RALEIGH – The 3A state championship game, scheduled to be the last game of the 2022 North Carolina high school football season, featured two undefeated teams with dynamic offenses and stingy defenses. In the end, it was turnovers that seemed to make the biggest difference, with East Lincoln’s four turnovers leading the Mustangs to a 30-15 victory and the 3A state championship.

Northern Nash started the game with a bang, with Keno Jones hitting a streaking Randall King for a sixty-six-yard catch and run to get the Knights inside the five-yard line on the second play of the game. Jones scored on a keeper on the next play to put Northern Nash on the board less than a minute into the game. A fumble on East Lincoln’s first play from scrimmage looked like it would be a disaster for the Mustangs, but the East Lincoln defense stepped up and turned Northern Nash over on downs.

Energized by their team’s big defensive stops, the Mustangs offense started to hit their stride later in the quarter. Sophomore running back Christopher Daley II punished the Northern Nash defense, rumbling in from thirty-five yards out to give the Mustangs a 7-6 lead. Keno Jones went deep again on the next Northern Nash drive, hitting Trey Battle for forty-five yards to get the Knights in scoring position. The East Lincoln defense kept the Knights out of the end zone and forced a Bryson Jenkins field goal to end the quarter.

The second quarter belonged to quarterback Tyler Mizzell and the Mustangs. Mizzell threw two beautiful touchdown passes to give East Lincoln a commanding lead going into the half. The first score was a toss to Markell Clark, but it was the fade to Keandre Walker in the back corner of the end zone that had the Mustang faithful on their feet and feeling like they had overcome the costly miscues from earlier in the evening. A Christopher Mileta field goal with no time remaining in the half set the intermission score at 24-9. After a scoreless third quarter, Mileta would add the next points of the game with two fourth-quarter field goals. Keno Jones added a late touchdown pass to Ashton Rhodes to cap the scoring.

Defensively, East Lincoln teetered between giving up big passes to Northern Nash’s speedy outside receivers and making athletic plays to pick off passes. Defensive end Diego Neira picked off a screen pass to set up East Lincoln’s second touchdown of the night. Aiden Terrell and Keandre Walker picked off passes on consecutive drives in the third quarter and Marcel Johnson recovered a fumble early in the fourth quarter to keep Northern Nash off the board.

The win marked the third football state championship for East Lincoln, all within the last eleven seasons. Northern Nash suffered its first loss of the season and fell to 0-2 all-time in state title games.

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 – Battle Holley’s East Duplin Panthers have scraped by in a few contests this season, including two against county rival Wallace-Rose Hill, but no game was closer for Holly’s squad than Saturday’s title game against Reidsville, the state’s winningest team. Guided by Avery Gaby’s 184 rushing yards and a timely play by safety Elam Moore, the Panthers were able to hang on for a 24-21 victory and the 2A state championship.

East Duplin took the opening kickoff and drove sixty yards down the field, with Avery Gaby’s clutch fourth down run extending the drive when it looked like the Panthers would be stopped. Gaby punched it in two plays later to give East Duplin an early 7-0 lead. Reidsville looked to respond but was forced to put after a penalty took the Rams out of a favorable fourth down conversion attempt. The subsequent punt was downed at the one-yard line.

East Duplin was able to put together a twelve-play drive, but two false start penalties stalled the Panthers’ progress and they were forced to punt. Reidsville’s offensive woes continued, and the Rams punted again. Playing out the script from the previous drive, East Duplin was methodically driving down the field, getting in the red zone, and looking to take a two-score lead before Reidsville defensive back Que’shyne Flippen ripped the ball out of the East Duplin runner’s arms at the four-yard-line and Jaden McCain picked it up for Rams, returning it sixteen yards. The Rams saw a chance to finally grab some momentum before the half and took it with a fourteen-play, eighty-one-yard drive, getting on the scoreboard with no time remaining on an Al Lee pass to Dionte Neal.

Reidsville seemed poised to ride the momentum into a lead on their first drive of the second half, but an East Duplin defense held the Rams to a field goal attempt. In what would be the most bizarre play on the day, the field goal was blocked and the ball bounced back to the Reidsville holder who did not seem to know that the ball was live. An alert Elam Moore grabbed the ball out of the Reidsville player’s hands and raced seventy yards the other way for the Panthers score.

