In 2019, a reporter from HighSchoolOT overheard players expressing excitement after a game by saying the North Carolinian version of “We want Bama!” in reference to facing a strong opponent.

East Surry players were expressing their desire to play against Tarboro.

They did not face Tarboro the next week, though it was not during the playoffs and was not in November or October.

The players were determined to face the Vikings in the state championship, even in the early weeks of the season.

Once again this year, the players from Mount Airy discussed Tarboro following a regular season victory against Starmount.

Both teams from both years actually faced Tarboro in the state finals and both were able to secure wins. Tarboro was defeated by Mount Airy in the N.C. High School Athletic Association 1A championship earlier this month with a score of 21-3. This marked the seventh consecutive appearance for the Vikings in the championship game.

Even though they lost, the Tarboro mystique is still a prominent force that will endure for a long time.

Tarboro has consistently defeated 1A schools in the Eastern region, causing teams from the West to recognize the most effective method of motivating their players is not by mentioning specific schools like Mount Airy, Murphy, Robbinsville, or Eastern Randolph. Instead, reminding them that Tarboro will be their opponent on the second Saturday in December serves as a direct and powerful way to encourage them to stay focused on winning the ultimate goal.

To encourage your team to strive for perfection, bring up Tarboro.

Tarboro has consistently made it seem effortless to replace the 10 graduating players, despite the challenge of doing so in the 1A division, over the span of more than ten years.

Additionally, something noteworthy about the upcoming year is that it will mark the final instance of the NCHSAA having only four divisions.

With Tarboro moving to the newly formed “2A” division, their opponents will remain largely unchanged, including teams like Murphy, East Bladen, Perquimans, Hobbton, Mitchell, Swain County, West Columbus, Rosewood, and Pamlico County.

Despite being in an eighth classification world, Tarboro will remain the top target for everyone, even those who are halfway across the state.

Source: highschoolot.com