The fourth round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association football playoffs is complete, and we now know which eight matchups next week will determine the title-game participants. Here's a breakdown of all the action that took place across the state Friday night.
Cardinal Gibbons punches ticket to title game with 30-14 win over New Bern
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By Kyle Morton, HighSchoolOT producer
Raleigh, N.C. The Cardinal Gibbons Crusaders are headed to their second 4A state championship game in a row after a 30-14 win over the New Bern Bears.
A game full of ups and downs for both sides ultimately settled into a familiar pattern for the unbeaten Crusaders, as their outstanding defense and deep ground attack guided them to the win.
Blake Raphael got the scoring started in the first quarter with a three-yard touchdown run on a dive play, and an aggressive decision to go for two paid off and gave the Crusaders an early 8-0 lead.
Cardinal Gibbons holds off Richmond, advances to second straight regional final Updated: 2021-04-24 00:22:59
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Updated April 24, 2021 12:22 a.m. EDT
Raleigh, N.C. Cardinal Gibbons will be in the 4A East football regional final for the second straight season after a thrilling 28-14 win over Richmond on Friday.
Gibbons (8-0) was up 21-0 early but Richmond (4-1) made it 21-7 at halftime and cut the lead to a 7-point margin early in the fourth quarter.
The two teams were locked at 21-14 with the Crusaders leading until 1:59 left when, on 4th-and-11 and with Richmond hoping to get one last possession to tie it up, quarterback Connor Clark found running back Donovan Shepard on a 36-yard wheel route for a knockout punch.