As Reidsville looked to get back in the game, a Rams pass was tipped and hauled in by Breckin Bowles. The Reidsville defense stepped up and held the Panthers to a twenty-six-yard Darwin Bonilla field goal, keeping the margin at ten points going into the final quarter. The Rams defense stepped up again early in the fourth quarter, stopping East Duplin on downs and setting up a forty-yard Lee to Dionte Neal touchdown pass to make it a three-point game.

It was now up to the East Duplin offense to try and put the game away. In the first half, it was the Panthers’ penalties keeping them out of scoring position and keeping Reidsville in the game. On this final East Duplin drive, it was Rams penalties bailing out the Panthers. East Duplin thought they were putting the game out of reach when Zack Brown’s first completed pass found Kade Kennedy to put the Panthers up ten points, but Reidsville’s Dionte Neal ran the ensuing kickoff back for the Rams touchdown. An illegal touch penalty on the onside kick gave the ball to East Duplin who was able to run out the clock and claim the school’s first football state title.

New Bern struck first with a six-play, sixty-four-yard
drive, all on the ground. Senior running back Chamir Wright capped off the
drive with a twenty-two tard scamper around the left side of the line. The Bears
looked to try and put the game away early after No’Tavien Green wrestled a pass
from a Grimsley receiver and returned the interception into Whirlies territory.
Aronne Herring punched it in five plays later to give New Bern a 13-0 lead.

A ninety-eight-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by
Terrell Anderson got the Grimsley on their feet and the Whirlies defense
stepped up on the next drive, stopping the Bears for the first time on the
evening. A five-play, fifty-one-yard drive, finished off with a thirty-yard
Ryan Stephens rushing touchdown gave the Whirlies their first lead of the
night. The lead was short-lived, though, as New Bern’s Chamir Wright found the
end zone a second time, and the New Bern defense held on a fourth down to end
the half.

After forcing a three-and-out to start the second half,
Aronne Herring exploded on the next play, racing sixty-six yards for the score.
Just like the first half, when it looked like New Bern was poised to take a
three-score lead, the Grimsley defense stepped up again, forcing a fumble on a
fourth down and returning into New Bern territory. Mitchell Summers’s six-yard
score made it a one-score game going into the final quarter.

The fourth quarter began with a bang as New Bern quarterback
Damaree Tucker ran the option keeper for a twenty-three-yard touchdown. In what
seemed to be a pattern on the evening, the Bears were knocking on the door for
a score again, but the Grimsley defense stuffed New Bern at the one-yard line. The
Whirlies were ninety-nine yards away from the end zone, but undeterred. When
Terrell Anderson got behind the New Bern defense and hauled in the Ryan
Stephens pass, the junior receiver raced eighty-five yards for the score,
keeping the Whirlies fans on the edge of their seats. New Bern had the final
say, a thirty-six-yard score by Bears quarterback Tucker, his second of the
night.

MVP – No'Tavien Green

Grimsley Def. MOP – Keshaun Jones

Grimsley Off. MOP – #22 Mitchell Summers

New Bern Def. MOP – KJ Sampson

New Bern Off. MOP – Aronne Herring

2022
NCHSAA 1A Football Playoffs | First Round Pairings | Friday, November 4, 2022

EAST

#1
Tarboro (9-1), BYE

#16
North Duplin (6-4) vs. #17 Southeast Halifax (4-5)

#8
Riverside-Martin (9-1) vs. #25 Pamlico County (3-7)

#9
North Edgecombe (7-3) vs. #24 KIPP Pride(2-8)

#5
West Columbus (7-3) vs. #28 South Creek (0-10)

#12
Gates County (6-4) vs. #21 Washington County (3-7)

#13
Northside-Pinetown (6-4) vs. #20 Weldon (3-5)

#4
Northampton County (8-2) vs. #29 Jones (1-9)

#3
Rosewood (6-4) vs. #30 Chatham Central (1-9)

#14
Warren County (6-4) vs. #19 Lakewood (5-5)

#6
Southside (7-3) vs. #27 Rocky Mount Prep (1-8)

#11
Hobbton (8-2) vs. #22 Northwest Halifax (2-8)

#7
Bear Grass Charter (5-5) vs. #26 East Columbus (2-8)

#10
Wilson Prep (8-2) vs. #23 Perquimans (2-8)

#15
Bertie (4-6) vs. #18 Pender (5-5)

#2
North Moore (10-0) vs. #31 Lejeune (0-10)

WEST

#1
Eastern Randolph (9-1), BYE

#16
South Stokes (4-6) vs. #17 Mountain Heritage (4-6)

