#7 Cardinal Gibbons prevails in preseason top 10 matchup with #4 Millbrook at HSOT Jamboree

CARY, N.C. — Two backup quarterbacks made names for themselves under the bright lights of the HighSchoolOT Jamboree.

#7 Cardinal Gibbons reserve signal caller Wesley Brooker found James Howard for the go-ahead 2-point conversion as the Crusaders defeated #4 Millbrook, 8-6.

The HighSchoolOT Jamboree at First Horizon Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park is brought to you by State Employees Credit Union, Talk it Out NC, the United States Army, and Wake Orthopaedics.

The event features 10 high-profile programs from around the state: Union Pines, Hunt, J.H. Rose, #19 Rolesville, #9 Southeast Raleigh, #22 Wake Forest, #7 Cardinal Gibbons, #4 Millbrook, Middle Creek, and #25 Southern Durham.

Hunt and Union Pines played on Saturday, Aug. 8, as did J.H. Rose. The Rampants had limited field time in a matchup with Rolesville that lasted just six minutes on Saturday before the jamboree was postponed due to inclement weather. The remaining seven teams returned to Cary for the makeup games on Monday.

• View and purchase photos from #7 Cardinal Gibbons vs. #4 Millbrook scrimmage (Aug. 10, 2026)

Cardinal Gibbons and Millbrook played two 20-minute halves with running clock. For additional differing rules, read here.

Brooker came in for relief duty after Gibbons starter Mason Karras went down with an injury.

Crusaders’ running back Truth Ceasar scored the touchdown to tie the game with 3:36 remaining from 1-yard away.

Facing a stout Millbrook defense, Brooker showed some poise, rolling to his right and finding Howard in the back of the endzone.

That score came moments after Wildcats freshman quarterback Jayden Del Rosario drove Millbrook down the field for a game tying score, hitting Hayes Brawner from 8-yards out.

The teams went scoreless in the first half, as, with this time of the year, the defenses were ahead of the offenses.

On the opening drive of the game for the Crusaders, they went 11 plays down to the Millbrook 7. However, the Wildcats defense shut the door on Gibbons on fourth down.

Cardinal Gibbons would only get three offensive plays on their second drive of the half, resulting in two yards. Millbrook never crossed midfield in the first half during their three offensive possessions. The Wildcats best drive was their first one, running seven plays before stalling out on 4th and 8.

The Crusaders forced a three-and-out on the second Millbrook drive, and the Wildcats last drive started with 1:18 on the clock. A couple of Wildcat pass plays moved the ball into Gibbons territory for the first time. Millbrook got some more help in the form of a pass interference with 16 seconds remaining.

On the next play, Jayden Del Rosario found Jaylen Allen for a big gain to the three, but the Wildcats ran on the next snap, ending the first half.

Scoring plays

2nd half

• Millbrook — 11:10 remaining: 6-yard passing TD from Jayden Del Rosario to Hayes Brawner; 2-point conversion run failed. 6-0
• Cardinal Gibbons — 3:30 remaining: 2-yard rushing TD from Truth Caesar; 2-point pass good from Wesley Brooker to James Howard. 8-6