As the NCHSAA football playoffs head into the fourth round, anticipation is high for thrilling matchups and historic achievements. Among the standout narratives is Tarboro's remarkable 16th consecutive post-Thanksgiving appearance, the longest streak in North Carolina. The Vikings, eyeing an eighth straight fourth-round presence, have been dominant in the East Regional, clinching the title six years in a row.

In a clash of resilience and ambition, Tarboro faces East Bladen, the No. 13 seed, marking their deepest playoff run since 2009. Wilson Prep, making only its second playoff appearance, is set for a post-Thanksgiving debut, while West Columbus looks to build on last year's near miss, determined to break through the fourth round after a hiatus since 1985.

Robbinsville, a familiar face in the fourth round with six appearances in the last decade, seeks redemption after falling short in the third round last season. North Rowan, making its first fourth-round appearance since 1992, aims to recapture the glory of its 1992 state runner-up finish.

In the 2A bracket, Clinton and Nash Central are making significant playoff strides, with Clinton making its first fourth-round appearance since 2019, and Nash Central celebrating its inaugural entry into the round. Whiteville, back after a 1987 2A Championship, showcases their resilience in the 1A Classification, while Northeastern returns for the seventh time since 2010.

The 3A bracket sees perennial contenders Havelock and Crest making their mark once again, with Havelock on its 14th fourth-round appearance and Crest in its 15th. Southern Alamance is set for its fourth-round debut, adding an element of unpredictability to the mix.

In the 4A bracket, Rolesville continues its dominance with a fourth consecutive appearance, while Cardinal Gibbons looks for redemption after last year's second-round exit. Butler, making its seventh fourth-round appearance, faces Independence, marking the Patriots' return after a hiatus since 2009.

The excitement is further amplified by the notable high-scoring encounters in the third round, setting the stage for a gripping fourth round. Notably, the clash between Nash Central and Hertford County produced a record-breaking combined score, securing its place in the NCHSAA Football Record Book.

As fans gear up for the upcoming matchups, the stage is set for a weekend of thrilling football action, where history will be made, and teams will battle for a coveted spot in the Regional Finals.

RALEIGH – Mount Airy’s Tyler Mason came into Saturday’s game having scored forty-one touchdowns through fifteen games and needing one-hundred-thirty-seven yards to reach two-thousand yards on the season. The junior lived up to his billing, rushing for three touchdowns and 139 yards and leading his team to the NCHSAA 1A state championship with a 20-7 victory over Tarboro on Saturday afternoon.

The Mount Airy defense entered Saturday afternoon’s 1A state championship against Tarboro giving up less than ten points per game on average. The Granite Bears defense had pitched shutouts in four of its last five regular-season games and two more in the playoffs. Mount Airy was able to hold the Vikings off the scoreboard for the first twenty-seven minutes of the game, finally surrendering a score in the third quarter.

Tarboro finally found its way in the third quarter. After Omarion Lewis picked off a Mount Airy pass and returned it into Granite Bears territory, Vikings running back Mason Satterfield barely broke the goal line on a run around the right side of the formation to get Tarboro on the board for the first time on the afternoon, but it was not enough to dig out of the hold the Vikings found themselves in after surrendering three touchdowns first.

In a twist seen more in 1A football than in other classifications, both team’s quarterbacks made strong defensive efforts on the other side of the ball. Mount Airy’s Ian Gallimore led his team with fourteen tackles and Tarboro’s Omarion Lewis snagged an interception to go along with eight tackles.

The win was the Granite Bears’ seventh title and first since a 2008 win over Williamston. Tarboro, making its sixth straight title game appearance, drops just its second title game in that span.

CHAPEL HILL – The 1A state championship game started off as two teams who were trying to figure out the weakness in their opponent. Both teams made it to the title game by heavily relying on their run games with Mitchell quarterback Ty Turbyfill coming into the game with the fifth-highest rushing total and the vaunted "Tarboro T" offense amassing over four-thousand yards on the season. Stopping these offenses would be a tall task for anyone, but it was Tarboro's day as the Vikings won their eighth state championship, 28-7, over Mitchell on Saturday afternoon at Kenan Stadium.

Tarboro was the first team to break the scoreless tie. After a punt pinned the Mountaineers deep at their own one-yard line, the Tarboro defense stepped up and forced Mitchell to punt from their own end zone. The Vikings, with excellent field position, marched eight plays down the field with Trevon White hitting paydirt from three yards out to give Tarboro a 7-0 lead going into the second quarter. 

