1A State Championship. Tarboro vs Mount Airy

Return to Forum

Please with your WRAL.com account to comment on this story.

Oldest First
  • SQ067 Dec 9, 6:30 p.m.
    Veteran

    View quoted thread


    Yeah could have been a shut out. On the other side Tarboro was up 3-0 in 3rd qtr but put MT Airy in scoring position after they went for it on 4th and 1 and came up short. Also the MT airy rb definitely fumbled which should have resulted in a Tarboro defensive TD. Lots of ifs but MT Airy was the better team today. That said I’m sure Tarboro will be back

  • CardinalGibbons2007 Dec 9, 5:50 p.m.
    All Star

    We may get swept. Need Hoggard to win.

  • CardinalGibbons2007 Dec 9, 5:06 p.m.
    All Star

    View quoted thread


    I think you would be right in thinking this would be a shut out. That defense was very good.

  • 3rd & 34 Dec 9, 4:58 p.m.
    Towel Boy

    I like watching games where a great defensive team shuts down a high-scoring offense, but it is a little tough to watch low-scoring, defensive battles where BOTH teams are shutting each other down.

    Not sure how many seniors on Mt. Airy's team, but odds are Tarboro will be back in the title game again next year.

    Mt. Airy did post 9 shutouts this season, and I wonder if Tarboro wouldn't have been shutout today had MA not gone for it in their own territory and turned it over on downs giving Tarboro that short field that resulted in the FG in the first half.

  • Tyler12 Dec 9, 4:55 p.m.
    Sports Legend

    View quoted thread


    They have no shortage of playmakers and they're usually so well-coached, baffling in a state title game. At least Clinton has picked it up here, so we hopefully don't get swept.

  • CardinalGibbons2007 Dec 9, 4:25 p.m.
    All Star

    View quoted thread


    Yeah, and I think that’s what the poster was implying. Even getting to the edge putting those athletes in space is paramount for an offense like that. Even watching new Bern over the years. You guys would get to the edge or a shot down field once in awhile. They certainly have the offense, I’m just not sure why he didn’t get his playmakers into space.

  • SQ067 Dec 9, 3:00 p.m.
    Veteran

    View quoted thread


    Tough to watch. Huge fan of the program but please throw the football

  • 3rd & 34 Dec 9, 2:53 p.m.
    Towel Boy

    To hold Tarboro to 10 combined points in 2 years is just mindblowing! Smothering defense up in Mt. Airy.

  • Tyler12 Dec 9, 2:47 p.m.
    Sports Legend

    View quoted thread


    That offense has proven can work in multiple classifications. However, for some reason, they went away from toss sweeps and maybe a half back pass or two and instead wanted to run up the middle all day. New Bern ran a similar offense from 2019-2022 which consisted of a lot of fullback dive etc up the middle but also got those tail backs east to west, which should've been done today. Mind boggling that they wanted to go up the middle all day.

  • CardinalGibbons2007 Dec 9, 2:42 p.m.
    All Star

    “All that speed and you play offense in a box. Make a defense defend the entire field and find space for your athletes. What they do makes no sense at all.”

    This was a post on ncpreps. I agree with him. I understand they have run this offense for a long time but if you fall behind, it is extremely hard to get back into the game with Tarboro’s offense. Blowing people out all year doesn’t help them with cleaning up their weaknesses.

  • SQ067 Dec 9, 2:40 p.m.
    Veteran

    Congrats to MT Airy!! They once again had the answer for the Tarboro run offense. The Tarboro defense did all they could do but needed something from the offensive side.

  • CardinalGibbons2007 Dec 9, 2:24 p.m.
    All Star

    3 points, 58 yards allowed. That’s incredible.

  • CardinalGibbons2007 Dec 9, 2:23 p.m.
    All Star

    Yikes, 21-3. Basically shut tarboro out. No touchdowns. Pretty impressive by Mount Airy.

  • 3rd & 34 Dec 9, 12:40 p.m.
    Towel Boy

    That Tarboro FG may have been the game winner. lol. Doesn't look like much scoring will happen in this game.

  • Joe Boogie Studios Dec 8, 1:23 p.m.
    Rookie

    View quoted thread


    Tarboro has one of the best coaches in North Carolina, so they would have a good game plan for a 4A team. As far as talent, I think that Tarboro's starters are every bit as talented as a good 4A team's starters. The problem is, being a 1A school, depth is a serious issue, so when it's time to go turn to the bench, the 4A team will have a second gear that the 1A school just wouldn't have. That being the case, if Tarboro played a team like Gibbons or Cleveland, I think Tarboro would have a great first half (possibly even with the lead), but going down the stretch they would run out of steam. That's not a knock on Tarboro at all, they're a terrific program. Being in a lower classification doesn't mean you're not as good as the big schools, it just means you're not as deep. If Tarboro had the depth of a 4A school with the same talent and same coaching, they'd easily be one of the top dogs in 4A

  • SQ067 Dec 8, 10:13 a.m.
    Veteran

    Could be the best game of the weekend. It’s very simple with Tarboro. They play good defense and they dare you to stop their running game on offense. MT Airy had the answer last year so we will see. I’m leaning Tarboro and I’m East bias. Go East

  • Portcity FB Dec 8, 9:14 a.m.
    Towel Boy

    I believe MA could beat teams in all classifications. I also believe they would lose to many teams in 2A-4A. They average about 220 on the O line and bigger and stronger teams would dominate the O line and take away the run.

  • CardinalGibbons2007 Dec 8, 9:03 a.m.
    All Star

    Out of curiosity, I wonder how a team like Tarboro would fare in the 4A ranks. For example, would they be a playoff team? I think depth would become an issue for them in a long season against the 4A ranks. However, I do think they could beat some 4A teams.

  • 3rd & 34 Dec 7, 11:22 p.m.
    Towel Boy

    I was just looking at Mount Airy's schedule/stats and was intrigued at how dominant they were this year. 15-0 is not a surprise for a team that makes it to a state championship, but perhaps their 9 shutouts are!!

    They only allowed 25 total points through their first 12 games. During one 6-game stretch they only gave up a total of 3 points. lol. Robbinsville, in a losing effort last week, was the first team to hold Mt. Airy under 42 points this season, 27-16.

    Offense: 52.5 ppg
    Defense: 5.8 ppg

    Both teams are run-heavy offenses. Mt. Airy rushed for 5,640 yards w/90 TDs, while Tarboro rushed for 4,086 yards w/71 TDs. Tarboro is listed as only playing 13 games this season (13-0).

    This will be the 3rd title matchup between these 2 teams in recent years, splitting the first 2...

    2017 Tarboro 32 Mt. Airy 7
    2022 Mt. Airy 20. Tarboro 7

    Tarboro has been pretty dominant as well, posting 5 shutouts.

    Offense: 44.2 ppg
    Defense: 7.0 ppg

    Looks to be another great game.

Oldest First
HSOT Playoff Projections for NCHSAA Spring Sports
Extra Effort
Our Take