Rolesville rams past Cardinal Gibbons, advances to NC state championship: Live updates recap

Rolesville shows off its balance in a thrilling win in the North Carolina high school football state semifinals

Rolesville junior linebacker Jayden Griffin-Haynes leads the Rams into the state semifinal Friday against Cardinal Gibbons. / Ken Ruinard / staff / USA TODAY NETWORK

State championships are just a week away in North Carolina high school football, and the semifinals include a rematch of one of the games of the year.

Cardinal Gibbons gets a chance to avenge its regular-season overtime loss to Rolesville in September.

Both teams are coming off blowout wins, as Rolesville knocked out No. 1 seed Cleveland 49-6 and Cardinal Gibbons shut out Hoggard 38-0.

NORTH CAROLINA HS FOOTBALL SCOREBOARD

Follow along below for live updates from the Class 4A regional final between Rolesville and Cardinal Gibbons, which is scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m. ET Friday, Dec. 13.

You can also watch this game live on the NFHS Network (subscription required).

Cardinal Gibbons vs. Rolesville, Class 4A regional final live updates

FIRST QUARTER

We're underway! Cardinal Gibbons kicks to Rolesville, which will start the opening drive on its own 24.

Braden Atkinson connects with AJ Roberts for 49 yards and Rolesville is in the Cardinal Gibbons red zone.

FIELD GOAL NO GOOD: Riley Daniels' 35-yard attempt goes wide right, and Cardinal Gibbons takes over on its own 20, 9:55 left.

FIELD GOAL CARDINAL GIBBONS: Evan Windley hits a 24-yard kick for the game's first points. Big catch-and-run by Joey Jonske set it up. 3-0 Crusaders, 5:54 left.

18-yard run by Amir Brown has Rolesville nearing the Cardinal Gibbons red zone again.

TOUCHDOWN ROLESVILLE! Amir Brown crashes through and dives across the line for a 5-yard touchdown run. 7-3 Rams with 1:59 left.

ONSIDE KICK! Riley Daniels recovers his own kick and it's Rolesville ball on the Cardinal Gibbons 49.

TOUCHDOWN ROLESVILLE! Braden Atkinson hits Jack McHugh for a 30-yard touchdown to make it 14-3 Rams with 1:25 left.

Roughing the punter on Rolesville gives Cardinal Gibbons a first down on its own 42 with 31 seconds left.

END OF 1ST QUARTER: Rolesville 14, Cardinal Gibbons 3

2ND QUARTER

Cardinal Gibbons starts the quarter with a big first down into Rolesville territory.

TOUCHDOWN CARDINAL GIBBONS! Gannon Jones sneaks it in from a yard out after Kendall Scotton's 20-yard run set it up. Rolesville leads 14-10 with 9:03 left.

TOUCHDOWN ROLESVILLE! Incredible effort by Jaedon Alford on a 74-yard touchdown catch-and-run where Alford broke about eight tackles. 21-10 Rams with 8:38 left.

Marion Turner with a huge sack on Gannon Jones that knocks Jones' helmet off. Cardinal Gibbons calls timeout. Third and long coming up with 4:57 left.

TOUCHDOWN CARDINAL GIBBONS! Crusaders get tricky on fourth and long, with Gannon Jones hitting lineman Adam Hammond (who lined up as an eligible receiver) for a 26-yard touchdown. It's 21-17 Rolesville with 4:46 left.

FUMBLE! Cardinal Gibbons gets it right back after forcing an Amir Brown fumble. Crusaders ball on the Rolesville 32, 4:38 left.

TOUCHDOWN CARDINAL GIBBONS! Gannon Jones hits Kendall Scotton for a 6-yard TD to give the Crusaders their first lead. 24-21 Cardinal Gibbons with 1:20 left.

HALFTIME: Cardinal Gibbons 24, Rolesville 21

3RD QUARTER

Rolesville kicks off to start the second half and gets a touchback. Cardinal Gibbons ball on its own 20, leading 24-21.

Rolesville forces a quick three-and-out and takes over on the Crusaders' 44.

TOUCHDOWN ROLESVILLE! Jaedon Alford with his second highlight-reel TD of the game on a tiptoe-down-the-sideline catch-and-run from 34 yards out. It's 28-24 Rolesville, 9:17 left.

Teams trade punts and it's Cardinal Gibbons ball on its own 27, 5:49 left.

TOUCHDOWN ROLESVILLE! Braden Atkinson drops a 64-yard dime to Gavin Waddell on a one-play drive. It's 35-24 Rolesville with 4:43 left.

END OF 3RD QUARTER: Rolesville 35, Cardinal Gibbons 24

4TH QUARTER

TOUCHDOWN CARDINAL GIBBONS! Bootleg by Gannon Jones and he runs it in from 6 yards out. A couple of catches by Brayden Karras set it up. It's 35-31 Rolesville with 10:08 left.

On third and 10, Rolesville gets 9 and lines up to go for it from the Rams' own 29. Cardinal Gibbons calls timeout.

Rams do go for it, and Devon Thomas gets 3 yards on fourth and 1. Rolesville ball with just over 8 minutes left, leading 35-31.

Rolesville lines up to go for it again on fourth and 2, and Cardinal Gibbons jumps offside. Rolesville ball on its own 46, just over six minutes left.

Fourth and 3 coming up for Rolesville from the Cardinal Gibbons 25. Rams call timeout.

FIELD GOAL ROLESVILLE! Riley Daniels nails it from 42 yards out to make it 38-31 Rams with 4:41 left. Another overtime game between these two?

INTERCEPTION! First play of the Cardinal Gibbons drive and the Rams get the pick on the 50, 4:34 left.

Rolesville converts on another fourth and short. First and 10 from the Cardinal Gibbons 39 with just over two minutes left.

QB keeper by Braden Atkinson for another Rolesville first down that will seal this game barring a miracle.

FINAL: Rolesville 38, Cardinal Gibbons 31

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-- Mike Swanson | swanson@scorebooklive.com | @sblivesports