“We always talked to them about reaching their ceiling,” he
said.
“I think we reached that ceiling today,” Byus said.
The Mustangs finish the season a perfect 16-0 to earn the
school’s first football championship.
“I just enjoyed every bit of it,” said quarterback Garrett
Young, the game’s most valuable player.
“We just went out there and got it.”
Young’s passing would help the Mustangs move the ball to the
Tarboro 13-yard line to set up a 30-yard Cory Petersen field goal early in the
second quarter.
Tarboro (14-1), which had a 21-game win streak heading into
the game, put together an answer, as running back Quentin Roberson broke away
for a 62-yard run – assisted by a big-time block by Travonne Marshall – to put
his Vikings on the board.
After a failed two-point conversion attempt, Tarboro trailed
10-6.
Young, who had 196 yards on 18-of-36 passing, combined with
Jesse Earnhardt three times – for 44 yards – to set up Surratt’s 3-yard
touchdown catch on a slant with less than five minutes left in the half.
The East Lincoln defense
came out strong, forcing four fumbles to hold a Tarboro team averaging more
than 42 points per game to six points in the first half.
Tarboro had a big third quarter, outscoring the Mustangs
14-0 to get its first lead of the game.
After forcing a safety, the Vikings used two interceptions
to get the momentum back.
Tarboro freshman Quantavious Battle picked off Young and
returned it for 46 yards to set up a 21-yard Roberson run to get the Vikings
within three points.
Aaron Moore, the Vikings’ quarterback who also sees time at
corner back, intercepted Young on the following Mustang possession. Travonne
Marshall had a 43-yard scoring run to give Tarboro a 20-17 lead.
“At halftime, I told the kids ‘they’re not going to go
quietly,’” said Byus. “And they didn’t. They fought hard, which makes this even
sweeter.”
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