The Daily Southerner, Tarboro, NC

Sports

Related Photos

September 28, 2009

ROLLING

Vikings dump Panthers

Calvin Adkins

The Tarboro Vikings shook off a shaky first half, by their standards, and scored four touchdowns in the third quarter to defeat the North Pitt Panthers 49-7 in the first Eastern Plain Conference game of the season Friday night in Bethel and remain undefeated. The Vikings led 14-0 at halftime.

“We didn’t play good in the first half so I challenge the guys to step up in the second half and they did,” said Vikings Coach Jeff Craddock. “We stopped them on their first possession and then we scored. We got the ball back and we scored again.”

Holding the Vikings’ high powered offense to two touchdowns in the first half was somewhat of a morale victory for the Panthers. But that would change quickly in the third quarter.

Tarboro’s defense set tone of the first series by stopping the Panthers on a fourth down play on the North Pitt’s 34 yard line. On the very first play of the series, Brandon Dozier bolted up the middle for the touchdown. Ricardo Arias kicked the third of his seven extra points and the Vikings led 21-0.

On the ensuing possesion, the Vikings’ defense held the Panthers to another four-down series and a short punt gave the Vikings (6-0) the ball on the Panthers 46 yard lines.

Quarterback Jamias Williams completed a six-play drive by connecting with Lakevious Battle, who was wide open in the endzone, for a 11-yard touchdown.

On the Panther’s next possession, the Vikings’ defense again prevailed when Mike Hilliard picked off a pass and returned it to the Panthers’ 35 yard line. Two plays later, Demarius Harper dashed up the middle virtually untouched for a 31-yard touchdown.

The nightmare continued for the Panthers on their next possession when Viking Markell Pettaway intercepted the ball and returned it to the 12 yard line. On the Vikings’ first play of that series, Williams scored. Arias added the extra point and the Vikings led 42-0.

“We did exactly what we talked about in the locker room at halftime,” Craddock said. “We wanted to go out and score quickly and put the game away.”

Tarboro’s defense held the Panthers to 85 yard rushing. They also made four interceptions including two by Pettaway. Pettaway’s highlight interception came in the second quarter when he dived in front of an offender and caught the ball in his left arm. Pettaway was the starting quarterback until he broke his wrist about two weeks ago. He is playing with a cast on his right hand.

Pettaway’s quarterback replacement has handle the chore well. Against North Pitt Williams went 4-5 for 90 yards and one touchdown.

Other stars in the game were Demarius Harper, who scored two touchdowns and linebacker Michael Graham made an interception.

The Vikings has a bye on Friday. They will resume play against Greene Central on Oct. 9.

“I feel good about us right now,” Craddock said. “This is the best start that I ever had.”



Text Only
Sports
  • Snakes are a part of freshwater fishing

    Snakes have been around since Adam and Eve. See, Mr. Dickinson, my Sunday school teacher from 55 years ago, I was listening to your teachings at Avondale Baptist Church.

    May 25, 2012

  • Rob Warren Tee-Offuse.jpg Warren signs to play at Anderson

    SouthWest Edgecombe Cougars senior golfer Rob Warren has accomplished several goals during his high school golf career.

    May 25, 2012 1 Photo

  • Athletes of the Yearuse.jpg Vikings honor top athletes and coaches

    May 25, 2012 1 Photo

  • RMA Soccer.jpg Eagles have good season

    Under the leadership of Coach James Westcott, the 2012 Lady Eagles Varsity soccer team had its best season in six yea

    May 24, 2012 1 Photo

  • Julie Hayes.jpg Hayes, Harris Co-Players of the Year

    When you have two dream players on your team at the same time, a coach can usually build a strong program through those two players. That is what first year Tarboro Lady Vikings head coach Leshaun Jenkins has done with the soccer team with the help of dream players Julie Hayes and Chandler Harris.

    May 23, 2012 2 Photos

  • Tim Cunningham.jpg KARATE

    The students of Cunnningham Isshinryu Karate represented Tarboro and Edgecombe County well on Saturday, April 28th at the 14th Annual ECU Open Martial Arts Tournament. The tournament was held at the ECU Student Recreation Center and is one of the area’s largest martial arts events. It is open to all martial arts styles and systems. This year, more than 75 martial artists competed for medals.

    May 18, 2012 1 Photo

  • Kailyn Abrams.jpg Abrams to play at Peace

    Tarboro Vikings senior softball slugger Kailyn Abrams had decided to take her talents to the next level and play college softball at NCAA Division III William Peace University in Raleigh.

    May 17, 2012 1 Photo

  • Athletes of the Year.jpg Cougars Athletes of the Year

    SouthWest Edgecombe Cougars athletes from left, Damien Bryant, Kelsey Page and Alexander Derby were selected as athletes of the year for the school on Monday during the awards banquet..

    May 16, 2012 1 Photo

  • TWC.jpeg Tarboro Women's Club

    Amy Wood Pasquini, marketing director at Our State Magazine, spoke to the Tarboro Women's Club last Thursday about North Carolina travel, history and culture as seen through the pages of the magazine.

    April 23, 2012 1 Photo

  • HOF.jpg Three inducted into SouthWest Hall of Fame

    PINETOPS – The SouthWest Edgecombe Cougars honored three distinguished women Monday night during the annual athletics banquet. One inductee was an athlete and the other two spent more than 20 plus years coaching for SouthWest.
    All three inductees were very dedicated to the Cougars athletic program and felt very honored to be inducted into the SouthWest Hall of Fame.

    May 16, 2012 1 Photo