FINALLY…Tarboro vs. Murphy for the ship…who ya got?

TarVikes1

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Nov 23, 2017
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No offense but you haven't watched what we have for 3 years, anyone associated with Murphy that is honest will tell you the QB position was the weak link on this squad. Look I can deal with physical limitations, that's not something that can be helped but the kid plays scared to death and always has, zero poise. And no he didn't have a good game, he was a major issue in the 2nd half.
The second half had more to do with Tarboros pass rush being in the backfield as soon as the ball was snapped…when the line gave him time in the first half we was able to throw some good passes and move the ball.

Did yall have a better option at QB than him? I’m genuinely asking.
 
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SMC Observer

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Apr 10, 2012
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It’s extremely hard at the small levels to find passing quarterbacks at all. If you do, you’ve got lightning in a bottle.
Murphy had a great run of QB's for 15 years: '05 -'20, the program was spoiled with a lot of talent at that position. But like I said it's one thing to not be a great passer or have physical limitations, if thats all it was then it is what it is and you do what you can with what you have to work with, but in this scenario it wasn't just simply a case of being physically limited or limited as a passer. Intangibles matter more at the QB spot than any position on the field.
 
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SMC Observer

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Apr 10, 2012
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Did yall have a better option at QB than him? I’m genuinely asking.
Thats up for debate I suppose, the one thing I know for sure is there's a 6'4" 10th grader with a cannon for an arm sitting on the bench who was really good on JV. You will have those that say he wasn't ready but the only way to get ready is to get reps, because he doesn't lack talent and the mentality is there.
 
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MHS1995

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Sep 7, 2017
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Thats up for debate I suppose, the one thing I know for sure is there's a 6'4" 10th grader with a cannon for an arm sitting on the bench who was really good on JV. You will have those that say he wasn't ready but the only way to get ready is to get reps, because he doesn't lack talent and the mental makeup is there.
I do believe they should have given him more reps this season. Especially in some of those blowout games
 

vikandpirate4christ

All-Conference
Nov 18, 2011
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Hard to believe another season has come and gone. How fortunate have we been? Another great run! I am going to really enjoy this one for a while before I start thinking of next year. We will take a step back next year, but I am sure it'll be fun watching the young Vikings grow.
 
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OtisDriftwood

All-Conference
Sep 22, 2001
7,049
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Congrats Tarboro. You are who I thought you were…and then some. I will say this, and don’t take this the wrong way, but I honestly think Tarboro belongs in a bigger classification, no less than 3a. From what I saw yesterday, and from the results of this year and the last decade, they are just too good to ever be in 1 a or 2a. I don’t care what the ADM numbers say. I’m not gonna lie, Murphy was pretty stacked this season. They had talent, experience, and depth all over the place and a generational talent at RB in Clem. That team deserved and in most cases would have been able to win a state championship. But it couldn’t even score a single point against Tarboro. It’s disheartening to know that no matter how good you are, Tarboro will be waiting at the end. It will take a 2a team with generational talent all over the place (like Mount Airy and East Surry had when they beat Tarboro in the 1a bracket) playing a near perfect game to have a better than average chance of beating Tarboro and winning it all. It shouldn’t be that way. Tarboro should be battling it out with the likes of Shelby or Reidsville for all the marbles.

Anyway, rant over and congrats again to Tarboro. Great team and class program. Congrats to Murphy’s team too. They had a great season and did the best they could yesterday, but were just overmatched.
 

TarVikes1

Senior
Nov 23, 2017
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Congrats Tarboro. You are who I thought you were…and then some. I will say this, and don’t take this the wrong way, but I honestly think Tarboro belongs in a bigger classification, no less than 3a. From what I saw yesterday, and from the results of this year and the last decade, they are just too good to ever be in 1 a or 2a. I don’t care what the ADM numbers say. I’m not gonna lie, Murphy was pretty stacked this season. They had talent, experience, and depth all over the place and a generational talent at RB in Clem. That team deserved and in most cases would have been able to win a state championship. But it couldn’t even score a single point against Tarboro. It’s disheartening to know that no matter how good you are, Tarboro will be waiting at the end. It will take a 2a team with generational talent all over the place (like Mount Airy and East Surry had when they beat Tarboro in the 1a bracket) playing a near perfect game to have a better than average chance of beating Tarboro and winning it all. It shouldn’t be that way. Tarboro should be battling it out with the likes of Shelby or Reidsville for all the marbles.

