ROLESVILLE, N.C. — Just when it seemed like a Millbrook blitz here and there was going to throw off the rhythm of Rolesville quarterback Braden Atkinson, the Rams showed the true reason for their offensive firepower.

The offensive line began to pick up the blitz, Atkinson remained poised in the pocket and kept his eyes downfield, and the Rams’ offense snapped back as if it hadn’t missed a beat.

There were few beats to be missed for No. 10 Rolesville on Friday night, defeating the visiting Wildcats 35-0 in what figures to be a de facto Northern Athletic Conference championship game.

Atkinson had just one incompletion at halftime and finished 20-of-25 passing for 304 yards and four touchdowns with just one interception.

“It’s a real emotion that it’s his last year. I hate that he’s got to leave me,” Rolesville coach Ranier Rackley said. “But I’ll stand on the table and stand on this: he’s the best quarterback in the state, regardless of the stars or whatever. He’s the best quarterback in the state.”

Atkinson’s touchdowns came in two spurts — two to start the game that were separated by just one minute and 35 seconds, and one to start the third quarter that was just eight seconds apart.

How did he complete back-to-back scores so close together, not once, but twice?

Thank kicker Riley Daniels.

On a night when all three phases of the game were working for Rolesville (6-1, 2-0), the senior kicker — who is also among the state leaders in points and assists for the Rams’ soccer team — recovered both of his onside kick attempts following an initial score to start each half.

“The first one I put good pace on it, but the second one I put too much on it but I’m glad it went over that guy,” Daniels said.

After Atkinson found Gavin Waddell on one-on-one coverage from the 21 with 7:42 left in the first quarter, Daniels noticed Millbrook had left the middle of the field open, and bounced the kickoff straight ahead. After 10 yards, he fell on it. Rolesville scored a few plays later on a 47-yard pass from Atkinson to A.J. Roberts.

The score remained 14-0 until halftime, however, as Millbrook (6-1, 1-1) started to get its defense stand tall on third downs. The Wildcats, however, only had 21 yards of offense at halftime.

But on its first possession of the third quarter, Atkinson found Roberts from 45 yards out, Daniels recovered his own onside kick again — this one he popped over a Millbrook player and fielded himself — and Atkinson went to Jaedon Alford from 46 yards away on the very next play to make it 28-0.

“That Grimsley game was really a wake-up call,” Atkinson said. “The whole team looked at that game and turned it around and just really locked in.”

Atkinson continued to carve up the defense, spreading the ball around to seven different receivers, as he remained unflappable in the pocket. Rolesville ended the game with 400 yards of offense compared to Millbrook’s 110.

Waddell finished with five receptions for 51 yards, Alford had four for 89, and Roberts had four for 118. A late 4-yard touchdown run from Devon Thomas (14 carries, 72 yards) was the final score of the game.

Millbrook entered the game undefeated but unranked in the statewide top 25. The Wildcats were, however, ranked sixth in the 919 area code. The Wildcats were 2-for-16 passing for 27 yards as a team. Brilison McCullers, a junior running back, had 18 carries for 77 yards and one reception for 13 yards, giving him all but 20 of his team’s total yards.

SCORING SUMMARY

1Q
ROL — Braden Atkinson 21-yard TD pass to Gavin Waddell, 2-pt conversion good (8-0, 7:42)
ROL — Braden Atkinson 47-yard TD pass to A.J. Roberts, 2-pt conversion no good (14-0, 6:06)
3Q
ROL — Braden Atkinson 45-yard pass to A.J. Roberts, XP good (21-0, 8:16)
ROL — Braden Atkinson 46-yard pass to Jaedon Alford, XP good (28-0, 8:08)
ROL — Devon Thomas 4-yard run, XP good (35-0, 2:29)

FINAL STATS

Passing: Rolesville — Braden Atkinson (20-of-25 passing, 304 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT). Millbrook — Austin Battle (1-of-10 passing, 13 yards, 1 INT); Bryson Gray (1-of-6 passing, 14 yards).
Rushing: Rolesville — Devonte Thomas (14 carries, 72 yards, 1 TD); Amir Brown (6 carries, 8 yards); Trenten Pressley (5 carries, 20 yards); Jordan Pryor (1 carry, 0 yards); Braden Atkinson (3 carries, -4 yards). Millbrook — Brilison McCullers (18 carries, 77 yards); Anthony Evans (3 carries, 11 yards); Austin Battle (2 carries, 6 yards); Bobby Fulmore (2 carries, -2 yards); Bryson Gray (2 carries, -9 yards).
Receiving: Rolesville — A.J. Roberts (4 receptions, 118 yards, 2 TDs); Jaedon Alford (4 receptions, 89 yards, 1 TD); Gavin Waddell (5 receptions, 51 yards, 1 TD); Davis Brown (2 receptions, 7 yards); Jack McHugh (2 receptions, 20 yards); Amir Brown (1 reception, 22 yards); Devonte Thomas (2 receptions, -3 yards). Millbrook — Malachi Gilcrist (1 reception, 14 yards); Brilison McCullers (1 reception, 13 yards).

Source: highschoolot.com