For many Cardinal Gibbons students, Thanksgiving Break began on Friday, Nov. 21. However, work was still to be done by the Gibbons women’s flag football team: they had two games to play and a state championship to try to win.
The team’s first game on Saturday, Nov. 22 took place at the Durham County Memorial Stadium against Wakefield.
The Crusaders headed into this semifinal game with a 16-1 overall record. Wakefield entered the game with an undefeated record.
Needless to say, the talent and records of both teams promised an exciting game.
The Semifinal Game: Crusaders vs. Wolverines
Emotions ran high throughout the entirety of the game by both the players and their fanbases.
Senior Kate Sheehan scored a touchdown for the Crusaders, but her six points were called back by a penalty.
In the third quarter, senior Sophia Juhasz put the Crusaders on the scoreboard with a “pick six”, an interception return for a touchdown. The extra point opportunity however, was missed.
The Crusaders led 6-0 until the Wolverines scored a touchdown with just over five minutes left in the fourth quarter. But they also missed the extra point.
A desperate, but unsuccessful final attempt at executing a win in regulation was made by the Crusaders in the final seconds of the fourth and final quarter.
The score remained tied, 6-6.
Overtime began.
The Crusaders had the ball first, and they achieved the overtime point, leading 7-6. The Wakefield Wolverines however leveled the score with ease, 7-7.
The Crusaders missed their next point opportunity, and so did Wakefield.
Both teams went back and forth, but their attempts were fruitless, the score remaining tied.
The hope for a Crusaders win prevailed.
However, in the fifth overtime, all sense of hope was extinguished when Wakefield ended the scoring drought.
The Crusaders lost, 8-7.
Fans evacuated the crowded stands to greet the tear-stained faces of the team as they left the field. Friends and family embraced the tired and devastated players.
The team morale was understandingly low. Their dreams at becoming the fall flag football state champions were crushed, and for many of the seniors on the team, they likely never again would play this sport.
However, the day was not yet done for the Crusaders. The team still had one game left to play that day, and they had to accept that their final game together would not be the state finals.
Consolation Game: Crusaders vs. Cavaliers
At 1:30 p.m., the Crusaders took the field once again.
This game was for third place, a consolation game. Their opponent was the Cuthbertson Cavaliers, who had just lost their semi-final game against Ashley 14-6.
While some teams may have been unable to find the heart, the strength, or the will to compete after a narrow loss of 8-7, the Gibbons flag football team did the contrary.
In the opening minutes of the first quarter, starting quarterback junior Madeline Plonk threw the first touchdown to freshman Josey Willis.
Minutes later, Juhasz brought back a pick six. Sheehan scored the team’s third touchdown.
And Juhasz scored the fourth, another pick six, her second of the game and third of the day.
Junior Kelsey Knoblauch scored the fifth touchdown by catching a pass from Plonk. Plonk then scored the extra point, barely escaping a flag pull.
After countless amazing passes the entire game, Plonk scored a touchdown after an impressive run to conclude the Crusader’s remarkable offensive success.
The Crusaders won the game, 38-6, their most impressive win of the season.
The End of the Season
After the heartbreak of the morning, the Cardinal Gibbons flag football team prevailed and achieved a remarkable victory.
Although a consolation game was not the way the team had hoped their overall successful season would end, the team kept their focus and determination until the final whistle. Their hard work was reflected by the scoreboard of their final game.
The Wakefield Wolverines defeated the Ashley Screaming Eagles 20-6, becoming fall state champions and maintaining their undefeated record.
A Hunger For Victory
The results left many with the question; if the Crusaders had defeated the Wolverines in their semifinal game, could they too have defeated the Screaming Eagles? Would a semifinal victory have led to the Crusaders being state champions?
Questions like these are difficult to answer. But they almost always ensure one thing; a hunger for victory.
After the Crusaders’ inspiring season and playoff performance, their remarkable third place win of 38-6, and their narrow and upsetting loss against Wakefield, I don’t think anyone would be surprised to see the Crusaders in the championship game next year.
Fueled by this year’s disappointment and a strong desire to achieve the title of state champions, the Cardinal Gibbons flag football team has high hopes for an exciting 2026 season.
