Dean Monroe, Cardinal Gibbons’ athletic director, announced today that Steven Wright has been named the school’s new head football coach.

After learning Henry Trevethan was leaving the Crusaders to become the next football coach at Southern Alamance, Monroe began his search by looking at the finalist he interviewed just a year ago before he selected Trevethan. Wright was one of those candidates, and it didn’t take long for Monroe to offer Wright the job.

“He’s kept in contact with the program,” Monroe said of Wright. “It’s been a whirlwind.”

Monroe said Wright will begin his coaching duties at the school on Monday after meeting with Principal Jason D. Curtis last week.

“I’m extremely excited,” Wright said. “Over the past three years they’ve built some great momentum.”

RALEIGH - Cardinal Gibbons played hard and with a lot of heart, but as Crusaders coach Henry Trevathan said, "We played a team that was bigger, faster, and stronger, and it caught up with us," after his team lost out in the third round of the NCHSAA 3-AA football playoffs by a 35-10 score to Northern Guilford.

The win puts the talented Nighthawks (12-2) in the Eastern final next Friday at Wilson Hunt.

The loss ends an surprisingly strong season by the 11-3 Crusaders.

Here’s our rapid reaction after Cardinal Gibbons defeated Hickory 2-1 Saturday afternoon in the NCHSAA 3-A state champion:

Cardinal Gibbons advanced to the finals of the N.C. High School Athletic Association 3-AA Mideast playoffs with a 28-27 overtime victory over Fayetteville Byrd.

The Crusaders (11-2) slipped through after Byrd missed an extra point kick in overtime and another one in the overtime period that would have forced another extra period.

RALEIGH – Cardinal Gibbons is the Carolina 6 Conference champion for the second year in a row. The Crusaders also went undefeated in the conference for the second consecutive season after defeating J.F. Webb 28-6 Friday night. And, if that wasn’t enough, Gibbons is undefeated at home during the regular season for the second straight year.

RALEIGH – Cardinal Gibbons continued its climb to a conference title with a convincing 41-14 win over visiting Orange Friday night.

“We wanted to climb a ladder and each week is another step,” first year coach Henry Trevathan said.

The Crusaders (8-2, 4-0) pulled away from a 22-14 third quarter lead, scoring 20 unanswered points to set up a showdown with Oxford Webb next week for the Carolina 3A conference title.

RALEIGH - Defending Carolina Six 3-A Conference champion Cardinal Gibbons had its hands full with visiting Chapel Hill in the first first half, but dominated the second half to roll to a 50-30 league win.

The Crusaders (4-2, 1-0) picked off six Tigers passes and rushed for 271 yards in the game.

An ample amount of rushing from Brent Burnette and a helping dose in the air from Cam Pappas in the first half helped Cedar Ridge run away with its 35-14 victory against Cardinal Gibbons despite going nearly the entire second half without a score.

Burnette chewed up 163 yards on the ground in the game on 20 carries with three touchdowns while Pappas passed for 117 yards and accounted for two touchdowns to lead the Red Wolves (5-1).

Game over: Crusaders 29, Ravens 15

Key play: Ravens running back Quentin Taylor scored a 2-yard touchdown late for Ravenscroft.

Key stat: Cardinal Gibbons held Ravenscroft to just two plays of 10 yards or more in the second half. Avery Edwards received the two-point pass from Quinn Billerman.

Both Cardinal Gibbons and East Chapel Hill starting running backs wear the same numbers. But it was the No. 8 worn by Crusaders RB Tim Buckley that proved to be unstoppable Friday night.

Buckley rushed for 184 yards and four touchdowns in just three quarters of play to lead Cardinal Gibbons to a 40-28 win over the Wildcats. Buckley ran for 133 yards in the first half alone as the Crusaders offensive line pounded ECHHS for 334 on the ground.