By Tony Haire

NCPreps.com

The J. H. Rose High School Rampants displayed why they have one of the premiere football programs in North Carolina by defeating a resilient Jack Britt Buccaneer team, 19-17, in the 4A State Championship game, played at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill.

In spite of huge graduation losses, this year’s Rose team was able to duplicate the success of last year’s squad. Coach Gregg Thomas’ Rampants drove 65 yards on 8 plays for the winning touchdown and defended their 4-A State Championship crown. Maurice Weaver rushed for the final yard and the touchdown, giving Rose the lead with 6:23 remaining in the 4th quarter. The score came after Britt had taken a 17-13 lead with 9:17 to play.

The first half was dominated by defense. The first Rose possession of the game was halted by an Alex Frye interception at the Rose 30. But it was 4 and out for the Bucs' offense has they could only manage 1 yard on 4 plays. Turning the ball over on downs, Maurice Weaver took the ball on 1st down for a 19 yard gain. But the next 4 plays netted only 7 yards as Coach Richard Bailey’s defense held the Rampant offense on 4th down. The Bucs then drove from their own 45 before settling for a Scooter Buhrman 27 yard FG with 1:30 remaining in the 1st quarter and the score stood at 3-0 at the end of the period.

The 2nd quarter was more of the same as neither team was able to mount a drive of more than 5 plays or 20 yards. After 4 possessions which saw both teams punt twice, Britt found themselves with the ball at their own 45. But on 4th and 2 from the Rose 47, Brandon Myrick was held for a 1 yard gain by the Rampant defense. Taking possession at their own 46, Maurice Weaver ran for 5 yards. The two biggest plays of the 1st half followed. On 1st down, Rose QB Leneric Muldrow ran for 23 yards to move the ball to the Britt 26. On the next play, Muldrow lofted a perfect 26 yard pass to Josiah Andrews in the end zone for the first Rose touchdown of the game with 2:37 remaining in the period. Sammy Becirovic’s kick made the score 7-3. An interception by Jeremy Taylor ended the last Britt drive of the 1st half and the second quarter ended with Rose up, 7-3.

The 1st half saw Britt manage only 89 yards of offense and Rose with just 116 yards. Both teams stopped the other, twice on 4th down and once with an interception. The two interceptions were also the only two turnovers of the game, as both teams took very good care of the ball.

Half-time saw both coaches make adjustments on offense. But both defenses held serve until the 3:17 mark, when Britt was forced to punt. The kick was short and took a Rampant bounce. Just as it looked as if the ball would roll dead, Rampant Malcolm Blount fielded the ball. He was immediately hit by Buccaneer defenders and appeared to fumble the ball. The ball was recovered by Britt but the officials ruled that the whistle had sounded when Blount’s forward progress was stopped. On the very next play, Weaver ripped a 56 yard run up the middle before being brought down by Britt’s Brandon Ghee at the Britt 5 yard line. Three plays later, Muldrow hit Tyler Jones with a 3 yard touchdown pass with 1:49 to play in the 3rd. The try was no good and Rose held a 13-3 advantage.

But the Bucs, who faced adversity all season, were not about to quit. Britt started their next drive from their own 18 and quickly moved the ball to the Rose 47 yard line, when the 3rd period ended. On the 1st play of the 4th quarter, the fireworks started as Bucs QB Alex Butler hit Ghee for a 47 yard touchdown pass. Buhrman’s kick was good and Britt trailed by 3, with 11:53 remaining. On the ensuing kickoff, Ghee recovered the pooch kick at the Rose 36. The Bucs mounted a 6 play, 36 yard drive, aided by a Rose pass interference penalty. The final 9 yards was a result of a Muldrow pass to Ghee, their second touchdown connection of the game. Buhrman’s kick gave the Bucs’ their only lead of the game, 17-13 with 9:17 remaining.

Weaver scored the game winner for Rose around 2:47 later. Britt took the ball at the Rose 35 on the ensuing kickoff. But 10 plays later, the Bucs’ dreams ended when Ghee hauled in Butler’s 4th down pass but was unable to get his feet down inbounds. Rose took over on downs and ran out the remaining 2:20.

Brandon Ghee was voted the Bucs’ Outstanding Offensive Player with 2 touchdown receptions and the onside kick recovery. Alex Frye had 3 tackles, an interception and was chosen as the Outstanding Defensive player for Britt.

James Weaver had 21 carries for 182 yards of the Rampant 286 yard rushing total and was voted the Outstanding Offensive Player for Rose. Jeremy Taylor had 4 tackles and an interception and was chosen the Rampant Outstanding Defensive Player. Leneric Muldrow had 16 carries for 54 yards, and was 2 of 6 passing, with both completions resulting in touchdowns. He was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.

The Jack Britt Buccaneers finish the season 10-6, while the J. H. Rose Rampants close out the 2004 campaign 14-2.