TARBORO —
The Tarboro Vikings are playing for their fifth consecutive trip to the NCHSAA 2-A state championship game tonight when they host the South Columbus Stallions in the Eastern Regional finals. The Vikings have won four consecutive regional finals.
This is the second straight year that the two teams have met in the regional finals, because last year Tarboro defeated South Columbus 13-10 to advance to the championship game where the Vikings won their third straight title.
This year is no different for Tarboro and their head coach Jeff Craddock. He knows that the Stallions lost most of their seniors from last years team, but they have regrouped with an energized group of sophomores.
"Our expectations are to play the best game that we can," Craddock said. "They gave us everything we wanted last year and we were good enough to come out on top and win."
The final drive of the game was led by now Georgia Bulldog standout Todd Gurley, who played hurt the entire game, but was strong enough to come in and score the winning touchdown to send the Vikings to the title game.
This year is different for several reasons, one, Gurley isn't playing for Tarboro and two, the Vikings have a solid group of running backs they can go to and depend on to make the big plays for them.
When the Vikings began making their run to the state championship games back in 2009 Craddock has told his team they are on a five week journey and if they want to be successful then they have to complete the journey.
Tarboro is en route to completing their fifth five week journey, but Craddock said they are almost there. Not there yet, but almost. They are on step four of the journey.
"The key word is almost and we still have plenty of work to do before we complete the journey," Craddock said. "We have a few more steps before it is completed but we have to focus on South Columbus first because if we don't get by them then we can't complete the journey."
Tarboro's goal wasn't to make it to just the Eastern finals or the playoffs, it was to win another state title.
"We have been blessed to have success here at Tarboro," Craddock said. "It is an honor to be here again."
Last week the Vikings put on a show for their fans by beating Northeastern 52-24 in what was a great showing by the Vikings on both sides of the ball. Tarboro gained 511 yards on offense and held Northeastern to just 309 yards.
Craddock knows that the Stallions will come out and be physical and that they have fast and athletic players who Tarboro will have to shut down. One of the main factors for the Stallions is their 6 foot 7 inch quarterback Pharoah McKever. With his height he can see over defenses and most of the time pick them apart with his passing ability through the slots.
"We have to stop the big plays," Craddock said. "We can't give up the long passes. We have to come out and play hard and maintain our composure. We have to come in and stay focused at all times."
South Columbus presents different challenges then the three teams the Vikings have defeated in the playoffs this year. The Stallions present a fast group of players.
The game plan has stayed the same throughout the playoffs for the Vikings. The can't give up the big plays and have to contain the opposing teams offense and try to keep them off the field.
Craddock has worked on the special teams this week ,because last week they put the Vikings defense in tough situations with horrible starting field position and forced the defense to put their backs against the wall and pressured them to stop Northeastern. Craddock has made the proper adjustments to the special teams this week in hopes of not giving up a massive amount of yards on kickoff or punt returns.
"Our special teams weren't that great last week," Craddock said. "This time of the year teams have to keep playing better and better because their opponents get tougher each week."
Craddock was pleased with his teams offensive performance last week. Radja Bobbitt had an impressive first half before he went down late in the second quarter. He rushed for 181 yards on just five carries and scored twice before being sidelined for precautionary reasons.
Senior Quentin Roberson picked up the slack and gained 206 yards on just 15 carries and scored three touchdowns to help with the route.
Tarboro's offense has been clicking on all cylinders this season. They are averaging over 40 points per game, which helps put pressure on opposing teams and forces them to score on almost every possession.
Roberson leads all Viking ball carriers this year with 1,484 yards rushing on 145 touches and has scored 22 TDs. Bobbitt has broke the 1,000 yard mark as well and has gained 1,373 yards on 161 carries. He has scored 18 TDs, while Travonne Marshall is third on the chart with 774 yards on 104 carries and has scored 15 times.
Craddock has several concerns with the Stallions. He knows they have players on the perimeter who are fast and that even though they are a young team they play hard for their coach. Another concern is the yards after catch with the Stallions’ receivers and then their fullback is a big concern because he carries the load over 70 percent of the time.
"They are just a really sound and fundamental team," Craddock said. "They have good athletes all over the field who present problems. They are just a well coached team."
Sports
Related Photos
-
Tarboro Viking Radja Bobbitt reaches for extra yards during a recent game.
-
Marshall
-
Lewis
Vikings defense wants another superb showing
- Sports
-
-
14-Under softball tryout
The Tarboro Parks and Recreation Department and Edgecombe County Girls Softball League will be having tryouts for 14-under girls fast-pitch softball Wednesday, May 29 from 7 - 8:30 p.m. at Farmington Park in Rocky Mount. The is located at 319 Wellington Dr. There will also be a tryout Thursday, May 30 at Indian Lake Sports Complex on field 1 in Tarboro from 6 - 7:30 p.m. There is a $10 fee for Tarboro residents and a $35 fee for non-residents. For more information call the sports complex at 641-4202, Kathy Webb 252-813-4697 or Jamie Lindsey 252-883-0883 or sftbllgrlunc@hotmail.com.
-
Thorne tabbed Regional Player of the Year
Tarboro Lady Vikings forward Shayla Thorne is still learning about the game of soccer. She has turned into one of the best female soccer players in school history. Every time she takes the field she gets better and better, because of her hard work and the help of her teammates. Her hard work paid off for her during her junior year as she led the Vikings with a winning record, co-confoerence championship and into the playoffs for the second consecutive season.
-
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.
- More Sports Headlines
-
14-Under softball tryout
Raw: Trucker Bumps I-5 Bridge Before Collapse
Raw: Texas Deputy Shot by Colo. Suspect Honored
Major Detours Following Wash. Bridge Collapse
American Held in Grisly Czech Murders
Raw: Jersey Shore Reopens for Summer
UK-bound Pakistan Plane Diverted, 2 Men Arrested
Officials: Tsarnaev Friend Linked to Slaying
Obama:Sexual Assault Threatens Trust in Military
Bridge Collapse Survivor: 'Rough Day'
Jersey Shore Open for Business
Raw: Memorial Day Flags Placed at Arlington
New Wheelchair Lift Promises More Access
First Person: Mom Discusses Famous Tornado Photo
Raw Video: Washington State Bridge Collapse
Boy Scouts Approve Plan to Accept Gay Boys
