(2) Cardinal Gibbons scored the first 31 points en route to a lopsided win over (23) Hillside in the third round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association 4A state football playoffs on Friday night.

The Crusaders rolled to a 52-19 win over the Hornets, advancing to the fourth round of the state playoffs.

Noah Terry scored a four-yard touchdown run, then Evan Windley connected on a 23-yard field goal attempt to put Cardinal Gibbons up 10-0 in the first quarter. The defense got in on the scoring next, as Corban McDaniel picked off a Hillside pass and returned it 15 yards for a touchdown.

The Crusaders led 18-0 after one quarter.

Kendall Soccton scored the next touchdown for Cardinal Gibbons, breaking a 19-yard run for a score. Then the Crusaders got another defensive score as Xavier Hasan intercepted a Hillside pass and returned it 20 yards for another touchdown. That extended the Cardinal Gibbons lead to 31-0.

Hillside managed to get on the board before halftime when Xavier Stevenson completed a seven-yard pass to Jaylen Starks, but Cardinal Gibbons led 31-7 at halftime.

Cardinal Gibbons scored two more times in the third quarter. Gannon Jones completed a 59-yard pass to Sam Dodd for a touchdown, then Aaron Anderson scored on a two-yard run. The Crusaders led Hillside 45-7 going into the fourth quarter.

Hillside scored two more touchdown s in the fourth quarter. Christian Cook scored a seven-yard touchdown and Xavier Stevenson completed a four-yard pass to Elijah Stevenson for another score. Terry scored his second touchdown of the game for Cardinal Gibbons in the fourth quarter, ending the scoring for the Crusaders.

Cardinal Gibbons will advance to the fourth round of the playoffs where it will host (3) Hoggard, the team that eliminated Cardinal Gibbons from the 4A playoffs last season. Hoggard defeated (11) Millbrook 28-21 in the third round.