Anyway, rant over and congrats again to Tarboro. Great team and class program. Congrats to Murphy’s team too. They had a great season and did the best they could yesterday, but were just overmatched.
After the performances Shelby and Reidsville put on yesterday I’m not sure I want to tangle with those bulls 😂
 

Boom Stick

Junior
Aug 26, 2023
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After the performances Shelby and Reidsville put on yesterday I’m not sure I want to tangle with those bulls 😂
For sure be interesting matchups. Tarboro would have the speed and talent to keep up. Be some growing pains in the secondary but a little time and that would be shored up to make some great games.
 

TarVikes1

Senior
Nov 23, 2017
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For sure be interesting matchups. Tarboro would have the speed and talent to keep up. Be some growing pains in the secondary but a little time and that would be shored up to make some great games.
Well I don’t see us moving up so hopefully I don’t have to worry about that 😂
 

OtisDriftwood

All-Conference
Sep 22, 2001
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Come on now is that a question. Yall would dog walk everyone else just like we did. Yall stopped us on offense better than anyone else had all year
That’s good to hear. I had always heard about Holmes being pretty good too. I would love to see Tarboro take on Heard County GA this year. We played them early in the season. They ended up losing once and that was in the semi final game of their playoff bracket. They are like y’all in that they are super fast and swarm on defense, but very different on offense as they throw the ball around most of the time. Their QB is committed to Georgia Southern I believe. That would be a helluva game. You think Murphy could stay on the field with Hunt? We were ahead of AC Reynolds at halftime and beat a 5a Franklin team that made a good playoff run.
 

Tarboroviking18

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Mar 24, 2023
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That’s good to hear. I had always heard about Holmes being pretty good too. I would love to see Tarboro take on Heard County GA this year. We played them early in the season. They ended up losing once and that was in the semi final game of their playoff bracket. They are like y’all in that they are super fast and swarm on defense, but very different on offense as they throw the ball around most of the time. Their QB is committed to Georgia Southern I believe. That would be a helluva game. You think Murphy could stay on the field with Hunt? We were ahead of AC Reynolds at halftime and beat a 5a Franklin team that made a good playoff run.
Holmes this year was nothing like the teams that they had from 2017 through spring of 21. Both Murphy and Tarboro would have put the clock on them. That being said, this year they were very young and do bring back a lot. I do believe they will be the biggest threat to Tarboro the next couple of years in the east. Can I see them beating them right now? Personally no.

As far as y'all going against Hunt , I think it'd be a good game. Y'all had a great defense so I believe you'd slow Hunt down. Could see it going either way.
 
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CatScratchFever23

All-Conference
Sep 15, 2006
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Congratulations to Tarboro - I have that phrase saved and I just cut and paste every year!!!

Thanks to both teams for keeping it civil and valuing your opponent. Here are a few of my thoughts after this weekend - over all the classifications.

Speed - after sitting around the cafe table drinking coffee on Saturday after the game, fans tend to exaggerate their team’s abilities. There is an old saying that “luck follows speed” but I think the saying should be one of the following: “speed follows coaching” or “ speed follows line play”. DLee, (RIP) a Southwest Onslow poster from years back was a preacher of SWO’s team speed. They were fast as long as Phil Padgett was coach (RIP). When he retired do you think all the speed moved out of district? He got the boys in school out for the program and prepared them. Speed is of no consequence when you are always making tackles from behind.

There is good speed all over this state and sometimes one team has a little more but it’s these other factors that augment team speed.

Line play, what highschool corner can cover a WR when the QB has all day? Heck, what NFL corner can do that? Watuaga and Shelbys QBs had all day - congratulations to their linemen and coaches!!

Neal - I loved watching Dionte Neal play. What a gifted athlete and no showboating at the end of the play - no “look at me” moments. His play reminds me of a slightly smaller Mike Hughes from New Bern.

Mountain Teams - Not news to me but I hope everyone realizes they are not slow and are not un-athletic. They do play with some grit and I like it.

Coaching - The late Jack Holley stated high school football is 80% coaching and he should know. If you have a good or great coach be thankful. You can have the players but a poor coach and you have nothing.

I always enjoy this time of year and hate to see it end.
 