Mitchell was finally able to find some offense in the second stanza. A pop pass from Turbyfill to Gage Young near the goal line tied the game, showing that neither team was going to back down from the challenge. After trading punts, Tarboro was in business again after a Mitchell punt wobbled out of bounds at the 31-yard line. Eight seemingly long plays later, Trevon White, on a 4th and goal from the one-yard line and with only six seconds left on the clock, punched it in for his second score of the game and gave Tarboro a 14-7 lead going into the half.

Receiving the second-half kickoff, Tarboro went right back to what they do best: run the ball. When Tobias Joyner raced thirty-five yards to extend the Vikings' lead to two scores, Mitchell was on its heels. Forcing the Mountaineers to go to the air to cut the deficit, the Tarboro defense smelled blood and it was junior cornerback Nathan Sherrod who stepped up, intercepting a Mitchell pass and returning the ball across midfield. The Mitchell defense held, though, stopping Tarboro on fourth down and taking possession as the game entered the fourth quarter.

Just as Mitchell was poised to move the chains, Tarboro's Omarion Lewis, the team's starting quarterback on offense and safety on defense, intercepted a pass and returned it to the Mitchell thirty-yard line. From that, it was a race to all zeroes on the clock with the Vikings adding another Joyner touchdown for the final score of the day.

MVP – Tarboro #24 Tobias Joyner

Tarboro MOP Offense - #10 Trevon White

Tarboro MOP Defense - #3 Treheem Daniels

Mitchell MOP Offense - #2 Ty Turbyfill

Mitchell MOP Defense - #32 Enrique Huaroco 

Viking running back
Tobias Joyner was a wrecking crew with the ball in his hand. He galloped for
two long touchdown runs on sweep plays, sprinting 56 and 31 yards,
respectively, to paydirt in the opening half of play and helped Tarboro open up
an 18-0 halftime advantage. In all, Joyner carried the ball 12 times for 179
yards, posting an average carry of just under 15 yards. He was selected as the
game’s Most Valuable Player.

After East Surry’s
opening drive stalled and the Cardinals missed a 35-yard field goal attempt,
Tarboro took the ball nine plays and 80 yards to go up 7-0. The Vikings capped
off their opening drive with a one-yard touchdown plunge by Jalen Razor, who
was selected as the Vikings’ Most Outstanding Offensive Performer in the game
finishing the game with 45 yards and a score on his 14 carries.

The Viking defense
was equally dominant in the game, led by Most Outstanding Defensive Performer
Xzavion Pitt. Pitt amassed 8.5 tackles and a quarterback hurry on his way to
the award. He helped lead the Tarboro defense that held a potent East Surry
attack to just 257 yards of total offense just one year after the Cardinals
hung 56 points on the Vikings in the 2019 1AA State Title Game.

The Cardinals were
led by Luke Bullington who had 20 carries for 105 yards in the game on his way
to winning the Most Outstanding Offensive Player award for East Surry.
Defensively Benji Gosnell led the way for East Surry, racking up nine total
tackles in the game, six of them of the solo variety, on his way to being
chosen as the Most Outstanding Defensive Player for the Cardinals.

The game was the
third straight year that teams from East Surry and Tarboro met in the State
Championship Game. It marked only the second time in the 108-year history of
the NCHSAA Football State Championships that the same two teams met for the
State Championship three years in a row. The only other time was in the Class A
Championship Games from 1931 to 1933 when Durham beat Charlotte two out of
three years.

Tarboro wrapped up
the season 9-0. The Vikings were 4-0 in Coastal Plains 1A play, winning the
championship. Tarboro secured the program’s fourth straight Regional Title.

East Surry finished
the season 9-2. The Cardinals were 5-0 in Northwest 1A play, winning the league
title. They won the program’s third straight regional title and appeared in the
State Championship Game for the third time since in program history.

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 1AA
Sportsmanship Award recipients were Evan Morris from Tarboro and Will Hiatt from
East Surry.

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

5:29 – TAR – J.
Razor 1 yard run (N. Farmer pass failed) – TAR 6-0 ( 9 plays, 80 yards, 4:07)

0:12 – TAR – T.
Joyner 56 yard run (N. Farmer run failed) – TAR 12-0 (6 plays, 85 yards, 2:56)

Second Quarter

10:16 – TAR – T.
Joyner 31 yard run (N. Farmer pass failed) – TAR 18-0 (2 plays, 43 yards, 1:22)

Third Quarter

8:38 – TAR – T.
White 5 yard run (L. Dupree kick good) – TAR 25-0 (6 plays, 44 yards, 3:22)

Fourth Quarter

3:14 – ES – T.
Needham 23 yard pass from F. Boaz (D. Sutterby kick good) – TAR 25-7 (7 plays,
82 yards, 1:51)

By Winning Percentage

By Total Wins