Home > Jessie Nunery > Archives > 2008 > December > 12 > Entry
State championship pregame
The Vikings were just introduced to the Kenan Stadium crowd. Newton-Conover followed a few moments later. The national anthem was just played. Three minutes to gametime.
Tarboro completed its pregame warmups five minutes before Newton-Conover decided to brake its huddle. Tarboro returned to its lockeroom the same way they ran onto the field - in a straight line. Newton-Conover made a path for a group of players (I’m assuming its starters) who ran through the wall of teammates before the squad went into the lockeroom. Only 13 minutes until gametime.
- It’s weird being at Kenan Stadium and seeing so many empty seats (go ahead, Duke and N.C. State fans, insert your joke). What I meant, was there will be 5,000 people here at most, but the stadium holds more than 60,000 people.
Tarboro is considered the home team in this game (all East teams this season are home). The Vikings are wearing their purple tops with gold pants. Newton-Conover is wearing a predominantly white jersey with red socks and red lettering.
A few observations: There is little to no wind at this point of the evening. This game could come down to a single kick. I’ll let you know if that changes.
The crowds? Just fine, too. Newton-Conover has brought quite a crowd. Tarboro has too. From my position in the press box I have to stand up to see Tarboro’s crowd, which is directly beneath me. There is plenty of purple and gold support.
Enough about us. How’s Tarboro doing? Just fine, it seems. The Vikings and Red Devils took the field together at precisely 6:30 p.m. (another NCHSAA rule). Newton-Conover ran directly onto the field and implored its crowd to make some noise. A few Tarboro players waved to fans, but the team ran in a straight line down its sideline, made a 90-degree cut in the back of the end zone, touched the base of the goalpost, and began their pre-game warmups.
I’m here tonight with staff photographer Joel Hodges. Joel and I must have been ready for the game, because we arrived at 5:15 p.m. We had to wait, like many anxious Newton-Conover and Tarboro fans, outside the stadium gates until 6 p.m. The NCHSAA stuck to its guns about not allowing anyone in until 6 p.m. It was no sweat off our backs, although others tried - but did not succeed - in entering the building early.
We are less than an hour away from kickoff here at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill where Tarboro is preparing to face Newton-Conover for the NCHSAA 2-A football state title.
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