#8
Robbinsville (7-3) vs. #25 Cherryville (2-8)

#9
Starmount (7-3) vs. #24 Cherokee (2-8)

#5
Christ the King (8-2) vs. #28 Avery County (3-7)

#12
Hayesville (5-5) vs. #21 Alleghany (3-7)

#13
North Rowan (6-4) vs. #20 Carver (3-7)

#4
Mount Airy (9-1) vs. #29 North Stokes (1-9)

#3
Thomasville (9-1) vs. #30 Elkin (1-9)

#14
Swain County (4-6) vs. #19 Winston-Salem Prep (3-6)

#6
Draughn (9-1) vs. #27 Union Academy (2-8)

#11
Mitchell (7-3) vs. #22 South Davidson (4-6)

#7
Murphy (7-3) vs. #26 Albemarle (3-7)

#10
East Wilkes (8-2) vs. #23 Thomas Jefferson (2-8)

#15
Mountain Island Charter (4-5) vs. #18 Bessemer City (3-7)

#2
Andrews (10-0) vs. #31 Highland Tech (0-10)

2022
NCHSAA 2A Football Playoffs | First Round Pairings | Friday, November 4, 2022

EAST

#1
Princeton (9-1) vs. #32 Goldsboro (2-8)

#16
Heide Trask (7-3) vs. #17 Eastern Wayne (6-4)

#8
Cummings (6-3) vs. #25 Bartlett Yancey (7-3)

#9
East Carteret (7-3) vs. #24 Midway (6-4)

#5
Northeastern (8-2) vs. #28 Farmville Central (5-5)

#12
Wallace-Rose Hill (8-2) vs. #21 Kinston (6-4)

#13
Greene Central (9-1) vs. #20 St. Pauls (6-3)

#4
Nash Central (7-3) vs. #29 North Johnson (3-7)

#3
Whiteville (9-1) vs. #30 Southwest Onslow (2-7)

#14
John A. Holmes (7-3) vs. #19 Southwest Edgecombe (4-6)

#6
West Craven (7-3) vs. #27 Bunn (4-6)

#11
Hertford County (9-1) vs. #22 East Bladen (5-5)

#7
Clinton (9-1) vs. #26 Beddingfield (5-5)

#10
South Granville (5-5) vs. #23 Roanoke Rapids (3-7)

#15
James Kenan (8-2) vs. #18 Camden County (6-4)

#2
East Duplin (9-1) vs. #31 North Pitt (4-6)

WEST

#1
Reidsville (9-1) vs. #32 Madison (3-7)

#16
McMichael (7-3) vs. #17 Providence Grove (7-3)

#8
Chase (10-0) vs. #25 North Wilkes (7-3)

#9
Robinson (9-1) vs. #24 Wilkes Central (7-3)

#5
Maiden (9-1) vs. #28 Polk County (5-5)

#12
Walkertown (8-2) vs. #21 Mount Pleasant (7-3)

#13
Bunker Hill (9-1) vs. #20 East Davidson (6-4)

#4
Community School of Davidson (9-1) vs. #29 East Gaston (6-4)

#3
Burns (9-1) vs. #30 Morehead (4-6)

#14
Forest Hills (9-1) vs. #19 Shelby (6-4)

#6
Salisbury (9-1) vs. #27 Brevard (5-5)

#11
Pine Lake Prep (9-1) vs. #22 West Stokes (5-5)

#7
Monroe (9-1) vs. #26 North Stanly (6-4)

#10
Randleman (7-3) vs. #23 Lincolnton (5-5)

#15
Hendersonville (8-2) vs. #18 West Lincoln (8-2)

#2
East Surry (10-0) vs. #31 Anson (4-6)

2022
NCHSAA 3A Football Playoffs | First Round Pairings | Friday, November 4, 2022

EAST

#1
Northern Nash (10-0) vs. #32 Northside-Jacksonville (1-8)

#16
Southern Nash (7-3) vs. #17 White Oak (7-2)

#8
West Carteret (7-3) vs. #25 Vance County (6-3)

#9
Southern Durham (6-4) vs. #24 Richlands (6-4)

#5
C.B. Aycock (9-1) vs. #28 Triton (5-5)

#12
Smithfield-Selma (9-1) vs. #21 Hunt (6-4)

#13
Rocky Mount (7-3) vs. #20 Jacksonville (5-4)

#4
Havelock (8-2) vs. #29 Croatan (4-6)

