With Millbrook football’s dominant stretch locking down the NAC6 becoming conference champions and comfortably defeating Clayton in the first round of the playoffs, a rainy round 2 against the reigning state champions was destined to be an entertaining one. The Millbrook Wildcats are the 12th seed in the East while the Cardinal Gibbons Crusaders were the 5th seed. Even with the odds stacked against the Wildcats, they still managed to complete the historic upset beating the 3-time 4A East champs, Cardinal Gibbons. They traveled away from home and beat the Crusaders by 2 possessions crowning the Wildcats with the name “Kings of Raleigh” per Offensive Coordinator Coach Jenks.

  The Wildcats started off hot with wide receiver Ty Broughton scoring the opening touchdown and Angel Gomez-Corona hitting the XP creating a 7-0 lead. At the end of Quarter 1, Gibbons bounced back with a 3-yard run but missed their 2-point conversion attempt making the score 7-6. With the lead changing for the first out of seven times in the matchup, Gibbons would score making it 13-7. Wide receiver Henry Hutchin’s would snag a 25-yard reception for a touchdown and Angel Gomes-Corona would nail the XP making the score 14-13. Gibbons would score twice changing the lead for a third time making the score 27-14 mid-way through Quarter 3. Millbrook’s defense would rally and get a stop to allow the Wildcats to make a comeback. Quarterback Mason Fortune and the offense would drive down the field and pass the ball to tight end David Santiago for an 8-yard touchdown, Angel would yet again hit the XP making the game a one possession game for Millbrook 27-21.  

  The defense would force a crucial stop on the Crusaders allowing running back Xavier Pugh to bounce it in the endzone allowing Millbrook to take back the lead nine minutes into the 4th Quarter. The Crusaders would eventually drill a 41-yard field goal making the score 30-28. That would be the last time Gibbons had the lead as Millbrook would answer back with another rushing touchdown by Xavier Pugh taking the lead for the final time making the score 35-30. With just under 2 minutes left in the 4th Quarter, the Crusaders would fumble a snap and outside linebacker Jayden Ferguson would scoop it for a 10-yard return sealing off the game with an end score of 42-30. The recent victory moves the Wildcats onto the third round of the state playoffs.

  Outside linebacker Jayden Ferguson said sealing the game with a fumble recovery-turned-touchdown “was a mix between pure excitement and determination.” All I hear behind me is Ian (MLB) yelling, ‘Take it to the house!’ So yeah, it was pure excitement knowing that’s what sealed off the game,” Ferguson said. 

  Millbrook is set to face the 13th seed Southern Alamance on November 18th. Senior cornerback Session McArthur said, “I feel like the team will do just fine this Friday. We’ve prepared all week staying locked in.” With that confidence, the Wildcats are surely ready to face off against Southern Alamance. Continue to support Millbrook on Friday, November 18th. Go Wildcats!