. Joe 21, Loyola 12
JeVon Norris rushed for 211 yards and three touchdowns, as No. 6 Mount St. Joseph (8-1, 4-1) defeated host and No. 9 Loyola (4-3, 2-2) to earn a share of the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference championship.
L The Gaels, 3-7 in 1993, are league co-champions with Gilman.
Mount St. Joseph outscored the Dons, 15-0, in the second half on Norris' touchdown runs of 14 and 27 yards.
Edgewood 35, John Carroll 16
Carlos Putney rushed for 191 yards and scored three touchdowns leading visiting Edgewood (3-6) past John Carroll. Chris Finley rushed for 174 yards and a touchdown.