#3
Seventy-First (10-0) vs. #30 South Johnston (5-5)

#14
J.H. Rose (7-3) vs. #19 Cape Fear (7-3)

#6
North Brunswick (9-1) vs. #27 Westover (6-4)

#11
Currituck County (6-4) vs. #22 Lee County (7-3)

#7
Terry Sanford (8-2) vs. #26 South Brunswick (5-5)

#10
Scotland (6-4) vs. #23 Fike (5-5)

#15
Williams (7-3) vs. #18 Western Alamance (6-4)

#2
Eastern Alamance (9-1) vs. #31 Franklinton (4-6)

WEST

#1
Kings Mountain (10-0) vs. #32 St. Stephens (4-6)

#16
Central Davidson (8-2) vs. #17 Smoky Mountain (6-4)

#8
West Charlotte (5-5) vs. #25 Cramer (4-6)

#9
Hibriten (5-5) vs. #24 Southern Guilford (6-4)

#5
Northwest Cabarrus (9-1) vs. #28 Ashbrook (4-6)

#12
Ledford (9-1) vs. #21 Freedom (6-4)

#13
Tuscola (9-1) vs. #20 Forestview (4-6)

#4
East Lincoln (10-0) vs. #29 Ashe County (3-7)

#3
Oak Grove (10-0) vs. #30 West Mecklenburg (5-5)

#14
Crest (7-3) vs. #19 Statesville (7-3)

#6
Dudley (8-2) vs. #27 Pisgah (4-6)

#11
South Point (9-1) vs. #22 Hickory (7-3)

#7
Erwin (5-5) vs. #26 Carson (5-5)

#10
Parkwood (5-5) vs. #23 Eastern Guilford (6-4)

#15
West Rowan (8-2) vs. #18 Franklin (6-4)

#2
West Henderson (10-0) vs. #31 North Davidson (3-7)

2022
NCHSAA 4A Football Playoffs | First Round Pairings | Friday, November 4, 2022

EAST

#1
Hillside (10-0) vs. #32 Hoke County (5-5)

#16
Apex (9-1) vs. #17 Panther Creek (7-3)

#8
Holly Springs (8-2) vs. #25 Richmond (5-5)

#9
Pine Forest (8-2) vs. #24 Fuquay-Varina (6-4)

#5
Cardinal Gibbons (8-2) vs. #28 Knightdale (6-4)

#12
Millbrook (9-1) vs. #21 Clayton (6-4)

#13
Southern Alamance (7-3) vs. #20 Riverside-Durham (6-4)

#4
New Hanover (9-1) vs. #29 Broughton (5-5)

#3
Wake Forest (8-2) vs. #30 Chapel Hill (6-4)

#14
Leesville Road (8-2) vs. #19 D.H. Conley (5-5)

#6
Cleveland (10-0) vs. #27 Topsail (5-5)

#11
Rolesville (7-3) vs. #22 Overhills (7-3)

#7
Pinecrest (8-2) vs. #26 Laney (6-4)

#10
Jack Britt (7-3) vs. #23 Jordan (4-6)

#15
Heritage (7-3) vs. #18 Hoggard (7-3)

#2
New Bern (10-0) vs. #31 Sanderson (5-5)

WEST

#1
Grimsley (10-0) vs. #32 Davie (4-6)

#16
Reagan (8-2) vs. #17 Charlotte Catholic (8-2)

#8
Independence (9-1) vs. #25 Page (5-5)

#9
Olympic (10-0) vs. #24 T.C. Roberson (6-4)

#5
Hough (8-2) vs. #28 Providence (5-5)

#12
Mallard Creek (7-3) vs. #21 Ardrey Kell (8-2)

#13
Asheville (8-2) vs. #20 Mount Tabor (8-2)

#4
East Forsyth (10-0) vs. #29 West Forsyth (4-6)

#3
Watauga (9-1) vs. #30 South Iredell (4-6)

#14
Northwest Guilford (8-2) vs. #19 Southeast Guilford (7-3)

#6
Weddington (9-1) vs. #27 Marvin Ridge (5-5)

#11
Cox Mill (8-2) vs. #22 Lake Norman (7-3)

#7
A.C. Reynolds (9-1) vs. #26 A.L. Brown (6-4)

#10
Julius Chambers (8-2) vs. #23 Porter Ridge (7-3)

#15
Butler (8-2) vs. #18 Hickory Ridge (6-4)

#2
Mooresville (9-1) vs. #31 Southwest Guilford (5-5)

RALEIGH – The 4A state championship is routinely the highlight of state championship weekend in North Carolina. The largest schools in the state, battling it out for football supremacy, meet on the gridiron to decide who has bragging rights to claim themselves as the state's top team. On Saturday night, it was reigning two-time champion Julius Chambers taking on two-time state finalist Cardinal Gibbons. At the end of the night, Cardinal Gibbons was bridesmaid no more, celebrating a 4A state championship with its 14-2 win over Chambers in a rain-soaked matchup.