Old Mutt Coach

Redshirt
Oct 11, 2025
27
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3
Congrats to Tarboro, great team and great defense, deserved winners. Murphy had a few chances offensively but like I said from the jump you've got to have something at QB to truly give Tarboro a run and this Murphy team unfortunately did not have that, its been a weak link for 3 years and glad to see a different QB taking over next year. Great effort from our kids tonight and good play overall from the Murphy defense against a fast and athletic Tarboro O, gave Tarboro a much tougher game this evening than the blowout city most had called for.
Can't put this on QB, put anybody you want back there and if they're running for they're life it's going to be tough, made one mistake with the fumble.
 
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SMC Observer

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If you want to run the show at a program like Murphy then you need to put the time in ,football cannot take a backseat to other sports!
We agree on that front coach. #17 has to put football first if he wants to reach his potential, you can't prioritize baseball and expect that to be the case. #17 has a higher ceiling in football than he does baseball and would love to see he and his family dedicate to putting football first.
 
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Appvol

All-American
Jul 11, 2005
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Guess y’all didn’t see the game the Watauga kid had that’s committed to Duke to play baseball. College coaches love kids that play multi sports. Josh Dobbs in high school was also a really good baseball player. Greeneville TN QB who was a Mr football finalist is going to Vandy to play baseball
 
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Old Mutt Coach

Redshirt
Oct 11, 2025
27
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Guess y’all didn’t see the game the Watauga kid had that’s committed to Duke to play baseball. College coaches love kids that multi sports. Josh Dobbs in high school was also a really good baseball player. Greeneville TN QB who was a Mr football finalist is going to Vandy to play baseball
Absolutely we push our kids to play multiple sports ,we have to at the small school level, but during off season is when you put in the time.
 
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SMC Observer

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Apr 10, 2012
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Can't put this on QB, put anybody you want back there and if they're running for they're life it's going to be tough, made one mistake with the fumble.
Tarboro probably wins this game no matter what because #2 for Tarboro wasn't going to be denied in the 2nd half, special athlete and talent. But in a high level game like this you know better than anyone it comes down to a handful of plays and everything matters, the overthrow of #3 (wasn't pressured just missed him) in Tarboro territory late 2nd Q that probably would've been six points and gave Murphy a lead going into half, the fumble late 3rd Q that gave Tarboro a short field and a two touchdown cushion. These were two significant plays and had major implications on how the game evolved and we're probably looking at an even tighter game that goes down to the wire had they went differently.
 
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swe98

All-Conference
Aug 17, 2010
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Congrats Tarboro. You are who I thought you were…and then some. I will say this, and don’t take this the wrong way, but I honestly think Tarboro belongs in a bigger classification, no less than 3a. From what I saw yesterday, and from the results of this year and the last decade, they are just too good to ever be in 1 a or 2a. I don’t care what the ADM numbers say.
Are you just joking around or are you serious?
 

swe98

All-Conference
Aug 17, 2010
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Lol Tarboro was gonna score at least two more times that game against y'all. Y'all still playing Tarboro next year? I recall seeing a comment from the other swe fan that it was not looking like they would play next year?
And we were gonna score 6 tds in the 4th, so there. 🤷🏾‍♂️.
I haven't heard anything like that and wouldn't believe it until I saw the schedule.
 
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vikandpirate4christ

All-Conference
Nov 18, 2011
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After seeing us yesterday, how do you think we would do in the east bracket if Tarboro wasn’t in it?
I have said multiple times the East gets a bad rep, and there have been times the team we played in the East was better than the team we faced in the championship. With that said, it cannot be said this year. You guys were definitely the toughest team we played in the postseason. Congrats, and again, you guys should be proud!
 
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swe98

All-Conference
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That prediction works until you look and see the Cougs have only scored 6TDs on Tarboro in the last 4 years 😂
Y'all have a nice lil thing going on there. You might even get far enough to win one soon. Good luck.
 

OtisDriftwood

All-Conference
Sep 22, 2001
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Are you just joking around or are you serious?
I’m serious about Tarboro being good enough to win titles in a higher classification. That was an outstanding Murphy team that they shut out last night. We ain’t used to that around here and it hurts our pride a little. But no, they shouldn’t be moved up as long as their numbers are 2a range. Although it wouldn’t break my heart lol.