Havelock, Tarboro claim state titles; Ayden-Grifton, Kinston Fall

(AP) Havelock and Tarboro were both successful in winning state titles on Saturday, while Kinston and Ayden-Grifton both fell short.     

Havelock's Garrett Crowe threw touchdown passes of 37 and 28 yards and ran in one himself to lead the undefeated Rams to a 31-6 win over West Rowan to capture their first North Carolina High School Athletic Association 3-A football championship.

Crowe completed 15 of 22 passes for 151 yards Saturday and was named the game's most valuable player. It was West Rowan's (13-3) first loss in an NCHSAA final after winning state titles in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

Andy Keel rushed for 81 yards and touchdowns on runs of 13 and five yards for Havelock (16-0).

Without a turnover, the Rams led 24-0 by halftime. West Rowan's Dinkin Miller rushed 23 times for a game-high 131 yards and scored West Rowan's only points on a 35-yard run off-tackle.           

- Todd Gurley II rushed for 242 yards and four touchdowns to help Tarboro beat Lincolnton 39-36 for the Class 2-A North Carolina High School Athletic Association championship.

The Vikings (13-2) won their third consecutive state title Saturday.

Gurley was named the game's most valuable player. He rushed for 197 yards in the second half, including a go-ahead 12-yard touchdown with 3:12 remaining. Larry Jones scored on a 65-yard run.

Dee Littlejohn ran for 115 yards and two touchdowns for the Wolves (14-2). The loss ended their 13-game winning streak. Michael Cunningham scored on a 1-yard run and an 88-yard kickoff return for Lincolnton.

The teams were tied at 14 at halftime.

The Vikings clinched the win when Patrick Rendleman's fourth-down pass from the Tarboro 43 fell incomplete with 1:43 remaining.

- Austin Shuler's 5-yard touchdown run with 2:20 left helped Swain County beat Ayden-Grifton 20-14 for the Class 1-AA North Carolina High School Athletic Association championship.

Shuler finished with two TD runs for the Maroon Devils (15-1), who won their eighth state championship Saturday in 10 appearances. It was their first since 2004.

Kariym Gent ran for 120 yards for the Chargers (13-2). They had a chance to regain the lead, only to fumble on their final possession.

 Cody Rich's 8-yard TD catch from Colby Hyatt in the second quarter helped stake Swain to a 14-0 halftime lead. Hyatt was named the game's most valuable player.

Ayden-Grifton fought back to tie the score in the third on Brandon Whitaker's 42-yard TD pass from Brandon Larry and Tyree Blount's 5-yard touchdown run.

And in the second game in Raleigh, Kinston scored the game’s first 14 points, but fell to West Stokes 21-14.