Rams tough on Crusaders: Rolesville back in 4A state final with win over Cardinal Gibbons

By Staff report

Updated December 14, 2024 12:21 AM

Rolesville’s Devon Thomas (0), Ian Hemilright (75) and teammates celebrate their victory over Cardinal Gibbons clinching the East Regional 4A Championship. The Rolesville Rams and the Cardinal Gibbons Crusaders met in the East Regional Final of the NCHSAA 4A football playoffs in Raleigh, N.C. on December 13, 2024. Steven Worthy

Braden Atkinson wasn’t going to let a late first-half swoon dictate the outcome of Rolesville’s quest for a state title.

Seemingly in control of the game in the second quarter, the Rams bent and broke on consecutive drives — one aided by a turnover — and watched as host Cardinal Gibbons, the No. 2 seed in the East region, reclaimed the lead in the teams’ NCHSAA 4A regional final.

Atkinson, the quarterback who’s been as valuable to No. 5 Rolesville this season as any player to any other team in North Carolina, came out firing in the third quarter. Touchdown strikes to Jaedon Alford for 34 yards and Gavin Waddell for 64 yards re-established the Rams’ position, and gave them a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

Atkinson finished with four touchdown passes — two to Alford and all covering more than 30 yards — and Rolesville survived a second meeting with Cardinal Gibbons this season, posting a 38-31 win over the Crusaders to earn a trip to the North Carolina 4A state final next week against defending champion Grimsley of Greensboro.

Grimsley toppled previously unbeaten Charlotte-area power Weddington (14-1) on Friday, 35-23, to secure its place in the final. Grimsley (15-0) handed Rolesville (13-1) its only loss this season back in Week 2. Weddington was the defending 4A state champion.

Rolesville’s only other tight game this season — and the Rams’ only other game in which they’ve failed to score at least 35 points — was a 30-27 overtime win against Cardinal Gibbons (12-2) in Week 4.

The Rams scored plenty Friday.

Cardinal Gibbons running back Kendall Scotton (5) runs for the first down against Rolesville’s Cannon Marshall (21) during the first half. The Rolesville Rams and the Cardinal Gibbons Crusaders met in the East Regional Final of the NCHSAA 4A football playoffs in Raleigh, N.C. on December 13, 2024. Steven Worthy

Second-half rally

Coming out of halftime, Rolesville needed some offense, and it got it rather quickly. The Rams’ defense stuffed the Crusaders on their opening drive, and a short punt left Rolesville to start at the Cardinal Gibbons 44. A handful of plays later, Atkinson found Alford for a 34-yard TD. Riley Daniels’ extra point put the Rams back in front, 28-24.

Two more defensive stops gave the Rams the ball back, and again Atkinson delivered, this time a 64-yard catch and run by Waddell to take a two-score advantage for the third time in the contest.

The teams traded punts again, and Rolesville went into the final quarter with its lead intact. But Cardinal Gibbons again clawed back to within a score with about 10 minutes to play on a second rushing TD, and Evan Windley’s PAT closed the gap to 34-31.

Daniels — quietly solid for a Rams team that put up a lot of touchdowns this season — booted his fifth successful field goal of the season (on eight attempts) from 42 yards to put the Rams on top by seven at about the four-minute mark. Daniels has also now hit 75 of 78 PAT kicks.

On the Crusaders’ ensuing drive, the Rams’ Cannon Marshall picked off a long pass attempt at midfield to hand the ball back to the Rolesville offense, which ground down the clock to finish the game.

Rolesville tight end Jack McHugh (30) makes the catch for the touchdown against Cardinal Gibbons during the first half. The Rolesville Rams and the Cardinal Gibbons Crusaders met in the East Regional Final of the NCHSAA 4A football playoffs in Raleigh, N.C. on December 13, 2024. Steven Worthy

First-half give and take

Rolesville’s first drive stalled deep in Cardinal Gibbons territory. After taking the opening kick, a long pass play from Atkinson to AJ Roberts set the Rams up in Crusaders territory, but Cardinal Gibbons’ defense held inside the 20, and forced a field goal attempt, which Rolesville missed.

The Crusaders then chewed up a bunch of clock and drove down inside the Rams’ 10-yard line. That drive also stalled, but Windley’s boot was true from 24 yards to put the home team on top, 3-0.

Rolesville’s running game got it going on the next drive. Chunk runs from Atkinson, Devon Thomas and Amir Brown drove the Rams into Cardinal Gibbons territory, and Brown capped the drive with a 5-yard TD plunge to put his team on top. Daniels’ PAT was good for a 7-3 lead.

Cardinal Gibbons running back Kendall Scotton (5) rushes for yards against Rolesville’s Jovon Wright (13) during the first half. The Rolesville Rams and the Cardinal Gibbons Crusaders met in the East Regional Final of the NCHSAA 4A football playoffs in Raleigh, N.C. on December 13, 2024. Steven Worthy

The Rams added to the lead less than two minutes later after an onside kick and subsequent 30-yard scoring strike from Atkinson to tight end Jack McHugh. Daniels again was true on the extra point for a 14-3 Rams lead after one quarter.

Three minutes into the second, the Crusaders got back within a score with a rushing touchdown of their own, but the quick-strike offense from Rolesville struck again. This time Atkinson found Alford for 74 yards and a score. Daniels’ kick put the visiting Rams back on top by two scores at 21-10.

The tide turned for Cardinal Gibbons on a fourth-down play. Faced with the possibility of another red zone trip with no points, the Crusaders went for it on fourth down at the Rolesville 26. Gannon Jones found AJ Clair for a 26-yard touchdown, and Windley’s extra point drew the home team to within four at 21-17.

Cardinal Gibbons took its first lead since early in the first quarter after a turnover on Rolesville’s next possession. A fumble recovery set the Crusaders up at the Rams’ 31-yard line, and a handful of plays later, Jones completed a TD strike to push the Crusaders back in front at halftime, 24-21.