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

Carolina Gridiron ranks the top fifteen teams in each classification weekly during the football season. Teams are ranked based on a number of factors including strength of schedule, wins, and quality losses. Interact with us on Twitter (@NCGridiron and @NCGridironNews) and let us know your thoughts using the hashtag #CGTop15.

Carolina Gridiron ranks the top fifteen teams in each classification weekly during the football season. Teams are ranked based on a number of factors including strength of schedule, wins, and quality losses. Interact with us on Twitter (@NCGridiron and @NCGridironNews) and let us know your thoughts using the hashtag #CGTop15.

Carolina Gridiron ranks the top fifteen teams in each classification weekly during the football season. Teams are ranked based on a number of factors including strength of schedule, wins, and quality losses. Interact with us on Twitter (@NCGridiron and @NCGridironNews) and let us know your thoughts using the hashtag #CGTop15.

DURHAM – The Murphy Bulldogs reeled off 21 first-quarter points on their way to a 60-27 victory over Pamlico County and the school’s ninth NCHSAA football state championship. The win was Head Coach David Gentry’s 406th career win, which is second all-time for Head Coaching wins in the NCHSAA.






Murphy’s defense got the scoring started when Micah Nelson recovered a Pamlico fumble and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown just 17 seconds into the game. The next possession for Murphy was after another Pamlico turnover, as the Bulldogs started at the Hurricane 34. Six plays later KJ Allen galloped five yards to the end zone and a 14-0 lead.



The Bulldogs built a huge advantage on the ground, racking up 479 yards to just 153 for Pamlico. Allen led the way for Murphy with 153 yards on 18 carries and four touchdowns as he was named the game’s Most Valuable Player. Murphy’s Devonte Murray also added two touchdowns on his six carries with 106 yards.



Pamlico got on the board for the first time in the latter portion of the first quarter. Senior quarterback Lamont Murray settled into the game and was able to lead his team on a 12-play, 66-yard drive that took 5:28 off the first quarter clock. Murray capped the drive with a seven-yard touchdown run to trim the Murphy lead to 14-7 with 2:54 to go in the first. Four plays later, Murphy stretched their lead back out to 14 when Reid Beal hauled in an 18-yard pass from Micah Nelson with 1:47 to go in the first. Nelson was named Murphy’s Most Outstanding Offensive Player as he completed 3 of his 5 pass attempts for 42 yards and a touchdown while running for 49 yards on two carries.



The Bulldogs took a 21-7 lead into the half and came out ready to roll in the third quarter, adding two scores in the frame. Ray Rathburn scored from 11 yards out on the ground to go up 28-7. Five minutes later Allen ripped off a six-yard touchdown run for his second score of the night.

1A MVP KJ Allen

Pamlico did not quit despite trailing 35-7, after a long kickoff return into Murphy territory by Jarrod Ramsey, Murray bought time and found George Jones open over the middle for a 42-yard touchdown pass to make it 35-14 with under a minute to go in the third. Just three plays later, Murray raced 46 yards to the end zone for a touchdown, however, the point after failed and Murphy led 41-14.



Murray went back to work for Pamlico, finding room and sprinting for a 17-yard touchdown to make it 41-20 after the point after failed. After touchdown runs by the Bulldogs’ Murray and Allen made the score 54-20, Pamlico’s Murray launched another touchdown pass, this one from 18 yards out to La-Monti Lewis to trim the lead to 54-27.



Lamont Murray finished the night with 157 yards passing and two scores to go along with 79 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. He was named the Most Outstanding Offensive Player for the Hurricanes for his efforts. William Lovick was the Hurricanes’ Most Outstanding Defensive Player as he tied for the team lead in tackles with nine. Hunter Shope took home Most Outstanding Defensive Player honors for Murphy, racking up nine tackles, 1.5 of them for a loss.





Story and photos courtesy of NCHSAA

After dropping the first game of the season to fellow western North Carolina power Pisgah during the opening week, the Murphy Bulldogs have reeled off twelve straight wins and will look to win their ninth football title this Saturday at Wallace Wade Stadium. This is the eighth straight season that a Smoky Mountain Conference team has played in either the 1A or 1AA state championship game. Four different teams (Murphy, Swain, Robbinsville, and Cherokee) have won state titles in this time.



