High school football: Garner adds signature win; Cardinal Gibbons, Wake Forest victorious
Garner rallied from a 14-point halftime deficit for a 33-28 win at Millbrook for first-year Trojans coach Deron Donald. Garner (2-1) got three rushing touchdowns from Devyn Grant, including a five-yard run with 6:44 remaining, and the winning score — a two-yard scamper with 3:14 to play. The Trojans’ defense stopped the Wildcats in the red zone in the game’s waning seconds.
Garner had lost three straight games to Millbrook dating back to 2019. The Trojans allowed 48, 41, and 34 points in the intra-Wake County series’ previous three games. Garner, already, has surpassed its 2022 season win total.
Gibbons takes fourth
Cardinal Gibbons traveled to Richmond and returned a 26-9 winner. The Crusaders have won four straight games against the Raiders dating back to a spring 2021 home state playoffs win.
Cardinal Gibbons had 429 yards of total offense, including 83 rushing yards (11 carries) by ninth grader Amir Brown.
Cardinal Gibbons won previously in Rockingham en route to the fall 2021 N.C. 4A state championship before last year’s home shutout.
Cleveland’s Byrd flying high
Cleveland junior quarterback Jackson Byrd has 833 passing yards through three games. He will have to wait through next week’s open date before attempting to surpass 1,000 yards on September 15 against Corinth-Holders. Byrd is averaging 21 completions per game for the 3-0 Rams — 46-0 winners at West Johnston Friday.
Blue sees red
Jordan junior running back Amareon Blue scored three rushing touchdowns from inside the red zone in the Falcons’ 45-7 win over Heritage. Blue added a 45-yard touchdown run to scoring rushed of 15, 10, and five yards. Blue has 12 rushing touchdowns among three games.
Wake Forest looks familiar, again
Wake Forest’s 31-6 home win over Southeast Raleigh showed signs of the Cougars staunch defensive tradition. Before Friday, Wake Forest had allowed 75 points to its first two opponents. Last fall, Wake Forest allowed one or fewer touchdowns to each of its first five opponents.
Rolesville tunes up
Rolesville shut out East Wake 56-0 to set up next week’s battle of 2-1 Eastern contenders. The Rams will host Cardinal Gibbons in a fall 2021 state semifinals rematch. The Crusaders won that previous meeting (36-28 at home) before claiming the state championship. That preceding spring, Rolesville advanced to the 4AA state final.
Holly Springs leaves no doubt
Holly Springs’ 31-0 win over Fuquay-Varina set the stage for the Golden Hawks to secure unofficial southern Wake supremacy September 15 against Middle Creek. Undefeated Holly Springs is coming off a nine-win 2022 regular season, and won its first two games this fall by a combined six points (two against Garner, four against Clayton).