The Cougars and Crusaders had met earlier in the season, a 35-27 opening week win for Chambers, and the Crusaders were eager for revenge. Mother Nature made herself known during the game, bringing monsoon-like conditions throughout the first half.

In what would seem to be the absolute best timing of the evening, Gibbons got on the board first after a seven-play, seventy-yard drive ended with a thirty-four-yard pass from Connor Clark to Maverick Shotwell. Between the PAT and ensuing kickoff, a wave of heavy rain began to pour from the sky over Raleigh's Carter-Finley Stadium.

The rain caused each team to have trouble with ball-handling and offense the rest of the first half. A punt attempt by Gibbons was botched by a bad snap that went through the end zone to give Chambers their only points of the first half. By the half, it was clear that the team's game plans were going to have to be reworked. The two teams combined for 125 total yards and nine punts during the first half and hoped for better weather in the second half.

Both teams were a bit slow coming out of the half, trading punts, and playing for field position. Gibbons would be the only team to score in the third period as Connor Clark and Maverick Shotwell linked up for the second time of the evening, this one a seventy-three-yard strike to extend the Crusaders' lead to 14-2 going into the final stanza, a lead the team would take to the final whistle.

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 

CHAPEL HILL – Records fell in Friday night's 3A state championship game between the Dudley Panthers and the JH Rose Rampants. Fans in attendance were treated to an offensive spectacle as the two teams combined for 109 points, breaking a fourteen-year-old record. Dudley set the record for most points in a neutral site title game as the Panthers raced past the Rampants, 69-40, to secure their seventh state championship and first in five seasons.

Everything seemed to be going Dudley's way at the start of the game. A holding penalty on the first play of the game and a sack two plays later forced an early punt from deep in Rose territory. A good return set up the Panthers at the Rampant 29-yard line. Five plays later, RJ Baker rushed it in from three yards out. On the ensuing drive, a pass over the middle was picked off by Jaylan Richmond, who raced fifty-six yards for the pick-six and an early two-score lead. After forcing another punt, Dudley's Michael Shaw burst through the line and sprinted seventy-six yards down the home sideline for the Panthers' third score to open the game.

JH Rose responded with an eight-play drive on its next possession. After Will Taylor threw a pass where only his guy could get it, Jayden Grimes hauled in a catch in the left side of the end zone to give the Rampants their first points of the night. This seemed to give some momentum to the Rose defense as well, and the Rampant faithful were yelling ecstatically when sophomore safety Jameer Roach stepped in front of a Dudley pass and scooted fifty-nine yards down the field for the pick-six. At the end of the first quarter, things looked to be going Rose's way as the Rampants had cut the Panthers' lead to one score.

Dudley found its mojo again in the second quarter. After giving up the scoring interception the drive before, Jahmier Slade was determined to not let that be the deciding factor in the first half. The senior quarterback engineered a seven-play, sixty-five-yard scoring drive with Slade himself running it in around the left side to extend the Panthers' lead to 27-14. It was a short-lived momentum burst, though, as a bad snap on a punt attempt on Dudley's next possession set up Rose at the six-yard line. Senior running back Klavon Brown did the rest one play later and one score separated the two teams halfway through the second quarter.

In what seemed to be the critical turning point of the game, fortune favored the Panthers late in the quarter as the Panthers were able to add two touchdowns in the last minute of the first half. A recovered fumble set up a five-yard Mekhi Wall rushing score and a recovery on the ensuing kickoff helped Dudley go into the half with a 49-20 lead after Jahmier Slade's fourteen-yard scoring pass to RJ Baker.

What was supposed to be a football state championship game turned into a track meet of sorts in the third quarter as each team found new ways to score each time they held the ball. A big kickoff return got the Panthers started in Rose territory and the western regional champions took advantage of the great field position, scoring a minute and a half later on Jahmier Slade's second rushing touchdown of the evening. Rose refused to relent even in the face of a seemingly insurmountable Dudley lead. Will Taylor and Jayden Grimes connected for the second time of the evening, a forty-three-yard pass that picked up the mood on the Rampant sideline early in the third quarter.

