TARBORO —
With tonight being the final game of the regular season, the Tarboro Vikings are looking for a win and their second undefeated regular season in three years. For that to happen though, they are going to have to travel to WIlson and beat a shaky Beddingfield Bruins team who plays well in spurts. They can be unpredictable.
There are two keys for the Vikings to win. They can't give up the big plays nor can they turn the ball over. Tarboro has been below average as far as their passing defense is concerned this season. Vikings head coach Jeff Craddock knows his team can't give up the long ball when it comes to the Bruins passing attack. The Bruins quarterback Javis Nixon throws the ball almost 60 percent of the time and they run 40 percent.
"It is always concern when we face passing teams," Craddock said. "We have worked hard every day at practice on defending the pass this week. We adjust our practice schedule when we play teams like this who like to throw the ball."
The game is going to be a difficult one for the Vikings because the Bruins are athletic all over the field on both sides of the ball, which is another concern for Craddock. He just wants his team to go out and do what they have been doing all year and not try to get fancy and just play the game.
Tonight's game is very important to Craddock and his team, because it is the last one of the season and they are fighting for the Eastern Plains Conference championship. This will be the Vikings third in four years if they win. It will be their second outright title, because they were co-champs a couple of years ago.
Craddock said that is an accomplishment, because they play in a tough conference and it isn't easy winning games in the conference.
Winning the conference title was just one of Tarboro's goals this season. They also want to repeat once again as state champions.
Heading into tonight's game, Tarboro has what Craddock called a good week of practice. Tarboro will be without their star running back Quentin Roberson. He went down with a shoulder injury last week and was carried to the doctor. They put Roberson in a sling until he had a MRI preformed Monday. The MRI came back negative and showed Roberson had a strained ligament in his shoulder. He will be sidelined for two weeks and is expected to be back on the field in the second round of the playoffs.
Craddock said they will run the ball by committee tonight with Roberson out. Radja Bobbitt will start at his normal right halfback spot, while Travonne Marshall starts at fullback. The left halfback spot will be held down by three different players depending on the situation and how things are working out for the Vikings. Jerrod Bennett, Jonathan Castillo and Rayshawn Battle will share time tonight. Battle finished the game last week for the Vikings after Roberson went down with the injury and had six carries for 43 yards. Battle has impressed the Viking coaches.
"We have the guys who can fill in for Quentin," Craddock said. "We will play it by committee. All three guys can fill in for us and do a fine job."
If predictions hold, the Vikings will play the Bruins two consecutive weeks if they get the No. 1 seed in the NCHSAA 2-A East bracket.
Seeding and playoffs are far from Craddock's mind right now, because he wants to get through Beddingfield before he worries about the playoffs. Brackets will be released Saturday.
Tarboro hasn't received a decent seed in their four year run to the championship games and Craddock knows it was all for the best.
He said they will take whatever comes their way and make the best of it. In the past four years that has worked for Craddock and his Viking program.
Sports
Related Photos
-
Tarboro Viking quarterback Aaron Moore looks to follow a lead blocker in a recent game. For The Daily Southerner
Vikings looking to finish strong
Craddock wants another undefeated year with conference title
- Sports
-
-
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.
-
Tarboro native inducted into Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame
Tarboro native and Tarboro High graduate Martin "Glenn" Sasser was inducted into The Greater Wilimington Sports Hall of Fame Sunday.
Sasser was named to the All-Conference and All-State teams during his high school career. He was also selected to play in the Shrine Bowl game in 1960 and then played in the East-West game in 1961. -
16 under softball tryouts
The Tarboro Parks and Recreation Department and Edgecombe County Girls Softball League will be holding tryouts for 16-under girls fast-pitch softball. The tryouts will takes place Monday and wednesday from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. at Indian Lake Sports Complex on field three.
- More Sports Headlines
-
Huge Tornado Kills Dozens Near Oklahoma City
Raw: Rescuers Pull Tornado Survivors to Safety
Oklahoma Gov: 'Hearts Are Broken' After Tornado
Raw: Walking in a Flattened Okla. Neighborhood
Raw: Rescue Workers Search Oklahoma School
Raw: Witness Describes Scene After Okla. Tornado
Raw: Aftermath of Massive Tornado in Oklahoma
Raw: House Burns After Massive Oklahoma Tornado
Raw: Tornado on the Ground in Oklahoma
Split-second Choice Ended With NY Student Dead
White House Backs 'Shield Law' for Media
Wave of Attacks Kills Scores in Iraq
Pug Life on Display at Wisconsin Festival
Company Promises to Make All Snail Mail Digital
Analyst: Tumblr Fills Void in Yahoo's Offerings
Commuters Face Delays After Conn. Train Accident
Raw: Swarm of Tornadoes Slams Plains
Raw: Fierce Bombing in Qusair, Syria
RAW: TV Staff Take Cover From Tornado
Raw: Accused US Spy Reportedly Leaves Russia