Murphy will be without senior running back Slade McTaggert who was disqualified during the regional final and has to miss this week’s game. Looking to make up for McTaggert’s absence in the backfield will be senior fullback KJ Allen who has rushed for over a thousand yards on his own right this season.



Looking to take down the Bulldogs will be the 13-1 Pamlico Hurricanes of the Coastal Plains Conference. When asked about the strength of the Coastal Plains Conference, which has two representatives in state title games this week, Coach Torrey Nowell stated, “I think our conference is one the best conferences in the state of North Carolina when it comes to 1A football. I think our conference prepares us very well.”



Nowell’s Hurricanes are averaging over forty points a game and doing it mostly on the ground. Leading the rushing charge has been the sensational sophomore duo of William Lovick and Savone Tutt who have combined for almost 3,000 yards and 35 touchdowns this season. Add in quarterback Lamont Murray’s 767 yards and 19 touchdowns and the Hurricanes have a three-headed monster in the backfield that is sure to give the Murphy defense fits this Saturday

The 2018 football season kicks off next week and fans across the state are excited to cheer on their teams each Friday night for the next three or four months. Coaches and players have been together over the last two weeks in training camp and will hit the gridiron with championship dreams in their sights.

Last year's season opener between Scotland and Mallard Creek

With this new season kicking off comes several questions from around the state that will be answered as the season progresses. Here is a look at some of the top questions we have for the 2018 season:

Is Hough the most talented team in the state?

Most coaches are happy to have at least one elite college prospect on their roster. Hough head coach Matt Jenkins has multiple prospects on each side of the ball. Nine of the Top 100 class of 2019 players (h/t 247Sports – each player's rank in the Top 100 is listed) in North Carolina will suit up for the Huskies this season, led by Tennessee recruit Tyus Fields (#6) at cornerback. Joining Field in the defensive backfield will be Jalen Frazier (#37, NC State) and Bryson Whitehead (#86, Kent State). Getting pressure on opposing quarterbacks will be the job of DL Gio Paez (#40, Wisconsin) and OLB Kevon Hilliard (#95, Charleston Southern). Wake Forest-bound wide receiver Nolan Groulx (#13) hopes to be on the receiving end of a lot of passes from future Temple Owl Kennique Bonner-Steward (#79) along with Austin Robinson (#59), a Miami (OH) recruit. The embarrassment of riches even extends to the special teams where Camden Lewis (#100), a Minnesota commit, will handle placekicking duties for Jenkins and his crew. The Huskies reached the state semifinals last year and hope this year's squad will get over the hump and to the title game for the first time in school history.

What impact will consolidated schools have on athletics?

Many high school football fans are used to seeing new schools popping up every few years as North Carolina's population skyrocketed in the 1990s and early 2000s. After the recession of the late 2000s, counties and school systems began looking at ways to save costs as funding for education began to decline. One solution was to consolidate existing schools to reduce facility and staffing costs. It's definitely an adjustment for the young student-athletes involved. Once bitter rivals become classmates and teammates as new mascots, colors, and uniforms are introduced. Two counties are consolidating schools in time for the 2018 season and at least one has announced its intention to do so in 2019. Along the Virginia border, the newly branded Vance County High School include students from the former Northern and Southern Vance High Schools. The Vipers will play in the Northern Carolina 2A conference. Washington County High School will combine Creswell and recent football power Plymouth. The Panthers will assume Plymouth's old spot in the 1A Albemarle Athletic Conference. For 2019, the brand-new Montgomery Central High School will open and replace East and West Montgomery.

Will the Smoky Mountain Conference win another state championship?

