Cardinal Gibbons shakes off an early Heritage challenge, sets up showdown with Cleveland
Cardinal Gibbons overcame an early interception return for a touchdown and 14-0 deficit before upending visiting Heritage 56-24 in Friday’s N.C. 4A Football Playoffs’ second round.
The meeting included the third of three brothers — both juniors — who have donned their school’s respective colors on the gridiron. Heritage quarterback Lex Thomas followed brothers Thayer (Class of 2017) and Drake (2019) in representing the Huskies, while Cardinal Gibbons’ Joshua Stoneking, brother of Anton (2017 and Grant (2019), a defensive lineman, helped cement the Crusaders’ lead at 21-14 with a one-yard fullback dive into the end zone 5:16 before halftime.
“We kept our composure and got into our groove,” Cardinal Gibbons coach Steven Wright said. “The defense found their groove against a really talented team.”
Stoneking’s touchdown was picture perfect for his mother Jennifer, an avid game photographer from the stands. Twice proved nice for both Stonekings, as Joshua added another one-yard fullback dive for a touchdown with 2:24 remaining in the third quarter. The latter dive put Cardinal Gibbons ahead 42-17.
The Crusaders’ Ethan Grace secured his own interception and touchdown return with 2:04 remaining in the period.
“Our goal, obviously, was to see if we could punch one in (to start the second half),” Wright continued. “And we were able to do that and kind of extend the lead from there.”
Ryan Ziegler sandwiched a pair of rushing touchdowns between Stoneking’s efforts. Ziegler, a sophomore, ran two yards for six points with 10:06 on the third quarter clock. Ziegler’s six-yard run left the count at 35-17 with 4:30 to go in the same stanza.
Donovan Shepard set up the Crusaders’ final scoring drive with his 32-yards touchdown run with 2:04 remaining in the game.
Friday’s meeting was the schools’ third in the postseason’s second round since 2017. Heritage won 34-6 in 2017. Cardinal Gibbons prevailed 42-0 in 2019.
Cardinal Gibbons will next play in a matchup that many have been anticipating all season. The No. 6 Crusaders will travel to face No. 3 Cleveland in the East quarterfinal round next weekend. Cleveland features star running back Omarion Hampton.
Elsewhere, Knightdale, the No. 25 seed in the East bracket, kept the upset train chugging with a win over No. 9 Pine Forest of Fayetteville. The Knights will face No. 16 Leesville Road after Leesville upset No. 1 seed Richmond, 19-14.
No. 20 Rolesville also joined the upsets with a win over No. 4 New Bern, and No. 12 Millbrook thwarted No. 5 Hillside, while No. 18 Panther Creek stunned No. 2 Wake Forest.