2A NCHSAA Championship Preview: Murphy vs. Tarboro

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The week is finally here. The NCHSAA State Championship Games start on Thursday, and Prep Redzone is here to give you all the info you need to be an informed observer. The 2A seemed to be destined for a clash of the one seeds, and that's what we'll get, as Murphy emerged from the west to take on Tarboro. Here's everything you need to know about the 2A State Championship</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">NCHSAA 2A Championship Preview</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Key Info</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Teams:</strong> Murphy (12-2) vs. Tarboro (14-0)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Game Details:&nbsp;</strong>Sat., Dec. 13, 5 p.m. @ Lenoir-Rhyne's Moretz Stadium</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Leading Passers:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1148748' first='Brady' last='Grant']</strong> (Murphy): 69-106, 1,087 yards, 12 TDs, 4 INTs</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1408773' first='Tyler' last='Powell']</strong> (Tarboro): 19-30, 499 yards, 7 TDs, 0 INTs</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Leading Rushers:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='473838' first='Kamerin' last='McDowell-Moore']</strong> (Tarboro): 164 carries, 2,002 yards, 28 TDs</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1290996' first='Cameron' last='Clem']</strong> (Murphy): 154 carries, 1,647 yards, 30 TDs</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Leading Receivers</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='534743' first='Ryan' last='Payne']</strong> (Murphy): 30 receptions, 431 yards, 3 TDs</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Jhalen Pharr-McNair</strong> (Tarboro): 5 receptions, 158 yards, 2 TDs</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Leading Defenders:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Camden Breazeale</strong> (Murphy): 115 tackles, 8 sacks</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1408773' first='Tyler' last='Powell']</strong> (Tarboro): 84 tackles, 13 sacks</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Murphy vs. Tarboro Preview</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Few should be surprised that we ended up with this matchup, as Tarboro was championship-bound from early in the nonconference season and Murphy skated through conference play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Murphy breezed through its conference, going 6-0 with four shutouts and winning by an average score of 43-3. Only 1A West Champion Robbinsville gave the Bulldogs any trouble in a 17-10 Murphy win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tarboro boasts wins over both the 3A and the 5A East Champions, as well as wins over quarterfinalists in the 4A and 6A brackets. The Vikings loaded up the nonconference schedule and emerged with a flawless record, an early indication that the powerhouse and reigning state champions might be championship-bound again.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is the best running back matchup of championship weekend, with two future Division I backs. McDowell-Moore passed 2,000 yards in the regional final, while Clem sits over 1,600, both on fewer than 175 carries.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If you want evidence that these teams expected to be here, all you need to do is look at the backs' carries by game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Also See: <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/12/5a-nchsaa-championship-preview-hunt-crest/">5A State Championship Preview</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Clem entered the playoffs with fewer than 100 regular-season carries and just over 800 yards. In the first two games of the playoffs alone, Clem ran for an astonishing 833 yards on 51 carries.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McDowell-Moore is the same. He averaged 19 carries a game in the first three games of the year, against 5A and 6A competition. Since then, he's reached 15 carries just twice, against 3A powers Ayden-Grifton and Kinston.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both backs are well-rested and ready for the championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This game will come down to which defense has the best luck "containing" the opposition's star back.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But these teams are deep, and have multiple options on offense. <strong>Bo Davis</strong> (Murphy) and <strong>Caiden Everette</strong> (Tarboro) have averaged over 8.5 yards a carry, while Murphy receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='534743' first='Ryan' last='Payne']</strong> has been a reliable receiver.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both front sevens are elite for the 2A level. Murphy's defense lives in the backfield, consistently blowing up early-down runs and forcing teams into passing situations. Breazeale has eight sacks, while pretty much every other starting defensive lineman can win one on one.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tarboro's linebacking corps is fantastic, led by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1704821' first='Keivious' last='Bridgers']</strong> and <strong>Carmello Bullock</strong>. Powell is one of the most underrated edge rushers in the state, a guy who should have far more recruiting interest than he currently has. He's known as a pass-rusher, but he contains the edge and has the strength to blow up run plays.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tarboro is considered the favorite, given the school's history. The Vikings set the NCHSAA record for longest state championship appearance streak this week with their ninth-straight appearance. The Vikings are seeking their 10th state championship victory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Murphy is seeking its eleventh state championship. Neither team is a stranger to the championship game, though they've never played each other, largely because they used to be in different splits of the old 1A/1AA division.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You'll have to wait for an official prediction, as Matt Morrow, Joshua Graham, and I will have our predictions for all eight championship games free on Prep Redzone later this week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Follow Prep Redzone for more high-quality coverage throughout the playoffs and offseason.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->