The two teams kept trading blows like heavyweight fighters through the rest of the quarter. After Dudley scored on a Slade to Wall pass for the second time on the night, Rose got back on the board with a long pass from Taylor to Montez Green. Dudley went right back down the field, with Slade keeping it for his third score of the night. Just when it looked like the fireworks would slow down, RJ Baker took a Rose punt to the house to make it 69-34 going into the final quarter. Rose would add a late score to set the final tally.

MVP – Jahmier Slade (Dudley)

Dudley Def. MOP – Logan Wright (DE)

Dudley Off. MOP – Michael Shaw (RB)

JH Rose Off. MOP – Jayden Grimes (WR)

JH Rose Def. MOP – Klavon Brown (LB)

Mountain Heritage
did their best to keep the powerful Rams offense off the field, holding
possession on the opening drive for more than eight and a half minutes of the
first quarter. As they did for the entire game, despite giving up a few first
downs, the Rams defense managed to get stops in key situations. Kahree Hayes
led the Rams defense with 10 tackles and was selected as the Rams Most
Outstanding Defensive Player.

When the Rams
finally got their hands on the ball, they were able to strike quickly when
Pinnix broke more than half a dozen tackles on his way to a 61-yard touchdown
with just 19 seconds to go in the opening quarter putting Reidsville in front
7-0.

The next Reidsville
possession was equally successful with Pinnix finding Cam Peoples for a 69-yard
touchdown pass to go up 14-0. The Rams closed out the half with a strong nine-play, 46-yard drive capped off by a fourth and goal, one-yard touchdown run by
Stevion Harrison with just nine seconds remaining before the half.

Breon Pass brought
a nice return of the second-half opening kick to the Mountain Heritage 35,
setting Reidsville up with a short field. The Rams made quick work of the 35
yards, covering it in four plays with Pass hauling in a six-yard touchdown pass
from Pinnix to go up 28-0. Pass hauled in 5 receptions with 88 yards and two
touchdowns as he was selected the Rams Most Outstanding Offensive Player.

Reidsville was
highly efficient, scoring four touchdowns on their first four possessions of the
game on the way to building that 28-0 lead. Pinnix finished the game with 229
yards through the air and 3 touchdowns. He added another 91 yards on the ground
with the one score on his way to being named the Most Valuable Player in the
game.

Mountain Heritage
moved the ball some on the ground, rushing for 241 yards on 58 plays. Gabe
Silvers, Cougars quarterback, handled most of the rushing duties for Mountain
Heritage, carrying 29 times for 123 yards in the game. He was selected as the
Most Outstanding Player for the Cougars. Jakob McCool was the Most Outstanding
Player for the Cougar defense, finishing the game with six tackles and an
interception.

Reidsville wrapped
up the season 10-0. The Rams were 4-0 in Mid-State 2A play, winning the
championship. Reidsville secured the program’s fifth straight Regional Title
and third straight State Championship.

Mountain Heritage
finished the season 7-2. The Cougars were 2-1 in Western Highlands 1A/2A play.
They won the program’s second regional title and appeared in the State
Championship Game for the first time since 2009.

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 2A
Sportsmanship Award recipients were Orion Johnson from Reidsville and Josh Jobe
from Mountain Heritage.

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

0:19 – RHS – K.
Pinnix 61-yard run (A. Franson kick good) – RHS 7-0 (6 plays, 77 yards, 2:54)

Second Quarter

6:28 – RHS – C.
Peoples 69-yard pass from K. Pinnix (A. Franson kick good) – RHS 14-0 (1 play,
69 yards, 0:13)

0:09 – RHS – S.
Harrison 1-yard run (A. Franson kick good) – RHS 21-0 (9 plays, 46 yards, 4:06)

Third Quarter

10:52 – RHS – B.
Pass 6-yard pass from K. Pinnix (A. Franson kick good) – RHS 28-0 (4 plays, 35
yards, 1:08)

Fourth Quarter

4:59 – RHS – B.
Pass 53-yard pass from K. Pinnix (A. Franson kick good) – RHS 35-0 (5 plays, 87
yards, 2:12)

0:22 – MH – L.
Higgins 2-yard run (J. Branton rush failed) – RHS 35-6 (6 plays, 63 yards,
2:01)

Story courtesy of the NCHSAA

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

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)