RALEIGH, N.C. — Somebody had to be the hero. Might as well be the birthday boy.

Rolesville defensive back Marion Turner picked off Cardinal Gibbons quarterback Gannon Jones in the end zone in overtime, securing a 30-27 road win by the Rams.

It was the second interception of the game by Turner, who also picked off Jones in the third.

“That’s the only birthday wish I could ask for,” Turner said. “A win and a great performance from me.”

In what many think might be a preview of the 4A East regional final, Rolesville’s defense came up with crucial stops in the second half, none bigger than the game winning interception by Turner.

After a 27-yard field goal from Riley Daniels in the first OT put the Rams up three, Gibbons went backwards immediately. On their first play, the Crusaders (2-1) were called for holding. They were stopped on the ground on the following play. On second and 20, Jones scrambled out the pocket and threw the ball to the back of the endzone where Turner was waiting.

“I saw Gannon scrambling,” Turner said. “I saw him throw it and I go get it, bring it down and (held) onto it for dear life.”

The win by Rolesville makes it an even 2-2 in the last four meetings. Cardinal Gibbons, though, have picked up both their wins in the postseason, where it matters most. It wouldn’t be a shock if these teams play again in November.

“We are definitely going to see these guys again,” Rams’ coach Ranier Rackley said. “There’s never a time these guys don’t give us their all, so we are probably going to see them again.”

It appeared Rolesville (3-1) might have had the game wrapped up in regulation.

Braden Atkinson found running back Devon Thomas for a 14-yard touchdown with 7:13 remaining in the game, putting the Rams ahead 27-19 after the PAT.

Gibbons, though, went the distance, behind the arms and legs of quarterback Gannon Jones. Jones hit Joey Jonske for a gain of 36 yards to start the drive. Eventually Gibbons worked their way to the 1-yard line. After two failed runs from Conway Kelly, Jones took it in himself from the one to make it a two-point game.

Jones and Jonske connected again on the conversion, tying the game at 27 with 3:04 remaining.

Rolesville got the ball first and stuttered on offense, but Rackley showed some faith in his kicking unit, which botched a pair of attempts in the first half.

The first touchdown of the game was a message sent from Crusaders wide receiver Brayden Karras, who caught a short pass from Jones and bullied his way into the end zone, running through Turner, who obviously got the last laugh.

The attempt failed, but Cardinal Gibbons struck first and led 6-0 at the end of the first quarter.

Rolesville, to the surprise of none of the fans in the capacity crowd, answered. The Rams scored on the first drive of the second quarter on an 11-yard run by Amir Brown. The extra point gave Rolesville a 7-6 lead.

The lead was brief. The Crusaders went on a nine-play drive, a drive that ended in another Jones to Karras connection, this time covering 20 yards. The extra point from Evan Windley made it a 13-7 lead for the home team. Again, it was a lead that didn’t last long.

Devon Thomas broke for 48-yards on his first touch. After a short pass from Atkinson to Jaedon Alford, Thomas finished the drive with a 34 yard score. The drive lasted all of 50 seconds.

Before the half, though, the home team had one more punch to throw in the heavyweight fight. Cardinal Gibbons went on a 14-play drive, covering 80 yards, taking up more than four minutes.

Another Windley field goal as time expired made it 16-13 at the break. Windley connected on a 43-yard kick to start the third quarter, making it 19-13.

The Rolesville defense flipped the field, pinning the Crusaders at their own 3, then took the lead on a short pass from Atkinson to fullback Jack McHugh to take a 20-19 lead to end the third.

The Rams had another chance for points, after an interception by Turner, but botched the snap on a 47-yard attempt.

Gibbons has one more out of conference game, versus Hillside, before jumping into conference play on October 4. Rolesville takes on Athens Drive next, before starting league action on October 4.

Many eyes in Wake County, though, will have their sights set on a rematch of this game in the postseason.

For now, the Rams will savor this victory.

“We still have some things to work on,” Rackley said. “But the fact that we did it in the fashion we did, finishing, that’s the thing we’ve been saying since last year. It does give us momentum going into next week and conference play.”

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Source: highschoolot.com