The Daily Southerner, Tarboro, NC

Sports

November 29, 2012

Tarboro defense facing familiar spread offense Saturday

Correspondent Van Holland

TARBORO — The Tarboro Vikings will be facing a different opponent, who they have never faced, but their defense will be facing a very familiar offense that they have seen quite a bit as of late.

When Tarboro takes the field in Winston-Salem on the campus of Wake Forest University Saturday at 11 a.m. against the East Lincoln Mustangs, they will know how to defend the spread offense that the Mustangs run.

Tarboro head coach Jeff Craddock has preached to his Vikings all season about not giving up the big plays or the long ball. He knows that if his defense can contain the Mustangs offense and keep them to the short distance plays then they will be alright, but if the long ball is completed then the Vikings may be in trouble.

Tarboro has faced a spread offense a lot in the last six weeks against Beddingfield (twice), Kinston, Northeastern, South Columbus and now the Mustangs. After six consecutive weeks the Vikings should know how to defend the spread offense to perfection.

For the Vikings defense to be successful they are going to have to stop the Mustangs quarterback Garrett Young, who is a senior. He has thrown for 3,407 yards, which is a school record. He has thrown 41 touchdowns and only has allowed five interceptions.

When he gets his feet set and doesn't face any pressure he can throw the ball in any situation and can pick a defense apart.

Craddock and the coaching staff are putting a game plan together to try and shut down the Mustangs offensive attack.

"Every spread offense has different styles of running that system," Craddock said. "Even though it is a system we have become familiar with throughout the season and the playoffs, they still bring different challenges. We have to be ready for their play makers."

The Mustangs have three players on the offensive side of the ball that Young likes to go to which are his three main targets.  His main go to guy is Jesse Earnhardt who has caught 66 passess for 1,244 yards and has caught 13 TD passes. The Mustangs also have a go to guy that is a  6 foot, 180 pound freshman, Chaz Surratt. He has caught 9 touchdown passes and has gained 965 yards. He has 50 receptions. The third receiver who has impressive numbers is third in stats, Tyler Brock. He has caught 44 passes and has scored 13 times. he has 816 yards receiving.

"They have great weapons to go to at anytime," Craddock said. "They are the best weapons we have faced all year."

Young doesn't look to run the ball much, but he gets rid of the ball quickly when he drops back in the pocket. He also has pinpoint accuracy.

One of the things the Vikings are going to have to do is put pressure on Young and force him to rush his throws or flush him out of the pocket and make him run and get the big Viking defenders to put big hits on him.

Going into the game, Craddock doesn't know how much blitzing his Vikings defense will do because they make that decision at game time.

"We just have to figure out what works and practice that hard all week," Craddock said. "We will have an idea around the middle of the first quarter or after their first couple of possessions on what we need to dial up. We will make adjustments as needed and go from there."

Craddock and East Lincoln coach Mike Byus talked over the weekend about the upcoming championship game. They talked about different things and Craddock has a lot of respect for him.

"He has a respectable program and he is a respectful guy,' Craddock said. "I am looking for a good game from another great program."

Vikings defensive coordinator A.B. Whitley will be back on the sideline Saturday dialing up the defensive play calling for the Vikings.

East Lincoln was in the state championship game back in 2008, but this is their first trip back. Tarboro is looking to spoil their trip back and go home with their fourth consecutive title.

 

Text Only
Sports
  • Shayla-Thorne.jpg 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.

    May 23, 2013 2 Photos

  • HOF.jpg 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.

    May 22, 2013 1 Photo

  • Gould-Plummer.jpg 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.

    May 22, 2013 1 Photo

  • DoeRunner.jpg 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.

    May 20, 2013 2 Photos

  • 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.

    May 20, 2013

  • THS-Relay-Teams.jpg 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.

    May 16, 2013 2 Photos

  • 10lb-Carp.jpg 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.

    May 16, 2013 1 Photo

  • Trey-Radford.jpg 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.

    May 15, 2013 2 Photos

  • 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.

    May 15, 2013

  • Trey-Radford.jpg 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.

    May 13, 2013 2 Photos