The Tarboro Vikings made their eighth consecutive appearance in the North Carolina High School Association’s State Championship Game on Saturday afternoon at Carter-Finley Stadium and won 45-24, ending a three-year title game losing streak.
The Vikings built an early lead against the Corvian Community Cardinals and never relinquished. The Vikings led 18-3 at halftime thanks to rushing touchdowns from Caiden Everette, Kamerin McDowell-Moore and Mason Satterfield.
Corvian Community found the end zone first after halftime to pull within eight points at 18-10 thanks to a three-yard rush by Alan Jackson Jr.
Satterfield added his second score later in the third but the Cardinals came right back with a Noah Best touchdown to make the score 24-17.
Best was named the West Most Outstanding Offensive Player and finished the game with 60 rushing yards.
McDowell-Moore took the game over from there, scoring three fourth-quarter touchdowns on runs of 60-, 7- and 40-yards.
McDowell-Moore was named the Carolina Panthers Most Valuable Player for the game as he finished with 233 yards and four scores on 20 carries.
Satterfield ended the game with 146 yards on 13 carries and was named the East Most Outstanding Offensive player. Tarboro Senior Cole Craddock was the East Most Outstanding Defensive player as he had 8 solo tackles, two for a loss and nine assisted tackles.
Jackson was named the West Most Outstanding Defensive Player as he had 10 total tackles. He also threw for 213 yards going 18-for-28.
Tarboro finished the year 14-1 and is now 9-6 in NCHSAA Championship Games. The Cardinals ended 2024 15-1 and made their debut in the Championship Game this year.
The NCHSAA is committed to recognizing outstanding sportsmanship in each of our State Championship events. The Association has partnered with the North Carolina Farm Bureau to award a pair of Sportsmanship Awards at each championship event, recognizing players who have demonstrated the ideals of outstanding character and sportsmanship throughout the 2024 season. The winners of the 1A Football NC Farm Bureau Sportsmanship Awards were Chris Gunter from Tarboro and Jayden Summers from Corvian Community.
