ITG Next Florida is spotlighting each of the games and teams that will be part of the Broward County National High School Football Showcase on August 24-26. This week we take a look at the battle of the Gibbons: Cardinal Gibbons of North Carolina vs. Cardinal Gibbons of Florida. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. on Friday, August 25.
Overview
Besides the obvious novelty of the Broward County Showcase having two schools named for Cardinal James Gibbons, these institutions have a history of fielding championship-caliber football programs. Both teams won state titles in their respective states in 2021, with Raleigh’s Cardinal Gibbons Crusaders winning the North Carolina Class 4A championship and Fort Lauderdale’s Cardinal Gibbons Chiefs earning the Florida 4A crown.
The Coaches
Cardinal Gibbons Crusaders: Steven Wright (13th season)
Cardinal Gibbons Chiefs: Matt DuBuc (8th season)
What They Had to Say
In exclusive interviews with each Cardinal Gibbons head coach, here’s what they told ITG Next Florida about their Broward County Showcase matchup:
Steven Wright: “We always thought the novelty of us playing each other was a neat thing, but the fact that we are both solid programs makes this even better. Even though our names are alike, I think our teams are very different. Coach DuBuc’s team will have more physical talent than we will, but we do have a pretty good team. We are a scrappy bunch who will try to outwork and out-prepare our opponents. We are looking forward to the trip down there and taking on the Chiefs.”
Matt DuBuc: “We’ve been trying to make this game happen for about 10 years. When Broward County and Kevin Perry first brought up the showcase, I called Coach Wright and told him that we may can get you in this thing, and it worked out. They are a well-coached team. You can see that on film. Coach Wright does a great job with those guys, and everything they do is with a special purpose. They have some very talented players, and I think it’s going to be a great game with those guys.”
Last Meeting
This Broward County Showcase meeting will be the first-ever between the two Cardinal Gibbons teams.
Last Season
Cardinal Gibbons Crusaders: 9-3. Season ended with 42-30 loss to fellow Raleigh opponent Millbrook High in second round of North Carolina Class 4A playoffs.
Cardinal Gibbons Chiefs: 11-2. Season ended with 31-20 loss to American Heritage in Florida Class 2M Region 3 title game.
Impact Players
Cardinal Gibbons Crusaders
- QB Whitt Newbauer (Several FCS offers)
- WR Chett Yardley
- OT Jack Sheehan (6 feet, 6 inches, 300 pounds; Maryland offer)
- S Chip Coleman
- LB Ryan Ziegler (Mid-major offers)
- DL Chris Pinder
- DB Braylin Peebles
- ATH Aiden Small (No. 5 point guard in the country; football offer from Bethune Cookman)
Cardinal Gibbons Chiefs
- QB Michael Merdinger (North Carolina commit)
- TE Colton Heinrich (Georgia commit)
- CB Guy Edmond (Shutdown corner; several offers)
- DB Casey Etienne (Kentucky, Stanford offers)
- RB Patrick Anderson (Three-star recruit)
- WR Antonio Lindsey (55 receptions over last two seasons)
- WR Trent DuBuc
- K/P Brent Fardette
Next Week
Milton (GA) vs. Western (FL)
