TARBORO —
WINSTON SALEM – Being denied a state championship isn’t something the Tarboro Vikings had experienced over the past three years, but Saturday the team had its championship run come to an end at the hands of the East Lincoln Mustangs, 24-20.
The loss in Tarboro’s fifth consecutive state title game appearance, came before 4,273 spectators at Wake Forest University’s BB&T Field here.
A pair of fumbles lost inside the East Lincoln 10-yard line and three failed runs for extra points hampered the effort, although Tarboro had a drive going late in the game that stalled out when a fourth-down run was stopped.
The loss puts an end to a great run by the Vikings in the Class 2-A ranks, because they will drop down to Class 1-A next season as part of conference realignments.
The biggest shock surrounding the loss was for the players who had been a part of the program the past four years and had experienced nothing but winning.
Tarboro defensive end and Ohio State commit Tyquan Lewis was visibly upset. He walked off the field after the final horn and then back onto the field for the post game presentations with his head hung down. His friend and teammate, Donnell Arnold, grabbed Lewis and tried to comfort him as tears rolled down both sides of his face. Arnold has been a part of the Vikings run as well, but hasn’t played the past two season because of a nagging knee injury. He did dress out Saturday for the first time in two seasons. He was also visibly upset, because his teammates and family had lost something that they knew belonged to them.
Lewis was at a loss for words about the defeat to begin with, but after a few minutes of silence, he said this loss has left a very bad taste in mouth.
“The loss hurts so bad because of all of the hard work we have put in to this season,” Lewis said. “We have to keep our heads up high though because we accomplished great things while we were here.”
Another player reacting was senior Travonne Marshall. This was his first time playing on the big stage, because he transferred to Tarboro over the summer. Marshall couldn’t believe the final score because it was his first — and only — loss as a Viking player.
“It meant a lot for me and my teammates to get to the championship game because we worked very hard for this and we lost just by a couple of inches,” Marshall said. “It really hurts ... it just really hurts.”
As time wound down, Tarboro drove towards the East Lincoln goal line, only to come up short on fourth down. Watching East Lincoln run out the clock was something Marshall never could have imagined during his season at Tarboro.
“I didn’t get upset until I got off the field and into the locker room,” Marshall said. “This will be my last football game as a high school player and it just hurts so bad to go out like this.”
The Vikings run began in 2008 when they put an impressive season together after head coach Jeff Craddock instilled discipline and structure in the program. Craddock made sure if a player was going to play for him, they were going to commit to the program 110 percent. The previous season, Tarboro had a subpar year and lost in the first round of the playoffs and finished 7-5.
After that loss, the program took that turn and headed for what most people call greatness. Over the five-year period, the Vikings made it to the state championship game every year and compiled an impressive 72-6 record.
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Tarboro Vikings head coach Jeff Craddock looks down in frustration during the fourth quarter Saturday at BB&T Field in Winston-Salem.
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Here is your chance to celebrate your graduate’s Special Day by announcing their graduation in our Congratulation Page.
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Hats Off To Our Graduates!
The announcements will appear in The Daily Southerner on June 7, 2013.
Deadline for placing announcements will be Tuesday, June 4th by 5:00pm.
All ads must be pre-paid. Information can be dropped off at our office 504 W. Wilson Street, Tarboro or call 823-3106. - Early college seniors graduate
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Dr. Deborah Lamm, president of Edgecombe Community College, received the national ACT Career Preparedness Award on behalf of the college Tuesday. Shown from left to right are Dr. Jon Whitmore, ACT CEO; Scott Montgomery, ACT vice president; Sid Baker, education program specialist, NC Office of the State Superintendent; Dr. Lamm; and Virginia Edwards; editor-in-chief, Education Week.
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Edgecombe Community College receives national award
Edgecombe Community College (ECC) received a national award Tuesday night for its efforts to prepare students to be successful in careers and the workplace.
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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.
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14-Under softball tryout
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My 13 years have been lucky
It was 13 years Sunday that a drought was broken in Big Spring, Texas, After that, we ate Mexican for dinner with a gathering of family and friends.
The next day, a Saturday, Stephanie and I joined one another in marriage under a beautiful little gazebo by Comanche Trail Lake, fed by the historic spring from which the community draws its name.
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My 13 years have been lucky
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Corbett/Chasse Wedding
Brittney Joyce Corbett and Kenneth Robert Chasse, Jr. were united in marriage on April 6th, 2013, at 5:30pm at the Imperial Centre in Rocky Mount. The Rev. Carrol Bradbury officiated the ceremony.
The Rehearsal Dinner was hosted by Shirley and Donald Foreman, Grandparents of the Groom and also Elisha and Kenneth Chasse, Parents of the Groom, at Pizza Inn in Rocky Mount.
The Bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Durwood Corbett of Macclesfield, NC. The Groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Robert Leonel Chasse, Sr. of Pinetops, NC.
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CURTIS LEE DAVIS
PRINCEVILLE — Curtis Lee Davis, 60, died Sunday, May 19, 2013. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 25, 2013 at the St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church (2225 N.C. Hwy 97 East) with burial in the Morning Family Cemetery.
Arrangements under direction of Dickens Funeral Service. - IRENE EVANS
- SHIRLEY A. GOLDSTON
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CURTIS LEE DAVIS
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Great fondue
My husband and I love to entertain. We also love fondue. I have 4 or 5 fondue pots. I use them regularly. Some of them I have had for a long time.
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Edgecombe Events May 24
Edgecombe Events should be submitted by noon the day before publication. Items eligible include notices of local meetings and activities of non-profit organizations, clubs, schools and civic groups in the community. Information should be brief and typewritten, neatly printed or via e-mail. Questions? 823-3106 or e-mail: events@dailysoutherner.com. Leave a daytime contact phone number.
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Edgecombe Events May 24
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Edgecombe Garden Club honors members
The Edgecombe Garden Club met May 1 for their noon luncheon at the Fountains of the Albemarle. After President Pauline Nicolosi greeted everyone, Sandra Joyner, Devotion Chairman, read “Torch” which was about our tongues torching good or evil.
Hostess Barbara Getzug described her specially designed flower arrangement of mock orange, snowball, purple columbine, and many varieties of roses. President Pauline, Hostesses Gloria Wall and Louise Fleming did the table arrangements. They contained wiegelia, azalea, ivy, mock orange, and ligustrum. - DAR AWARDS
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