BEAULAVILLE —
With his team facing elimination in the third round of the 2-A North Carolina High School Athletic Association Playoffs Friday night, Tarboro Viking Kendall Jacobs took matters into his own hand and made the biggest play of his senior career with an interception in the fourth quarter that led to the winning touchdown against the No. 1 seed East Duplin Panthers. Tarboro escaped with a 13-10 victory.
The defending 2-A champions advanced to the fourth round where they will host East Bladen. The winner will play for the state championship on Dec. 11.
Jacob seized the opportunity of his dream in the fourth quarter. After a few questionable actions by the referee, the Vikings and their fans were on edge. Tarboro squandered on an opportunity to tie the game when their 26 yard field goal was blocked and the Vikings turned the ball over to the Panthers on the 14 yard line.
Three plays later, Jacobs made his mark on the game. With the Panthers facing a 3rd down in 3 on their own 21 yard line, Jacobs picked off a slant pass that gave the Vikings new life.
“They had did it a few times on my side and I said if they do it again I was going for the pick,” Jacobs said. “I ran as fast as I could and picked it. Our defense stepped it up tonight.”
Vikings Coach Jeff Craddock was elated about Jacobs’ defensive stop.
“That interception was big,” he said. “It gave us the ball right down there. He stepped in there and made a pick and we were able to score. That right there was the play of the game.”
But it was the Vikings’ offense that gave them the lead. Two plays after Jacobs’ interception, running back Markell Howell trotted in for a six yard touchdown. The PAT failed and the Vikings took the lead that they had relinquished in the third quarter.
“The line gave me a wide open hole and I ran it in for the touchdown,” Howell said. “Even though our offense wasn’t clicking tonight, we got two touchdowns. That was all we needed. We played our hearts out.”
The Panthers dominated the offensive side of the ball but the Vikings defense held them scoreless on five trips in the redzone. Perhaps the most glaring defensive stop came after Howell’s touchdown.
The Panthers started a drive on the 26 yard line and methodically moved the ball all the way down to the Vikings 15 yard line with 42 seconds left in the game. East Duplin apparently wanted to run the clock down as low as possible and while doing so a delay of game penalty was called against them. With nine seconds left in the game the Panthers attempted a 30 yard field goal that would have tied the game but it sailed wide.
“East Duplin impressed me. They’re a good, they’re fast, they’re physical,” said Craddock. “They played hard and so did my own team. We are fortunate that we played one play better than they did.”
East Duplin held the Vikings to one of the season’s low 195 yards rushing. Fullback Chris Lane gobbled up the lion’s share of yards with a 64 yard run to the 19 yard line in the beginning of the fourth quarter. That series fizzled out after four plays and ended with a blocked field goal. Todd Gurley scored the Vikings first touchdown on Tarboro’s first series of the game. The Vikings led 7-3 at halftime. The Panthers took the lead in the third quarter on an 8-yard touchdown run by Justin Pickett.
The defending state champions defeated Pasquotank in the first round and in the second round the Vikings beat Roanoke Rapids. On Friday they will play in their third consecutive regional finals playoff.
“It’s awesome,” Craddock said. “It’s another step toward completing our goal of winning another championship. We set them high.”
Sports
Related Photos
-
Tarboro Viking Markell Howell (6) scores the winning touchdown in the fourth quarter against East Duplin in Beaulaville. With the win, the Vikings advanced to the Regional Finals where they will face East Bladen Friday night at home. Pre-sale tickets for the game will go on sale at Tarboro High School Tuesday - Thursday from 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. Tickets are $7 and will be $8 at the gate Photos/Calvin Adkins Calvin Adkins
Tarboro’s D comes up big
- Sports
-
-
Cobb, Rhodes inducted in Cougars Hall of Fame
PINETOPS – The SouthWest Edgecombe Cougars athletic department inducted two legendary coaches into their Hall of Fame Monday night. Former football coach Raymond Cobb and former baseball coach Bruce Rhodes were the recipients of the awards.