One thing that has been for certain through prep football history in North Carolina has been the strength of the Smoky Mountain Conference. Teams from this conference have won over thirty state football titles over the last fifty years and ten title game appearance over the last decade. While traditional football powers such as Robbinsville, Murphy, and Swain have routinely been title contenders each season, in 2017 a new school sought to join the championship crowd. When Kent Briggs took over at Cherokee in 2014, the Braves were coming off of a 0-11 season and a roster of barely thirty players. The rebuilding process was slow, but it eventually paid off for the Cherokee faithful. Over the next few seasons, the Braves improved their record, even posting a winning record for the first time in eight years in 2016. When the 2017 season started, Briggs knew that senior leadership from four-year starters Tye Mintz and Byron Locust could be the determining factor in making a deep playoff run. Four months later, the Braves were celebrating a 21-13 win in the state championship game. With plenty of talent returning this season, the Smoky Mountain Conference race will be one of the closest in Western North Carolina.

What impact will increased skill development have on teams this fall?

One change that the NCHSAA made at their winter meeting last year was altering the guidelines regarding skill development for football. Teams may now have an unlimited number of players at skill development sessions instead of a fixed number as in the past. While these up to ninety-minute sessions are voluntary, coaches are only able to supervise and not "coach up" technique. Contact is not allowed nor is scrimmaging another team. While some coaches see this as a step in the right direction, others would like to see it take further and allow them to get inexperienced players more reps or use the time to install new offensive and defensive schemes. An athletic trainer or EMT has to be on site if the players are wearing pads and helmets. For coaches hoping this will give their players a leg up on the football season, 2018 will be the litmus test on how effective the new change will be.

Can Duplin County repeat its magical 2017 season?

Duplin County has four high schools. In 2017, three of the schools appeared in state title games with Wallace-Rose Hill winning the 2A title, its fourth in a row and sixth in the last decade. North Duplin played for the 1A crown and East Duplin lost by only two points in the 2AA game. Traditional football power James Kenan was the only school to not make a title game last year. While East Duplin graduated over 3000 yards worth of rushing from this past season, look for new faces in the backfield like Laquan Brown to put up monster numbers in the East Central Conference in 2018. Wallace-Rose Hill's Kevin Motsinger will look to offensive returners Michael Basden and Kameron Donaldson to try and match last year's 44 points per game average. Hugh Martin's North Duplin Rebels should be the favorites to repeat in the 1A Carolina Conference with the biggest test probably coming from Lakewood on October 15th.





Reach out on Twitter or Facebook to chat about these top questions and others high school and college football topics in North Carolina.

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The Murphy Bulldogs found themselves down a score twice in the 1A Football State Championship game, but the Bulldogs controlled the game for much of the afternoon rushing for 354 yards and holding the ball for over 29 minutes of the 48 played on the way to a 15-14 win. It was the Bulldogs eighth state championship win in NCHSAA play and the seventh for head coach David Gentry.



Things looked good for Plymouth early as Elijah Carmack slashed into the endzone from five yards out with 9:53 to go in the first quarter. It took a few possessions but Murphy was able to answer and tie the game at seven when Slade McTaggart got loose for a 10-yard touchdown run with 5:11 remaining in the first quarter.



Plymouth surged back in front late in the first quarter as Aryn Gibson tossed a bomb to Ta’Quaun White who streaked 56 yards for a score with :19 seconds to go in the first quarter giving Plymouth a 15-14 lead.



Coming out of halftime trailing 14-7, Murphy handed the ball to Kadrian McRae who dashed 47 yards to the endzone to cut the lead to 14-13 with 10:00 to go in the third. Plymouth was called for encroachment twice on the point after attempt and Gentry elected to pull the kicking unit off the field and go for two. Quarterback Joey Curry powered his way across the line for two, giving Murphy a 15-14 lead.



McRae was named the game’s Most Valuable Player rushing for 171 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries. Curry was named Murphy’s Most Oustanding Offensive player, going 4 for 8 on the day with 50 yards passing, adding another 16 yards on the ground. He played much of the game with injured index finger on his throwing hand after slicing his finger on a chinstrap buckle on the third play of the game.



Plymouth ended the season 12-4 on the season as champions of the Coastal 10 1A conference. The Vikings made their fifth straight appearance in an NCHSAA State Championship Game and their sixth all-time.



Murphy finished the year 15-1, champions of the Smoky Mountain 1A Conference. The Bulldogs returned to the State Championship for the 11th time since 1972, and the first time since 2013 when they defeated Plymouth 35-34.





