The night was perfect for football. The skies were clear and the temperatures hovered in the forties. The home stands and visiting stands were packed, some 400 advanced tickets sold, RRHS Athletic Director Tim Bennett said before the kickoff in Tarboro.

Both teams were ranked in the top 10. The Yellow Jackets came in at 11-1 and had made history with their first 10 win season. The Tarboro Vikings had not lost a home game since September of 2007.

The National Anthem was played and a special tribute was done by Tarboro for Roanoke Rapids Police Officer John Taylor who was injured on Wednesday while on duty. The Tarboro Vikings were dressed in all purple and the Jackets had on the visiting white and gold uniforms. Tarboro won the toss and deferred to the second half.

The Jackets received the kickoff and started on their own 28 yard line. Quarterback Justin Rawles led the offense with three straight runs and then he connected a pass to D.J. Epperson placing the ball at the Jacket 47 yard line. Rawles connected on another pass to Ryan Howell later in the drive and then Rawles ran for a first down, placing the ball on the 26 yard line of Tarboro. The Jackets were penalized for illegal procedure, a theme that plagued them throughout the game, moving them back five yards.

On the next play Rawles had a bad handoff exchange with Tyrell Everette fumbling the ball and Tarboro recovering.

Tarboro took just eight plays and Todd Gurley II scored from 18 yards out, rushing the ball on the left side and the score was 7-0 with 1:24 left in the first quarter.

The Jackets took the kick off and started the next drive at the 26 but had to punt on fourth down. The Jacket defense came to life with Howell stopping Tarboro’s Lamicheal Everette for no gain and Tarboro punted.

The Jackets started the next drive from their own 36 yard line. Rawles hit Epperson with a pass to the 47 yard line. Rawles came right back passing the ball to Epperson and on fourth down the Jackets fumbled the ball and the Vikings Kendall Jacobs returned it for a touchdown and the score was 14-0 with 8:28 left in the second quarter.

The Jackets started the next drive on the 24 yard line.

Rawles hit Jordan Hargrove with a pass over the middle and then Rawles passed to Epperson taking the Jackets into Tarboro territory. The next play Rawles fumbled at the 26 yard line and the Vikings recovered.

Tarboro took just three plays and Markell Howell jumped over a Jacket lineman and ran 31 yards to make the score 21-0.

The Jackets came out the second half and their first drive started at the 26 yard line.

Rawles lead the offense on a fast, furious drive that took just 10 plays with Epperson catching a touchdown pass and the Jackets were back in the game at 21-7.

The Vikings struck again with 6:22 left in the fourth quarter when Jacobs scores from the 1 yard line making the score 28-7.

Tarboro added another score with 2:32 to play when Markel Howell had an 82 yard run for a touchdown.

The Jackets still did not give up. Rawles executed another drive that ended with a touchdown pass to A.J. Alston and giving the Jackets their final score of the night with the game ending 35-14.

Coach Russell Weinstein said he wanted to congratulate Tarboro and he hoped they could go on and win another state championship.

He said that he was proud of the effort from each of his players.

Coach Weinstein stated that he had a great group of seniors. He really loved this team because just two years ago they were 2-9 and they had worked hard and he was so proud of them.

He also added that he had a great coaching staff and he was very thankful to all of them.

Rawles said he was disappointed in the loss and Tarboro had a great team. He stated that he was going to sit down with his coach and talk about his future and he hoped to play college ball.

The Jackets finished its season with an 11-2 record. Tarboro will play undefeated East Duplin Friday at Beaulaville.