-
SWE Athletes of the Year
SouthWest Edgecombe Cougar Dawson Gould was named Female Athlete of the Year and Kenneth Plummer was named Male Athlete of the Year Monday night at the Cougars annual athletic awards banquet. Gould played volleyball, basketball and softball. Plummer played football, ran indoor and outdoor track.
-
Pinetops 300
PINETOPS – With the threat of rain during the weekend, it put a little damper on the Pinetops 300 Tractor and Truck Pull attendance. Friday night there was a large crowd in attendance, but not the amount it has been the last several years. There was 500 less people in attendance Friday then there was a year ago, but it didn't stop the pullers from slinging mud everywhere. The fans in one section even had a chance to see what it looked like when a belt breaks on a fine tuned machine. During the Mini Modified run, Thomas Coleman, of Stoneville, had a belt break on his KB 526 Pure Hell ride and the belt slung into the crowd. No one was injured.
-
Vikings, Cougars compete in 2-A state meet
The Tarboro Vikings and SouthWest Edgecombe Cougars had six girls apiece competing in the NCHSAA 2-A state track meet in Greensboro Friday at North Carolina A&T State University.
-
Six Tarboro girls to compete in track finals
Motivation is a big part of the Tarboro Viking girl's track team's success this season. They enjoy working hard during practice for their coach Rickie Dozier and get fulfillment when they compete in events. Friday will be no different for the six girls that are headed to Greensboro to compete in the NCHSAA 2-A state championship meet at North Carolina A&T State University. They will compete in three relay events and the long jump.
-
BIG FISH
Camden Grant and her boyfriend Ricky Davis, Jr. caught a 10 pound carp at a state wildlife pond Wednesday morning off of Highway 33 just outside of Tarboro. Grant said she caught the fish on a piece of shrimp around 10:30 a.m.
-
Vikings ousted from playoffs by Jaguars
CARRBORO – After defeating the No. 1 seed in the playoffs Friday, the Tarboro Vikings forgot one thing, they had to hit the ball again Tuesday against the Carrboro Jaguars or their season would be over.
Tarboro failed to be productive at the plate and were eliminated from the NCHSAA 2-A playoffs after losing 8-0 in the second round. Tarboro never gave in after getting down early, but they just couldn't catch a break offensively and get anything going after trailing by five runs after the second inning. -
Cougars finish 7th in state golf match
The SouthWest Edgecombe Cougars went through the regionals and won by four strokes. They just couldn't get it going in the state golf championships Monday or Tuesday at Longleaf Golf and Country Club in Southern Pines. The Cougars finished seventh as a team after shooting 658 over the two day period.
-
Vikings advance to second round after defeating Bunn
BUNN – The Tarboro Vikings brought their "A" game and some lively bats with them Friday night when they defeated the Bunn Wildcats 7-5 in the first round of the 2-A NCHSAA state baseball playoffs. The last time the Vikings won a playoff game it was at the same location five years ago.
-
Bess hired as new Vikings basketball coach
The Tarboro Vikings have made a coaching change in boy's basketball. They hired Reggie Bess as the new Vikings skipper April 26. Bess is a former Viking basketball star who played for Tarboro in 1995-96. He was part of a team that went to the Eastern Regional finals in 95.
- More Sports Headlines
-
Jodi Arias: Death Penalty Would Cause More Pain
Looking for Love? Take the Prague Metro
Crews Race to Find Survivors of Okla. Twister
First Person: Baby Falcons on a New York Bridge
Oklahoma: Images of Devastation, Reunion
Reunited Dad, Son: 'We Just Praise God'
Slow Pokes: Acupuncture Helps Sick Turtles
Moore, Okla. City of Reunions, Tears After Storm
Former IRS Chief: Can't Say How List Happened
Gov. Fallin: Okla. Facing Horrific Disaster
Tim Cook Defends Apple's Tax Accounting
AP Photograher: 'It Was a Miracle' They Got Out
Raw: Crews Search for Survivors of Okla. Tornado
Raw: Tearful Reunion After Okla. Tornado
OKC Hospital Describes Treating Tornado Wounded
Obama Pledges Urgent Aid for Tornado Victims
Raw: Massive Funnel Clouds in Oklahoma
