Omarion Hampton, Cleveland face Cardinal Gibbons in a long-awaited clash of top teams
The NCHSAA 4A football state playoffs game made possible by realignment is set. Cardinal Gibbons, last spring’s 4A state runner-up, will visit 3AA state finalist Cleveland on Friday.
This third round, pre-Thanksgiving game has the magnitude and makings for an instant classic. Both programs have averaged 10+ wins throughout the high school careers of each program’s current student-athletes.
Cardinal Gibbons, seeded sixth, has a 1,500-yard rusher and NCHSAA record holder (for single game rushing yards) in Donovan Shepard. Third-seeded Cleveland features 1,700-yard rusher and UNC commit Omarion Hampton. Rams coach Scott Riley is a Cardinal Gibbons graduate.
Cardinal Gibbons is the last visiting team to win a game at Cleveland. The Crusaders upended the Rams, 36-0, on September 20, 2019. Cardinal Gibbons’ defense, led by defensive coordinator Nick Drew, is the only unit ever to hold a Riley-coached Cleveland team scoreless.
Friday’s winner is guaranteed to host a fourth-round game the day after Thanksgiving.
Double-digit seeds pick up road wins
Rolesville, seeded 20th among 4A Eastern Region teams, earned its second consecutive 20-point playoff road win with a 69-49 result at New Bern on Friday. The Rams won a rematch with Pinecrest (Southern Pines), 56-32, on Nov. 5.
Rolesville junior wide receiver Noah Rogers caught 10 passes for 305 yards and five touchdowns in the Rams’ two postseason wins.
Knightdale, seeded 25th, extended its fall 2021 campaign with its second double-digit road playoff win in as many weeks. The Knights defeated Pine Forest (Fayetteville) 26-14 one week after a 13-point (27-14) win at Middle Creek.
In the 4A Western Region, Cuthbertson has done likewise. The Union County school, seeded 27th, upended Lake Norman 31-14 last Friday, and Watauga (42-31) on Nov. 5.
Rolesville, Knightdale and Cuthbertson will make road trips within their own counties this week. Rolesville and Knightdale will visit Millbrook and Leesville Road (who defeated top seeded Richmond 19-14), respectively, Friday. Cuthbertson will travel to Weddington.
A Northern Carolina conference team is guaranteed to play the Friday after Thanksgiving after Friday’s Rolesville-Millbrook rematch. The host Wildcats prevailed 41-34 in the teams’ October 8 regular season meeting.
Grimes efficient, effective again
The only way to stop Millbrook wide receiver Wesley Grimes might be to preclude any touches by the Wake Forest commit. Grimes caught just two passes in the Wildcats’ 14-8 win at Hillside. Both catches were for touchdowns. Grimes had two catches and two touchdowns, also, in Millbrook’s opening round win over Garner.
This story was originally published November 15, 2021 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Omarion Hampton, Cleveland face Cardinal Gibbons in a long-awaited clash of top teams."