The N.C. High School Athletic Association football playoffs are here and your Cardinal Gibbons Crusaders are the No. 2 seed in the East. The Crusaders won all of their conference games outsourcing their Cap-6 opponents 219-21. Following a promising Cap-6 Conference championship, their fifth in a row, the Crusaders will face the 3-7 Willow Spring Storm on Friday at home.
Here’s a breakdown of the Crusaders’ performance throughout Cap-6 play leading up to the postseason.
Week 7 vs Athens Drive | W 57-7
Following a hard-fought win at Hillside in week six to finish out out-of-conference play, the Crusaders made a statement at their homecoming game. Crusaders quarterback Gannon Jones was near perfect as he threw for 251 yards, three touchdowns and completed 93 percent of his passes. The Crusaders’ run game was almost as great as the passing game as six different ball-carriers, including two quarterbacks, rushed for 191 total yards.
Running back Noah Terry added two touchdowns on the ground and running back Wylie Overholser added one. Quarterback Conner Lindsey also ran a touchdown in as well as wide receiver Joey Jonske. Eight receivers caught passes against the Jaguars and combined for 311 receiving yards. Junior receivers Brayden Karras and Connor McGeehan both caught touchdowns. Senior Sam Dodd also caught a touchdown to give the Crusaders three receiving touchdowns on the night.
Senior defensive lineman Jack Schneider had a huge night tackling the Jaguars 10 different times and he also added a sack. Senior linebacker Chris Shelton had eight tackles as well as sophomore edge rusher Griffin Cockerham with eight. Shelton also caught an interception.
Week 8 vs Enloe | W 40-0
In week eight, the Crusaders were poised for a victory over the then-5-1 Enloe Eagles. A quick 80-yard bomb from Jones to Karras made an early statement over the Eagles. The Crusaders came out in the second quarter ready to put some more points on the board, which is just what they did as Kendall Scotton scored a 5-yard touchdown and then later in the second, Jones found Karras again for another touchdown, this time 23 yards. The Crusaders aired it out all game as Jones threw a 38-yard touchdown to Sean Manuel. Just as he did in the first two quarters, Jones found Karras again for another touchdown, this time for a 52-yard touchdown to make it 33-0.
The defense held strong all game, but they wanted in on the scoring too as Chris Pinder recovered a fumble for a 19 yard touchdown. Pinder’s touchdown brought the score to 40-0. Schneider, Shelton, Braylon Peebles, and Corban McDaniel led the way on the defense totaling nine tackles each. Sophomore Xavier Hasan caught an interception to solidify this great defensive night for the Crusaders. After a big win versus Enloe the Crusaders would then travel to Sanderson to face the Spartans.
Week 9 @ Sanderson | W 41-7
For their third conference game, the Crusaders traveled to Sanderson and to say Dodd had a big game would be an understatement. Dodd caught five touchdowns and had 228 yards off eight receptions – which is 28.5 yards per reception. Dodd did all of this… in the first half.
Jones threw for 415 yards, with over half of these to Dodd. This goes to show how dominant this duo was, especially this early in the game. Schneider once again led the team in tackles with eight. Pinder had six tackles along with Shelton, who also had six tackles. The Crusader defense got to the quarterback all night having four players combine for 5.0 total sacks. Senior Conway Kelly sacked the quarterback once along with junior Will Graffinger who also sacked the quarterback once. Cockerham sacked the quarterback 1.5 times and so did McDaniel who wanted in on the fun.
Week 10 vs Broughton | W 56-7
Week 10 had the Crusaders matched up against their crosstown rivals, the Broughton Capitals. If last week’s game was all about Dodd, this week’s game would end up being all about Scotton. Scotton found it impossible to stay out of the end zone bringing in three touchdowns on the ground and catching two. Scotton ended the game with 153 total yards with 113 on the ground and 40 through the air, he scored five total touchdowns. Scotton was not the only scorer however, as Overholser ran a touchdown in, as well as senior wide receiver Alex Valdivia, who caught his first touchdown of the season.
Two Crusaders caught interceptions as McDaniel caught one and junior Billy Turner also caught one. It was Peebles who led the team in tackles on the week totaling nine, he was followed by Shelton who totaled seven tackles. Week 10’s win over Broughton was great, but the Crusaders still had one more game to win if they wanted to clinch a conference championship.
Week 11 @ Leesville | W 25-7
To win the conference championship, the Crusaders would have to beat the then-undefeated Leesville Pride. It was all or nothing for the Crusaders this game and it was not one that would disappoint. The Crusader offense was consistent per usual as Jones threw for 243 yards and two touchdowns. These two touchdowns were caught by Manuel and Jonske. Jones also ran a touchdown in to add a third touchdown for the Crusaders. Jones’ leading receiver was once again Karras who finished off the game with 127 yards off nine receptions. It was Peebles and Hasan who led the team in tackles on the night with five each.
Peebles and Hasan were followed by SPinder who totaled four tackles on the night. Pinder also sacked the quarterback once along with Kelly and Cockerham who also had a sack each. If leading the team in tackles wasn’t enough for Hasan, he also intercepted the quarterback to solidify a great defensive night. The Crusaders finished off their amazing regular season with a conference championship win, they still aren’t satisfied as the playoffs are looming.
Playoff Preview | First Round vs Willow Spring
The Crusaders have made the playoffs and have clinched the two seed in the East with a first round home game versus the Willow Spring Storm (located in Fuquay-Varina) this Friday.
Willow Spring is currently 3-7 with wins against Green Level, South Garner, and Fuquay-Varina.
With a win this Friday, the Crusaders will clinch a second-round berth and will play the winner of Garner (seeded 15th) and Southeast Raleigh (18th).
Some other notable teams to look out for in the East are Cleveland (1st seed), Hoggard (3rd), and Rolesville (5th). In the west Grimsley (1st), Weddington (2nd), East Forsyth (3rd), and Hough (5th).
For tickets to Friday’s game visit : https://gofan.co/event/2167437?schoolId=NC8259
Tickets are $8 and Student Sports Passes do not work for Playoffs.
