The Cardinal Gibbons varsity football team (Raleigh, NC) will play a home playoff game against Willow Spring (Fuquay-Varina, NC) today at 7 p.m. This matchup is part of the 2024 NCHSAA Football Championships – 4A tournament.

Willow Spring vs Cardinal Gibbons Football Game Info:

What: North Carolina High School Football Playoffs
Who: Willow Spring vs Cardinal Gibbons
When: Friday, November 15, 2024
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Watch here:Watch here

Game preview: Willow Spring vs Cardinal Gibbons

As the high school football season heats up, an exciting matchup is on the horizon between Willow Spring and Cardinal Gibbons. With contrasting records and styles of play, this game is set to showcase the strength and resilience of two teams looking to finish strong in the season.

Team Overview

Willow Spring enters this contest with a 3-7 overall record, having faced a challenging season. The team has struggled in conference play, holding a 2-5 record, with a home record of 2-4 and an away record of 1-3. Despite these setbacks, the team has shown determination, averaging 14.5 points per game. On the offensive side, Willow Spring has balanced their attack, averaging 100.9 rushing yards per game and 131.7 passing yards per game. However, they’ve faced challenges in both the run and pass defense, giving up 286 points across the season.

On the other side, Cardinal Gibbons is having a spectacular season with an 8-1 record. They have been dominant in their conference with a perfect 5-0 record and an impressive 4-1 mark at home. The team’s offense has been a high-powered machine, averaging 37.9 points per game. Their balanced offensive attack has been firing on all cylinders, racking up 142.9 rushing yards per game and an eye-popping 257.7 passing yards per game. Cardinal Gibbons’ defense has also been stellar, giving up just 88 points all season.

Statistical Comparison

When looking at the numbers, it’s clear that Cardinal Gibbons holds the upper hand in nearly every category. Their offense, averaging over 400 yards per game, is significantly stronger than Willow Spring’s 232.6 yards per game. In terms of scoring, Willow Spring averages just 14.5 points per game, while Cardinal Gibbons puts up an impressive 37.9.

Team Leaders

For Willow Spring, the standout player has been Amir Wallace, who has averaged 56.8 rushing yards per game, providing a spark for the offense. Quarterback Chayson Ingram-Gray has been key in the passing game, throwing for an average of 110.6 yards per game. On defense, Jordan Ledgester has led the team with 11.6 tackles per game.

Cardinal Gibbons’ offense is spearheaded by Gannon Jones, who has put up a phenomenal 245.2 passing yards per game. Running back Kendall Scotton has been efficient on the ground, averaging 55.1 rushing yards per game. Wide receiver Sam Dodd has been a big-play threat, averaging 88.9 receiving yards per game. Defensively, Christopher Shelton has led the team with 6.6 tackles per game.

Scoring Breakdown

The game will likely see contrasting styles of play. Willow Spring’s offense averages modestly across all four quarters—2.8 points in the first, 4.4 in the second, 3.4 in the third, and 3.9 in the fourth—finishing with 14.5 points per game. In comparison, Cardinal Gibbons starts strong with 10.1 points in the first quarter, 14.4 in the second, and continues with a steady output in the second half, averaging 4.6 points in the third and 8.5 points in the fourth, culminating in 37.9 points per game.

Game Outlook

While Willow Spring may be battling through a tough season, they have the talent to challenge Cardinal Gibbons. However, with the firepower Cardinal Gibbons brings, they are the clear favorites. Cardinal Gibbons has demonstrated dominance both offensively and defensively, especially in their 5-0 conference record. Their ability to score early and often will be a key factor, as they look to maintain their perfect conference record.

For Willow Spring, the key to keeping the game close will be relying on their defense to slow down Cardinal Gibbons’ potent attack and finding a way to establish a more consistent offensive rhythm.

As the game approaches, all eyes will be on Cardinal Gibbons to see if they can continue their dominant season or if Willow Spring can pull off a surprising upset. It’s sure to be an exciting matchup!