Story courtesy of the NCHSAA

Carolina Gridiron ranks the top fifteen teams in each classification weekly during the football regular season. Teams are ranked based on a number of factors including strength of schedule, wins, and quality losses. Interact with us on Twitter (@NCGridiron and @NCGridironNews) and let us know your thoughts using the hashtag #CGTop15.

	Team	Record	LW
1	West Montgomery	(9-0)	1
2	Wallace Rose-Hill	(8-1)	2
3	East Surry	(8-0)	3
4	James Kenan	(8-2)	5
5	Tarboro	(8-1)	6
6	East Wilkes	(9-0)	8
7	Mitchell	(8-1)	4
8	Plymouth	(7-2)	9
9	Whiteville	(7-2)	10
10	East Montgomery	(9-1)	11
11	East Carteret	(7-2)	14
12	Murphy	(7-2)	12
13	Robbinsville	(6-2)	13
14	Southside	(7-1)	7
15	Pine Lake Prep	(9-0)	NR

Carolina Gridiron ranks the top fifteen teams in each classification weekly during the football regular season. Teams are ranked based on a number of factors including strength of schedule, wins, and quality losses. Interact with us on Twitter (@NCGridiron and @NCGridironNews) and let us know your thoughts using the hashtag #CGTop15.

	Team	Record	LW
1	West Montgomery	(8-0)	1
2	Wallace Rose-Hill	(7-1)	2
3	East Surry	(7-0 )	3
4	Mitchell	(8-0)	4
5	James Kenan	(7-1)	5
6	Tarboro	(7-1)	6
7	Southside	(7-0)	7
8	East Wilkes	(8-0)	8
9	Plymonth	(6-2)	9
10	Whiteville	(6-2)	10
11	East Montgomery	(8-1)	11
12	Murphy	(6-2)	12
13	Robbinsville	(6-2)	13
14	East Carteret	(6-2)	14
15	Rosman	(6-2)	NR

Carolina Gridiron ranks the top fifteen teams in each classification weekly during the football regular season. Teams are ranked based on a number of factors including strength of schedule, wins, and quality losses. Interact with us on Twitter (@NCGridiron and @NCGridironNews) and let us know your thoughts using the hashtag #CGTop15

	Team	Record	LW
1	West Montomery	(7-0)	1
2	Wallace Rose-Hill	(6-1)	2
3	East Surry	(6-0)	3
4	Mitchell	(7-0)	4
5	James Kenan	(6-1)	5
6	Tarboro	(6-1)	6
7	Southside	(6-0)	7
8	East Wilkes	(7-0)	8
9	Plymonth	(5-2)	9
10	Whiteville	(5-2)	12
11	East Montgomery	(7-1)	11
12	Murphy	(6-2)	15
13	Robbinsville	(5-2)	NR
14	East Carteret	(5-2)	NR
15	North Stanly	(4-2)	10

Carolina Gridiron ranks the top fifteen teams in each classification weekly during the football regular season. Teams are ranked based on a number of factors including strength of schedule, wins, and quality losses. Interact with us on Twitter (@NCGridiron and @NCGridironNews) and let us know your thoughts using the hashtag #CGTop15.

	Team	Record	LW
1	West Montomery	(6-0)	2
2	Wallace Rose-Hill	(5-1)	3
3	East Surry	(5-0)	4
4	Mitchell	(6-0)	7
5	James Kenan	(5-1)	1
6	Tarboro	(5-1)	8
7	Southside	(5-0)	9
8	East Wilkes	(6-0)	10
9	Plymonth	(4-2)	5
10	North Stanly	(4-1)	11
11	East Montgomery	(6-1)	12
12	Whiteville	(4-2)	13
13	Rosman	(4-1)	14
14	South Creek	(4-1)	15
15	Murphy	(5-2)	6

Carolina Gridiron ranks the top fifteen teams in each classification weekly during the football regular season. Teams are ranked based on a number of factors including strength of schedule, wins, and quality losses. Interact with us on Twitter (@NCGridiron and @NCGridironNews) and let us know your thoughts using the hashtag #CGTop15.

