RALEIGH, NC – The
Murphy Bulldogs defense came up with the stops they needed, holding
Northside-Pinetown to just six first downs and seven points on their way to
winning the 1A State Championship 14-7. The win gave the Bulldogs their tenth
Football State Championship in school history, and earning the all-time
winningest head football coach in North Carolina history, David Gentry, his
ninth state title.
The Bulldogs set
the tone early, chewing up 5:39 off the first-quarter clock as they marched 11
plays and 88 yards to go up 6-0 on a two-yard touchdown plunge by Ty Laney with
3:16 to go in the opening quarter. Then the Bulldog defense went to work and
shifted the field position in Murphy’s favor. After turning the ball over at
the four-yard line, Murphy’s defense forced a Northside punt.
On the next play
from scrimmage, Murphy Quarterback Kellen Rumfelt launched a 55-yard bomb to
Isra Smith for a touchdown, lifting the Bulldogs to a 14-0 lead after a
successful two-point try, which they maintained through the halftime break.
Rumfelt paced the Bulldog attack, throwing for 254 yards and the single
touchdown on his way to being selected as the Most Valuable Player of the Game.
Payton McCracken garnered Most Outstanding Offensive Player honors for Murphy hauling
in five passes for 113 yards in the game.
The Murphy defense
was stingy all afternoon, holding Northside to just 198 yards of total offense
and six first downs. The Bulldog defense was keyed by Ray Rathburn who broke up
a pass along with seven tackles in the game as he was chosen as Murphy’s Most
Outstanding Defensive Player.
The lone score for
Northside came in the third quarter as James Gorham, the state’s leading rusher
this season according to MaxPreps.com, rolled off a 73-yard touchdown trot with
9:19 to go in the third, trimming the Murphy lead to 14-7. Gorham was selected
as Northside’s Most Outstanding Performer offensively. The Northside defense
kept the Panthers in the game, led by Tyler Harris who picked up nine tackles
in the game on his way to Most Outstanding Defensive honors for the Panthers.
Murphy wrapped up
the season 10-1. The Bulldogs were 5-1 in Smoky Mountain 1A play. Murphy
secured the program’s 13th Regional Title, appearing in the State Championship
Game for the first time since winning the 1A title in 2018.
Northside-Pinetown
finished the season 8-3. The Rams were 3-2 in Coastal Plains 1A play. They were
Regional Champions for the second time in school history and the first time
since 2000.
The NCHSAA is
committed to recognizing and promoting good sportsmanship and has partnered with
the NC Farm Bureau to highlight individuals from each State Championship event
who exemplify the ideals of outstanding sportsmanship. The 2020-2021 1A
Sportsmanship Award recipients were James Gorham from Northside-Pinetown and
Rashad Davis from Murphy.
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
3:16 – MUR – T.
Laney 2 yard run (T. Laney run failed) – MUR 6-0 (11 plays, 88 yards, 5:39)
Second Quarter
5:52 – MUR – I.
Smith 55 yard pass from K. Rumfelt (T. Laney pass from K. Rumfelt good) – MUR
14-0 (1 play, 55 yards, 0:09)
Third Quarter
9:19 – NS – J.
Gorham 73 yard run (C. Tomaini kick good) – MUR 14-7 (2 plays, 73 yards, 0:52)
Fourth Quarter
No Scoring
Story courtesy of the NCHSAA
