Once again, this Saturday at noon, the 1A finalists from last year will gather at Kenan Memorial Stadium, located at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, to determine the N.C. High School Athletic Association’s 1A state champion.

The Granite Bears of Mount Airy, seeded second in the 1A West, are aiming to retain their 1A title against Tarboro, the top seed in the East. Last year, they emerged victorious in this match at Carter-Finley Stadium in NC State.

If Mount Airy wins tonight, they will have back-to-back state championships, a rare feat considering only four are held each year. This would also mark the Granite Bears’ 30th consecutive win.

The 2023 season has seen the Granite Bears’ defense excel. With nine shutouts in 15 games, Mount Airy has demonstrated their strength on the field. Despite facing primarily run-focused teams in the 1A division, the Granite Bears have only allowed an average of 145.9 yards per game and have successfully sacked opposing quarterbacks 39 times. HSOT Insiders can find more detailed defensive statistics in this article.

The defensive line of Mount Airy is exceptionally impressive for a 1A school. Deric Dandy, a senior edge defender, is a highly rated recruit committed to Virginia Tech. Dandy has a height of 6-foot-4 and weighs over 220 pounds. Despite suffering an injury in last year’s championship game, Dandy’s replacements, two freshmen, were able to handle the pressure. These freshmen, D.J. Joyce and Third Floyd, have returned as sophomores with improved skills. Another key player on the defensive line is junior Dee Dawkins, who may be smaller in size but has proven to be a valuable member of the team with 79 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, and 7.5 sacks in the previous season.

Ian Gallimore, Caleb Reid, and Walker Stroup, the trio of senior linebackers, are exceptional players. They exemplify the qualities of 1A players, leading both the offense and defense in statistics. Together, they have made 318 tackles in 2023. Mount Airy’s defense is also strong against passing, but it will not play a significant role in this particular game.

Tarboro’s offense has become more effective this season, with the addition of a third rusher to their lineup. Previously, they had two players who each gained 1,000 yards in a season, but now they have three for the first time ever: Junior fullback Mason Satterfield and sophomore running backs Kamerin McDowell-Moore and Caiden Everette. Together, they have scored a total of 54 rushing touchdowns.

The Tarboro Vikings employ the well-known T formation in their offensive plays. Passing is a rarity for them. Although it may appear straightforward, their offense actually presents challenges for opposing defenses, as it involves various feints and dynamic movements from both linemen and skill players. Tarboro typically uses their physicality and deceptive tactics to outsmart teams that are not on par with Mount Airy.

Mount Airy’s offense is equally strong. Some may contend that it surpasses the defense. The team is guided by Tyler Mason, a 3-star Virginia Tech commit and reigning HSOT First Team All-State running back. Mason possesses impressive size and strength, but it’s his explosive ability and balance that set him apart as a standout player. He has achieved over 2,000 rushing yards in back-to-back seasons.

This season, the Granite Bears’ offense has seen a change with sophomore Taeshon Martin taking on a larger role. Martin has had a breakout season, rushing for over 1,400 yards. His talent is evident to all, and in some areas, he may even surpass Mason.

Although their individual rushing statistics have decreased this year, Gallimore and Reid are still valuable offensive assets as quarterback and running back. Thanks to Gallimore’s strong throwing ability and excellent control of the Granite Bears’ gun option offense, Mount Airy is more inclined to pass the ball compared to Tarboro. This could potentially benefit Tarboro. Stroup has caught 22 passes for 542 yards and scored eight receiving touchdowns.

Tarboro’s defense against passing plays is highly effective. Omarion Lewis, a 6-foot-3 senior safety who is committed to ECU and a 3-star prospect, is a key factor in this strength. His range and intelligence rival that of any safety in North Carolina. Despite Tarboro only playing 13 games and rarely facing teams that focus on passing, Lewis has managed to make six interceptions. In the previous season, Lewis prevented several plays from turning into breakaway touchdowns with his agility and ability to shut down the run. Lewis also serves as the team’s quarterback and excels at coordinating the T offense.

Tarboro’s run defense has a 3.9 yards per carry allowance, which may seem high compared to Mount Airy’s impressive 2.3 per carry. However, this is still a commendable number for a 1A football team. The Vikings’ run defenders will present a significant challenge for Mount Airy’s offensive line this year.

Roster Notes

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The greatest benefit of Mount Airy:

Tyler Mason. Sometimes the biggest difference is a simple one. Tarboro has great running backs, but Tyler Mason has put together one of the best two-season stretches in the history of the NCHSAA. Mason has the ability to completely take over and dominate on this stage, even though Tarboro has a great defense.

Tarboro’s Biggest Advantage

The inherent nature of human beings plays a role in the upcoming match between the Vikings and Mount Airy. Despite Mount Airy’s determination to defend their title, Tarboro’s natural drive for revenge may give them an edge. This is true in sports and in life. However, it remains to be seen if this desire for revenge will be enough to overcome the seemingly unbeatable Mount Airy team.

How to Watch

The match will begin at noon on Saturday and tickets can be purchased at the Kenan Memorial gates. Payment by cash will not be accepted. The game can also be live streamed on the NFHS Network.

TV Stations:

• Asheville: All Games – WLOS/My Net
• Greensboro: WMYV My48
• New Bern: WYDO.4 – EYDO / BOUNCE
• Raleigh: WRDC/My Net

HighSchoolOT Coverage

The HSOT website will provide real-time updates in an article located on the front page. Once the game is over, HSOT will also live stream the postgame press conferences, publish a detailed game summary, and present a postgame show to review the events of the game.

Source: highschoolot.com