	Team	Record	LW
1	James Kenan	(5-0)	1
2	West Montomery	(5-0)	2
3	Wallace Rose-Hill	(4-1)	3
4	East Surry	(4-0)	4
5	Plymonth	(4-1)	6
6	Murphy	(5-1)	7
7	Mitchell	(5-0)	8
8	Tarboro	(5-1)	5
9	Southside	(5-0)	9
10	East Wilkes	(5-0)	11
11	North Stanly	(4-1)	12
12	East Montgomery	(5-1)	NR
13	Whiteville	(4-1)	13
14	Rosman	(4-1)	NR
15	South Creek	(4-1)	14

Carolina Gridiron ranks the top fifteen teams in each classification weekly during the football regular season. Teams are ranked based on a number of factors including strength of schedule, wins, and quality losses. Interact with us on Twitter (@NCGridiron and @NCGridironNews) and let us know your thoughts using the hashtag #CGTop15.

	Team	Record	LW
1	James Kenan	(4-0)	1
2	West Montomery	(5-0)	2
3	Wallace Rose-Hill	(3-1)	3
4	East Surry	(4-0)	4
5	Tarboro	(5-0)	5
6	Plymonth	(3-1)	6
7	Murphy	(4-1)	7
8	Mitchell	(5-0)	9
9	Southside	(5-0)	11
10	East Carteret	(4-1)	8
11	East Wilkes	(4-0)	14
12	North Stanly	(3-1)	NR
13	Whiteville	(3-1)	NR
14	South Creek	(3-1)	15
15	Union	(3-1)	NR

Carolina Gridiron ranks the top fifteen teams in each classification weekly during the football regular season. Teams are ranked based on a number of factors including strength of schedule, wins, and quality losses. Interact with us on Twitter (@NCGridiron and @NCGridironNews) and let us know your thoughts using the hashtag #CGTop15.

	Week 5 Rankings	Record	LW
1	James Kenan	(3-0)	1
2	West Montomery	(4-0)	2
3	Wallace Rose-Hill	(3-1)	3
4	East Surry	(4-0)	4
5	Tarboro	(4-0)	5
6	Plymonth	(2-1)	6
7	Murphy	(3-1)	7
8	East Carteret	(4-0)	8
9	Mitchell	(4-0)	12
10	Mount Airy	(3-1)	11
11	Southside	(4-0)	14
12	Lakewood	(3-1)	9
13	Camden	(3-1)	15
14	Swain	(2-2)	10
15	South Creek	(3-1)	NR

Carolina Gridiron ranks the top fifteen teams in each classification weekly during the football regular season. Teams are ranked based on a number of factors including strength of schedule, wins, and quality losses. Interact with us on Twitter (@NCGridiron and @NCGridironNews) and let us know your thoughts using the hashtag #CGTop15.

	Team	Record	LW
1	Wallace-Rose Hill	(2-0)	1
2	West Montgomery	(2-0)	2
3	James Kenan	(1-0)	3
4	East Surry	(2-0)	6
5	Tarboro	(2-0)	8
6	Plymouth	(1-1)	11
7	Murphy	(1-1)	4
8	East Carteret	(2-0)	14
9	Robbinsville	(1-1)	7
10	Lakewood	(2-0)	12
11	Camden	(2-0)	13
12	Swain	(1-1)	5
13	Mitchell	(2-0)	NR
14	Mount Airy	(1-1)	NR
15	Riverside-Martin	(1-1)	10

Carolina Gridiron ranks the top fifteen teams in each classification weekly during the football regular season. Teams are ranked based on a number of factors including strength of schedule, wins, and quality losses. Interact with us on Twitter (@NCGridiron and @NCGridironNews) and let us know your thoughts using the hashtag #CGTop15.

Carolina Gridiron Preseason 1A Top 15

1. Wallace-Rose Hill

2. West Montgomery

3, James Kenan

4. Murphy

5. Swain

6. Plymouth

7. Robbinsville

8. East Surry

9. Whiteville

10. Tarboro

11. Mount Airy

12. Riverside-Martin

13. Lakewood

14. Starmount

15. Mountain Island